The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-05-24

sure about her head and eyes Whlcn kept l
he tears from flowing. She pressed her
hands tightly and said, "Oh. | hope
shan't faint"
TO be sure you won't" said a loud,
harsh voice, and instantly large drops OF
water were thrown in her face, while
the same voice continued: You don |
have such spells often, hope, for Lord
knows don't want any more fifty ones
here"
mo, ma'am," said Mary, meekly; and
looking up, she saw before her tall,
square-backed masculine looking wom-
an, who wore very short dress, and a
very high-crowned 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
by the overseer himself who said, Polly,
don't see any other way but you'll have
10 take these children into the room next
10 yourn. The baby worries good deal,
and such things trouble my wife, now
she's sick"
The person addressed as "Polly" gave
her shoulders an angry jerk, aud stick
ing the pin on the waist of her dress,
replied, 80, | s'pose it's no matter If
I'm kept awake all night and worried
to death. But guess you'd find there'd
be queer doin's here il | 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, |
viii 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 remarking that "she was
mighty strong in her legs for a sick
baby
After passing up a dark stairway they
came to door, which opened under the
garret stairs and Mary was startled by
a voice which seemed to be almost over
her head. aud which, between a sneer
and a hiss, called out, "See where the
immaculate Miss Grundy comesw Mary
sprang in terror to POlly's side.
"Oh, what is it?" she said. "Is it
Patsy"
Patsy was the tart reply. She new
er is saucy like that. It's Sal Furbush." ="
Mary asked who Sal Furbush was
and was told she was one of the poor
insane inmates. She subsequently learn
ed that Sal was perfectly harmless, and
struck up quite friendship with her.
At present Mary followed her guide until
they came to longer and lighter hall,
or "spaeeway," as it is frequently called
| IN CT 10 - Ia
there were doors opening into small sleep
ing rooms, and into one of these Polly
led her companion, saying, as she did 50,
This is your room, and it's a great IA
vor to you to be 50 near me. But mind,
that child mustn't cry and keep me
/ awake nights, for il 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, "DC
YOU live here, Miss PollyY
"Why, yes. Pm staying here for Q
spel now: kind OF seeing things. My
name isn't Polly. It's Mary Grundy, anC
somehow folks have got to nicknaminl
me Polly. but it'll look more mannerly
in you to call me Mrs Grundy; but wha
am | thinking Of? The folks must hay,
their supper M
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 tim
in many weeks dreamed OF George an
his parting promise to see her again. Tn
next morning when she awoke, the cloud
were pouring rain. BILLY won't com
today" was her first thought, anC
throwing herself upon the floor she burs
into tears, wishing, as she had ono
done before, that she had died with he
mother.
; In the midst Of her grief the door wa
pushed hastily open, and Mrs. Grundy'
harsh voice exclaimed, wall, so you ar
up at last, hey2 | didn't know but 20
was goin' to take it upon you to slee
over, but that don't answer here. Do yo
think we's goin' to support you in idlt
ness y
| Here, touched perhaps by the pail
fearful face, upifted to hers, Mrs. Cruz
, dy's voice softened, and In milder ton
} she added, I'VE won't mind about it, sc,
in it's the first morning; but, come
2 you must be hungry by this time"
r Mary glanced at Alice She was sleel
, ing sweetly, and, though there seemed {
: be no reason, she still fingered.
: '"What are you waiting fOr?" aske
/, Mrs. Grundy, and Mary, with some hes
+ tation, answered, II haven't said m
+ prayers yet.
t A change passed suddenly over Mr.
r Grundy's face, and she turned ava
without a word. When she was goI
e Mary fell on her knees, and though IL
words she uttered were addressed mo
to her mother than to God, she felt COZ
forted, and, rising up, started for Il
kitchen. 1t was motley group whit
she found assembled around the brea
> fast table, and as she entered the roo
= = man called Uncle Peter smiled on he
, saying, Come here, little daughter. al
= let me touch you with the top of n
; fourth finger"
j About noon the clouds broke ava
, while here and there patch Of brig
n blue sky was to be seen. But the roa
:. were so muddy that Mary had no ho
70 of Billys coming, and this it was, pt
haps, which made the dinner dishes
7 hard to wash, and which made her c
n when told that all the knives and for
IN must be secured, the teakettle wiped a
,r set with its nose north, in what NJ
Grundy called the "Pout Hole" a
st which proved proved to be a place und
10 the stairs, where pots, kettles and ire
a ware generally were kept.
n. All things have an end, and so did
r. securing, in spite of Mary's fears to
ID contrary, and then watching time VIII
h. Mrs. Grundy did not see her, she ST
re away upstairs. Taking Alice on her ID
she sat down by the open window WHIT
IT. the damp air cooled and moistened
he flushed face. The rain was over, a
10 across the meadow the sun was shini
!" through, the tall trees, making the drC
r. of water which hung upon the leav
sparkle and fash in the sunlight like