Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-06-07

Don't he afecrd." said MIR. Knight;
that's nobody but foolish Patsy; she
never hurt anybody in her life. Come,
now. let me show you to the ovcrscer."
Ana lie led her coward the %rcd-whisker-
ed man. who stood in the door.
Here. Parker" said he, 1--WE brought
them children l was tellin' you about.
You We room for EN-, l s'pose!"
why. yc-cs, we can work it sos to
make ROOM
They now entered the kitchen. Mary
was very tired with holding Alice so
long, and. sinking into n chair near the
wlndow she would have cried: but there
was a tightness in her throat, and n pres
sure about her head II eyes which kept
the tears from flowing. She pressed her
hands tightly and said, "Oh, 1 hope 1
shan't faint
TO he sure YOU won't" said a loud.
harsh voice. IL instantly large drops of
water were thrown in her face, while
the same voice continued: You don't
have such spells often, i hope, for Lord
knows L don't want any more fifty ones
| here"
NO. ma'am,' said Mary, meekly; and
looking up. she saw before her a tall,
square-backcd, masculine looking wom-
an, who Wore Il very short dress, and a
very hlgh-crowncd cap, fastened under
her chin with bows of sky-blue ribbon.
Mary secretly hoped she would not prove
to be Mrs. Parker, the wife of the over
seer. She was soon relieved Of her fears
b. the ovclscer himself, who said, polly,
don't see any other way but you'll have
to take these children into the room next
to YOUR. The baby worries a good deal,
and such things trouble my wife, now
she's sick"
The person addressed as "Polly' gave
her shoulders an angry jerk, and stick
ing the pin on the waist of her dress.
replied, $50, l s'pose it's no matter il
I'm kept awake all night, and worried
to death. But l guess you'd find there'd
be queer doin's here if l should be taken
away. ! wish the British would stay to
hum, and not lug their young ones here
for us to take care of. Come, child. I
will show you where you are going to
sleep;'' at the same time she caught up
Alice, who, not liking her handling, kick
ed SO vigorously that she was soon drop
ped, Polly rcmarking that "she was
mighty strong in her legs for a sick
baby"
@AAsy pasSiuS UP IL OuIk SUBWAY IuGN
came 20 a door, which opened under the
garrett stairs, and Mary was startled by
n voice which seemed to be almost over
her head, and which, between a sneer
n a hiss. called out, "See where the
immaculate Miss Grundy comes!" Mary
sprang in terror to Polly's side.
''Oh, what is it?" she said. "Is ii
Patsy?"
ssIDnfcrYs 1Y,o. %1,1 A,.A ...l- 4, ---
err is saucy like that. It's Sal Furbush."
Mary asked who Sal Furbush was,
and was told she was one of the Door
insane inmates. She subsequently learn
ed chat Sal was perfectly harmless, and
struck up quite a friendship with her.
At present Mary followed her guide until
they came to a longer and lighter hall,
or "spaceway." as it is frequently called
in New England. On each side of this
there were doors opening into small Sleep
ing rooms, and into one of these Polly
led her companion. saying, as she did so,
This is your room, and it's a great ia
vor to you to be so near me. But mind,
that child mustn't cry and keep me
awake nights, for if she does, maybe
you'll have to move into that other space,
where we heard the laugh"
Mary thought she would rather do any
thing than that. She also felt a great
curiosity to know who her companion
was, SO she at last ventured to ask, DO
you live here. Miss Polly"
why, yes. I'm staying here for a
spell now; kind of seeing things. Nv
name isn't Polly. It's Mary Grundy, and
somehow folks have got to nicknaming
me Polly. but it'll look more mannerly
in YOU to call me Mrs. Grundy; but what
am l thinking Of? The folks must have
their supper"
That night Alice. who missed her era.
die, was unusually restless, and Mary,
remembering Mrs. Grundy's threat, car
ried her in her arms until after midnight.
Then, without undressing. she threw her
self upon the bed, and for the first time
in many weeks dreamed of George and
his parting promise to see her again. The
next morning when she awokc, the clouds
were pouring rain. "Billy won't come
to-day" was her first thought, and,
throwing herself upon the floor, she burst
into tears, wishing. as she had once
done before, that she had died with her
mother.
In the midst of her grief the door was
pushed hastily open. and Mrs. Grundy's
hirSn voice exclaimed, wall so YOU are
up ut last. hey? l didn't know but you
was soin' to take it upon you to sleep
over. but that don't answer here. Do YOU
think YVES goin' to support you in idle
ncss:"
Here. touched perhaps by the pale,
fearful face. uplifted to hers, Mrs. Grun-
dy's voice softencd. and in n milder tone
she added, I'VE won't mind about it, see
in it's the first morning; but. come
you must be hungry by this time"
Mary glanced at Alice. She was sleep
ing sweetly. and, though there seemed to
be no reason, she still fingered.
What are YOU waiting for?" asked
Mrs. Grundy, and Mary, with some hest
tation. answered. Il haven't said my
prayers yet"
y change passed suddenly over Mrs.
Grundy's face, and she turned away
without a word. When she was gone
Mary fell on her knees. and though the
words she uttered were addressed more
to her mother than to God, she felt COM
forted. and, rising up, started for the
kitchen. 1t was a motley group which