The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22
CHAPTER ].

through a trampled gap. up winding
path. and coming TO the crest of slope
there paused, turned and stood sweeping
the land with a long. steady gaze The
fields were empty. heavy and soaked 10
the lip. Not a beast moved within eye
shot. not "a bird I'm a quickest; everything
lay fallow. dreary, dead-the fields, hills,
hedges, the grass. the trees, the houses
even, all lay there in sunshine, scattered
broad over the countryside. dead and wait
ing for the spring. The spring? All, yes.
for the blessed spring thought the master,
then turned and went on through the
rushes and came TO the cottage OF Jordan
the nerd.
A long. low house IL was, built OF stone,
whitewashed to the caves and matched
with PUSHES Markedly II stood upon the
fields. a lean-to at this end, pig crow at
that, in front narrow street. noisesome
and sprinkled with starveling fowls. Not
a shrub was there or plant. not a rag be-
hind the windows. not step at the
threshold: nothing anywhere but the CHM
ney reek and the chickens in the mud TO
show that anything but beasts of the field
had here found home. Nothing but these
and a very human sound of sqyalling that
way.
Shifting and frowning. the master crossed
the street, came to the doorway and
raised his voice.
ANY one at homer" he shouted. No
answer came, none but a sudden hush
within and a clatter among the stools. the
master came nearer. peered between the
door posts, called again. "Are you there,
Henry? Are you at home, Elem"
Still no answer; then, in a minute, the
soft fall of bare feet on the clay floor,
quick parting of the smoke curtain, and
there on the threshold, bare-legged and
barearmed. hair in wisps, face pale and
worn, in her arms a baby, beside her and
clutching at her tattered cotton skirt
flock of children, stood the figure OF girl.
Not a word she said, not sound came
from the children; as II by magic the
group appeared from the smoke and stood
there motionless by the threshold.
The master looked at them sideways
under his bushy eyebrows; then grunted
and nodded at the girl.
,"Oh, it's you. Jinny?" said he.
"Yis, sir" The girls voice was soft and
very timorous
"Ycu're not at school, then. to-dayT
mo. SIR
"And why not?'
IL Please, sir, I had to mind the
childer.''
The master grunted again; looked
towards the fields, caught his thumbs in
his waistcoat pockets. turned again to
jimmy.
at know" he said; "and where's your
father"
please. sir. gone across the land with
the billhook."
II know And where's your mother.
Jinny?" asked the master, looking full at
the girl, both voice and manner quick and
curt with meaning.
The girls eyes fell She shifted the
baby from this arm to that; flushed; looked
up.
"Gone to town." she answered. hating
ly, as from the verge Of tears. Shes
she's gone to town.
The master nodded. A grim look came
TO his face: his eyes grew stern.
ITO town." said he; and again, through
his teeth, ito town." then, with a glance
at the girl. '.And you're left here by your
self, jimmy? Left to mind the children
She shrank back a step into the curtain
of smoke, and the flock Of solemn-eyed,
clutching children with her: shrank back
softly and silently, with the bubbling baby,
into the blue depths of smoke. And as she
went the curtain closed, her face went out,
and her voice came murmuring-
'.Ah. yis. sir" IT came; ''ah. yis. But
sure-sure-"
The master buttoned his coat; bent his
head and entered the cabin. Before him
the children scattered back, like rabbits
from a keeper, and went scuttling through
the pots and pans. the baskets and stools.
which numbered the floor. Jimmy turned
and ran, laid the baby in box that stood
in a corner. snatched UP a chair. wiped it
with a corner of her skirt and placed 1t
by the hearth.
Peering here and there through the drift
ing smoke-at the litter of a dresser. the
chaos OF table-his head almost touching
the rafters. his bigness looming giant-like
In the little room, his feet wandering un-
certainly over the floor, the master crossed
the kitchen. turned on the hearth. and
stood with his back to the pots and the
fire. face towards jimmy and the chair.
'No-no." he said, with a wave Of his
hand. 1T won't be sitting, jimmy. 1 want
TO- Wnen OlC Sne 30. ne aSkeu.
as IL mother, sir?"
Yes"
'Twas"-Jinny hesitated; moved away
a little; stood fidgeting with her skirt.
TWAS good while ago-after breakfast
time-'bout ten o'clock. mebbe''
''1es?" The master pulled up the chair.
sat down with his arms resting on its back
and his cheek in his hand. ''Don't be afraid,
jimmy" he said, softening his voice. "Come.
Be a woman. And how did she go?'' he
went on as jimmy looked up.
''On Bredin's jennet an cart, sir"
IT see" The master paused a moment.
"And she went by herself. Jinny?''
Mono. sir"
''Oh. How's that? The masters tone OF
surprise seemed forced. who was 1t went
with her. Jinny?"
PLEASE, SIR" Jimmy stopped. A minute of
silence fell. Not a sound came from the
scattered children, covering somewhere
back in hooks and corners: not a whimper
from the baby in its box. please, sir" She
stopped again.
Eyes. jimmy Wei? Tell me, jimmy. Was
II any one | know"
1T