Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-01-11

Mrs. Ellison nodded assent. She
had lived housekeeper with the Had
fields OF Hadtield Hall for 20 years, and
was sorry enough when the old place
went into other hands. But situa-
tion was situation, so she had stayed
on.
''Yes," says she. ''Mr. and Mrs.
Howard Lindsley'
Lefty gave such start that the
preserve kettle had nearly tipped over
into the fire.
''Lindslcy!' cried she. with little,
hysterical laugh. "What funny
name!'
Handsome, stylish people, with
more money, to all appearances, than
they know what to do with, went on
Mrs. Ellison. 81 just wish you could
see her dresses and iewelsl Stephanie,
the French maid, showed me, when
she was unpacking 'em, and it's as
good as play!"
Lefty said nothing, but stirred
busily away at her preserves, while
the old housekeeper maundered on
about the wealth and grandeur of the
new possessors of Hadtield Hall.
And all this might have been hers!
''When shall send for the laces?"
Mrs. Ellison finally asked, when she
rose to depart
TIL take them home myself. about
dusk" said Lefty, inwardly resolving
to get for herself glimpse into the
paradise which SO nearly had been her
own.
And so, at twilight, with the daintily
ironed and fiuted laces i'll her basket,
she walked up to Hadfeld Hall.
How stately it looked with its broad
colonnaded facade, all glittering with
lights, it's grand conservatory at the
back, where palm-leaves and bananas
brushed the glass top, and its terraced
grounds! Oh, if she had only said
Eyes" to Howard Lindsey IL years
ago!
Within, everything was in keeping.
Administer carpets, like banks of moss
covered the hoor-marble statues
in velvet-lined niches-lights glowed
softly, and tables, loaded with rare
ornaments, stood around.
''Hush" said Lefty. as Mrs. Ellison
Gus beauties of the place. "What is
that noise, like woman crying? In
the next room. l think.
Mrs. Ellison's face clouded over.
cts Mrs. Lindsley. poor DEAR"
said she. "The masters brute. He's
been drinking too much-Mademoi
selle Stephanie says he always drinks
too much and he struck her! Struck
her, and called her whimpering fool
before all of us servants. | never saw
a man strike woman before, and 1
declare it made me sick all over. But
Stephanie SAYS it's common thing
enough. Oh, my dear, she's wretch
ed in spite of all her money"
"Has she no children?" Lefty
softly asked.
''She had two, but she lost 'em both.
MademoiselleS Stephanie says she often
cries and wishes she was dead, too.
And I don't wonder much, with such
n husband as she's got. Hush! there
he comes now"
And shrinking behind a carved
group of italian marble statuary, the
two women watched Howard Lindsey
stalk goomily by, with red, inhamed
eyes, sullen, down looking face and
shu fling, unsteady footstep.
Silently Lefty Wyngard went home,
thanking God in her heart that she
was poor mans wife.
"Have you heard of the accident?"
asked old Peter Styles, who was stand
ing out at his gate. as she hurried by
in fba Joanopipo vIncE
''No; what accident? What has
happsned?" :,
THAT there house as your husband
was workin' in has tumbled in! All
heap'of ruins! Something wrong about
the foundation. they say, aud -"
"Oh, my Godr wildly interrupted
Lefty, clasping her hands. "Was he
hurt? My husband?"
well, "hesitated old Styles, "there
was two men killed and one had his
arm broke. But"
Swift as an arrow out of a bow she
sped homeward. horrible dread
winging her footsteps with almost
incredible speed. Oh! if John should
be killed-John, her faithful, loyal
husband, whom she had rocked so
lightly of-whom that very day she
had allowed to leave her without the
good-b bye kiss. If her children should
be atherless-if-
"John! John!' she walled, as she
pushed open the door, and went,
breathless, into the kitchen.
well, little woman, what is it?''
And oh! thanks to an all merciful
Heaven - John Wyngard himself
turned his bright, living face toward
her from the hearthside, where he was
sitting, with child on either knee.
81 know what is in your dumb. ques-
tioning eyes, Lefty. I am not hurt,
thank God. I had just gone to the
hardware store for another barrel of
nails when the building fell. No,