Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-12-28

'OiS0 iedCHeu hin IrOm room WITHIN,
just hidden from him by tiny box OF
a hall.
Il did my best, mother" girlish tones
answered, YEARLY; "and 1 thought il
very nice. l often wonder how people
can say such harsh and cruel words to
me, when try so hard to please them.
Mother-my poor mother-it is very
hard to be poor; to be woman, and
poor-there's nothing harder in this
whole wide world!"
The sweet voice had taken more than
WEAKNESS on its music. 1t became pas
sionate and bitter, and ended in burst
of sobs.
The young man was profoundly
touched, but he lifted his hand once
more and knocked, more loudly.
This time he was heard, and a light
but languid step crossed toward the
door. In a moment Louise Vennevale,
with undried tears on her long lashes,
was looking at him with wondering
eyes, brown as hazelnuts. He held out
his shapely hand.
You are one of my people, are you
not?" he questioned, with a smile. 81
have not called before, but you will
pardon that. and bid me enter now,
will you not?"
Certainly"
And she led him into the tiny room,
where Mrs Vennevale lay on a sofa,
frail and helpless.
Mamma" she said, quietly, this is
Mr.. Grant. He has come to see you.''
And, greatly to the young mans dis
appointment after placing a chair for
MIN beside the sofa, she glided out.
He remained almost an hour con-
versing with the invalid. He heard the
pitiful story-too sadly frequent for
men to mind it much to-day, in their
busy, selfish lives; the struggles to
purchase little home for wife and
child by the stalwart young farmer,
who had only his strong hands and
honest heart to rely on; then the long,
lingering illness of the woman, during
which the first mortgage had fallen on
the farm; then the sudden death, by
sunstroke, Of the man, and the helpless
widows efforts to educate her only
child, before allowing the girl to take
up the weary burden that now had
been borne for four years with gentlest
and tenderest patience.
1T breaks my heart to see her work
at her sewing from morning till night
and often half the night" Mrs. Venne-
vale said, in conclusion, her eyes dim
with tears. And sometimes she has
to take such insolence, too. That is
very hard to bear. To-day Miss Gus.
sic Ellston came for a dress she had
left for Louise to make, and she found
SO much fault, and said such cruelty
unkind things, that my heart ached
for my daughter. Did you notice that
Louise had been weeping when you
came in?"
u noticed that she looked very pale
and weary" he answered, wondering if
he had mistaken the character of Miss
Gussie so completely, when he thought
she would be so sweet a minister's
wife, so truly a helpmeet to one who
lad chosen that most arduous of all
positions-to be the spiritual adviser
of village full of people.
1t was with pang at his heart that
he began to think the blue eyes and
fair face of the girl who had smiled so
shyly at his coming might but be
mask for a cold and selfish heart.
There is picnic in the birch grove
on Monday" Mrs. Vennevale went on,
land it was for that Miss Gussie want
p6 thic 1,ti In, draec NJ, roo, oh 4
cannot go, or, rather, she will not, for
she never leaves me, urge her as may.
She was just saying how hard it is
to be q woman and poor when you
came, Mr.. Grant.
Yes, he had heard her say the words,
but did not say SO. Instead, he stood
up and took the weak hand of the
woman.
Il do not think I will join the merry
makers on Monday, either" he said,
pleasantly. MY dear madam you and
| have been strangers too long. Let
me come here on Monday and become
better acquainted with you.
So when Gussie Elliston, arrayed in
the pretty, dainty muslin, which was
really very we'll made and well fitting.
and set off her blue eyes and fair COM
pleXion to advantageous watching
for one face vainly in the grove of
birch. that masculine face was turned
toward 4 window in the little cottage
of the Vennevales, as which girl sat
sewing, with her bent brown head and
eyes alight.
Gussie met him next after the morn
ing service on the following Sunday,
when they encountered each other at
the door of the church.
She chided him playfully for his alb
sepce from the picnic, but he only
sl2iled and, after few pleasant words,
passed on and joined Miss Louise Ven-
nevale with whom he walked through
-the whole village leaving her at the
cottage gate.
1T was only three months later that
a pretty gothic dwelling shot up rap
Idly beside the church, not at all mind
ful, apparently, of the deluge of con-
lecture and remark it brought to IIo-
Gust Hollow.