Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-04-18


Knight, and whispered, as she pointed
toward the figure, which was now laugh
ing hideously: what is it? Are there
many such here?'
''Don't be afeerd,' said Mr.. Knight;
chats nobody but foolish Patsy; she
never hurt anybody in her life. Come,
now, let me show you to the overseer."
And he led her toward the red-whisker-
ed man, who stood in the door.
Here, Parker" said he, 1--WE brought
them children l was tellin' you about.
You've room for 'em, l s'pose?"
"Why, ye-es, 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 a chair near the
window, she would have cried; but there
was tightness in her throat, and a pres
sure about her head and eyes which kept
the tears from flowing. She pressed her
hands tightly and said, "Oh, l hope
| shan't faint"
ITO 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't
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 very short dress, and a
very high-crowned cap, fastened under
her chin with bows of skyblue 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, $50, 1 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 doins here if 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 |
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 70 a door, which opened under the
| garnet stairs, and Mary was startled by
voice which seemed to be almost over
her head. and which, between a sheer
and a hiss, called out, "See where the
immaculate Miss Grundy comesr' Mary
! sprang in terror to Polly's side.
ooh, what is it?" she said. SIS it
Patsy?'
Patsy" was the tart reply. Z" 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 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 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. My
name isn't Polly. It's Mary Grundy, and
somehow folks have got to nicknamng
me Polly, but it'll look more mannerly
in you to call me Mrs. Grundy; but what
am thinking of? The folks must have
their supper.
That night Mice, 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
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' 5
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 ives 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 milder tone
she added. I'VE won't mind about it, see
in its the first morning; but, come
you must be hungry by this time
Mary glanced at Alice. She was sleep
ing sweetiy, and. though there seemed to