Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-02

cItned to resent this p0oubIo snupDing
Of her future husband. But they were
nearing the village. and Min Amelyn
turned the conversation TO the object
Of her visit Il was new village-sn
unhandsome village for Ill that 1t stood
near one Of the gates Of the park. 1t
had been given over to some mines that
were still worked In its vicinity and
70 the railway which the. uncle Of the
present earl had resisted. but the rail-
way had .riumphed, and the station for
Scrooby Priory was there. There was
grim church on the hin, Of blackened
and weather beaten stone. with few
grim Amelyns reposing cross legged In
the chancel. but the character Of the
village was a. different from the Priory
q II it were in another county. They
stopped at the rectory. where Miss
Amelyn provided herself with certain
doles and gifts. which the American
girl would have augmented with f5
note but for Miss Amelyn's Mortified
concern. "As many shillin0 would do.
and they would be as grateful, +" she
ssid. More they wouldn't under
stand"
Then keep Il and dole II ont - you
like, !" said Sadie quickly.
"But don't think that-that Lord
Beverdale would quite approve, !" hesi-
tated Min Amelyn.
The pretty brow Of her companion
knit, and her gray eyes flashed viva
ciously. "What has he TO do with itf'
she said pertly. Besides, you say these
are not his poor. Take that f5 note
or-I'll double It. get IL changed into
sovereigns 1t che station and hand 'em
round to every man, woman and child.
Miss Amelyn hesitated. The Ameri-
can girl looked capable Of doing what
she said. Perhaps II was national way
Of almsgiving She took the note. with
the mental reservation Of making full
confession to the rector and Lord Bever-
dale.
She was right In saying that the poor
Of Scrooby village were not interesting.
There was very little squalor or degra-
dation. Their poverty seemed not
descent, but Q condition to which they
had been born. The faces which Sadie
saw were dulled and spsthetic rather
than sullen or rebellious They stood
mp when Miss Amelyn entered, pay
ing her the Difference. but taking little
note Of the pretty butterfly who was
with her, or rather submitting to her
frank curiosity with that dull consent
Of the poor, as IL they had lost even the
sense Of privacy or right to respect 1t.
II seemed to the American girl that
their poverty was more indicated by
what they were satisfied with than
what she thought they missed. 1t is to
be feared that this did not add to
Sadie's sympathy. All the beggars she
had seen in America wanted all they
could get, and she felt as il she were
confronted with an inferior animal.
s'There's wonderful old man lives
here" said Miss Amelyn as they halted
before q stone and thatch cottage quite
ON the outskirts Of the village. "We
can't call him one Of our poor, for he
still works, although over 80. and it's
his pride to keep out Of the poorhouse
and, as he calls It, of the hands OF
bis granddaughters But we manage TO
do something for them, and we hope
he profits by It. One Of them is at the
Priory. They're trying to make maid
Of her, but her queer accent-they re
from the north--is against her with
| the servants. I am afraid we won't see
old Debs. for he's at work again today.
| though the doctor has warned him.
"Debsl What a funny name"
"Yes, but ss many Of these people
cannot read or write the name is car
ried BY the ear and not always correct
| ". Some Of the railway navvies. who
come from the north as he does. call
him 'Debbers'
They were obliged TO descend into
| the cottage, which was 80 low that II
seemed to have sunk into the earth un-
til its dropping caves Of thatch mingled
with the straw heap beside it. Debs
was not at home, but his granddaughter
was there, who after a preliminary
ssbob" continued the stirring Of the pot
before the fire in tentative silence.
81 am sorry to find that your grand
father has gone to work again in spite
| of the doctors orders" said Miss Ame-
lyn. /,
The girl continued 10 stir the pot and
| then said. without looking up. but as
II also continuing train OF aggressive
thoughts with her occupation: Fay.
but 'e's 10 set oop In 'issen ee doan't
take orders from nobbut-leastways
doctor. Moinds 'em now moor nor a
foy. SAYS zee knaws there nowt wrong
we is cart. Mout be roight--how-
'siver, sarten--sewer 'si 'eads a. in q
muddlel Toims zee goes Of stamrin
| and starin at nowt as II ZEE ant q
naporth O. sense. How'siver / be doin
my duty by 'ern-and 'ere's is porritch
when O. cooms-'gin q be sick or
maad."
What the American understood OF
the girls speech and manner struck her
a. having very little sympathy with ei.
ther her aged relative or her present
visitor. And there was q certain dog.
ged, selfish independence about her that
Mis- Desborough half liked and half re-
sented. However. Miss Amelyn did not
seem to notice it, and after leaving a
bottle Of port for the grandfather she
took her leave and led Sadie away. Az
they passed into the village q carriage
rsturning.to the Priory filled with their