The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-11-08

RNSaSA ndSt4i5 OPChg anu 81IS- 0iuAuy
harsh voice exclaimed. WALL so you are
up at last, hey? l didn't know but you
was goin' to take 1t upon you to sleep
over, but that don't answer here. Do you
think we's 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 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 hesi-
tation, answered, II haven't said my
prayers yet"
A 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
she found assembled around the break
fast table, and as she entered the room
a 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 it 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'scoured, the teakettle wiped and
set with its nose north, in what Mrs.
Grundy called the ''Pout Hole" and
which proved proved to be 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 a time when
Mrs. Grundy did not see her, she stole
away upstairs. Taking Alice on her lap,
she sat down by the open window where
the damp air cooled and moistened her
flushed face. The rain was over, and
across the meadow the sun was shining
through the tall trees, making the drops
of water which hung upon the leaves
sparkle and fash In the sunlight like SO
many tiny rainbows. Mary watched them
for time, and then looking into the
road, she saw directly opposite the house
Billy Bender and with him Alice's cradle.
In a moment Mary's arms were thrown
around his neck as tightly as II she
thought he had the power and was come
to take her away.
'"Oh, Billy, Billy" said she. 81 was
afraid you would not come, and 1t made
me so unhappy"
AS Billy released her he was startled
at hearing some one call out, bravo!
That, / conclude, Is a country hug.
hope she won't try 1t on mep'
Turning about he saw before him a
white-faced boy, nearly of his own age,
whose dress and appearance indicated
that he belonged to higher grade. as far
as wealth was concerned. 1t was Henry
Lincoln, notorious both for pride and in
science. Billy, who had worked for Mr..
Lincoln, had beer insulted by Henry
many time, and now he longed to
avenge it, but native pollteness taught
him that in the presence of Mary 'twould
not be proper, so without a word to Hen
ry he whispered to the little girl, THAT
fellow lives near here, and If he ever
gives you trouble just let me know"
Kissed her then, didn't your" sneer-
ingly asked Henry, retreating at the same
time, for there was something In Billy's
eyes which he feared.
Come into the house." said Mary,
"where he can't see u.s." and leading the
way she conducted him up to her own
room, where there was no fear of being
interrupted
Alice was first carefully fixed in her
cradle, and then kneeling down at Billy's
side, and laying her arms across his lap,
Mary told him of everything which had
happened. and finished by asking, "how
long she must stay here?"
Had Billy's purse been as large as his
heart, that question would have easily
been answered. Now he could only shake
his head in reply, while Mary next ask
ed if he had seen Ella.
II have not seen her." returned he, but
I've heard that rainy as It was this morn
ing, Mrs: Campbell's maid was out select
ing muslins and jaconets for her, and
they say she is not to wear black, as Mrs.
Campbell thinks her too young"
Mary did not speak for some time, but
her head dropped on Billy's knee, and
she seemed to be intently thinking. At
last, brushing aside the hair which had
fallen over her forehead, Billy said:
What are you thinking about?"
II was wondering il Ella wouldn't for
get me and Alice now she is rich and go
ing to be lady"
Billy had thought the same thing, and
lifting the little girl in his lap, he replied:
IF she does, l never will" and then he
told her again how when he was older
and had money he would take her from
the poorhouse and send her to school, and
that she should some time be as much OF
a lady as Ella.
(To be continued)