The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-11-21

was a tightness in her throat. and pres
sure about her head and eyes which kept
F the 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 dent
have such spells often. 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-backed, masculine looking wom-
an, who wore a 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
to take these children into the room next
TO yourn. 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, so, | s'pose it's no matter IL
I'm kept awake all night, and worried
to death. But guess you'd find there d
be queer doin's here If should be taken
away. l wish the British would stay to
hum, and not lug their young ones here
for us to take care Of. Come, child,
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 remarking that "she was
mighty strong in her legs for a sick
baby"
After passing up dark stairway they
came 10 door, which opened under the
garrett stairs. and Mary was startled by
a voice which seemed to be almost over
her head, and which, between a sneer
and a hiss, called out, "See where the
immaculate Miss Grundy comesP' Mary
sprang in terror to Polly's side.
"Oh. what is itf" she said. as it
Patsy?"
Patsy" was the tart reply. "She ney-
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 a friendship with her
At present Mary followed her guide until
they came to a longer and lighter hall,
or "spaceway," as 1t 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
fa1 har -.
This is your room, and it's great IA
yor to you to be SO near me. But mind,
that child mustn't cry and keep me
awake nights, for II 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 Pollyr
why, yes. Pm staying here for a
spell now; kind of seeing things. Ny
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 awoke, the clouds
r1aFrfn0 roin ftpfIlxx
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
harsh voice exclaimed, "Wall, SO you are
up at last, hey? l didn't know but you
was goin' to take it upon you to sleep
over, but that don't answer here. Do you
think Yves goin' to support you In idle
ness"
Here, touched perhaps by the pale,
fearful face, uplifted to hers, Mrs. Grun-
dy's voice softened, and In a mider 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 forT asked
Mrs. Grundy, and Mary, with some hesi-
tation, answered, II haven't said my
prayers yet"
Grundy's face, and she turned away
~ow1 u
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 motley group which
she found assembled around the break
fast table, and as she entered the room
man called Uncle Peter smiled on her,
saying, Come here little daughter, and
let me touch you with the top OF my
fourth finger"
About noon the clouds broke away,
while here and there a patch of bright
blue sky was to be seen. But the roads
were so muddy that Mary had no hope
of Billy's coming, and this 1t was, per-
haps, which made the dinner dishes SO
hard to wash, and which made her cry
when told that all the knives and forks
must be secured the teakettle wiped and
set with its nose north, In what Mrs.
Grundy called the "Pout Hole" and
which proved proved to be a place under
the stairs, where pots, kettles and iron
ware generally were kept.
All things have an end, and so did the
securing, In spite of Mary's fears to the
contrary. and then watching time when
Mrs. Grundy did not see her, she stole
away upstairs. Taking Alice on her lap,
she sat down by the omen window where