Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-01
man seeming 70 me matter of some

interest.
l was glad / did, for after some fly
minutes absence, during which he ha
followed her into the house, / saw hin
come back again in state Of sullen dis
pleasure, which disappeared as he cam
upon me still standing by the gate.
"Ah, Miss Butterworth, you can d.
me Il favor. The old creature is in on
Of her stubborn fits today and won
give me hearing. She may not be 81
deaf to you she isn't apt to be to wo
men. viii you cross the road then ant
speak to her: will go with you. You
needn't be afraid.
i The way he said this, the confidence
he expected to inspire, had almost q
CHASTITY effect upon me. Did he know OF
suspect that the only thing | feared III
this lane was he? Evidently not, for he
met my eye quite confidently.
1t would not do to shake his faith at
such moment as this, so calling upon
Providence to see me safely through this
adventure | stepped into the highway
and went with him into Mother Jane S
cottage.
Had had any other companion l
tunity. AS it was, | found myself ignor-
ing any possible danger | might be run
ming into in my interest III the remark
able interior to which l was thus intro
duced
Having been told that Mother Jane
was poor, l had expected to confront
squalor and possibly filth, but never
have entered a cleaner place or one in
which order made the poorest belong
ings look decent. The four walls We're
unfinished, and so We're the rafters
which formed the ceiling, but the floor,
neatly laid in brick, was spotless, and
the fireplace, also of brick, was as delft
ly swept as one could expect from the
little scrub / saw hanging by its side.
Crouched within this fireplace sat the
old woman we had come to interview.
Her back was to US, and she looked
helplessly and hopelessly deaf
ASK her., said William, pointing
at her with rude gesture, 'if she will
come to the house at sunset. My sisters
have some work for her to do. They
will pay her well. "
Going toward her, passed a rocking
chair, III the cushion of which dozen
patches met my eye. This drew my eyes
toward bed, over which Counterpart
was drawn made up Of 1000 pieces at
least OF colored calico, and noticing
their varied shapes and the intricacy
with which they were put together l
wondered whether she ever counted
them. The next moment | was at her
back.
Seventy, burst from her lips as |
leaned over her shoulder and showed
her the coin which l had taken pains to
have in my hand
Yours, - said 1, pointing i'll the di
rection of the house, 4" if you will do
some work for Miss knollys tonight
Slowly she shook her head before
burying it deeper in the shawl she wore
wrapped about her shoulders. Listening
4 minute, ! thought l heard her mutter:
Twenty eight, seven, but no more. /
IAN count no more. Go away'
But I'm nothing if not persistent
Feeling for her hands, which We're hid
len away somewhere under her shawl,
touched them with the coin and cried
gain:
This and more for small piece of
work tonight. Come, you are strong;
'arn it. -
"What kind of work is it, l asked
or it must have appeared
nnocently. of Mr. Knollys, who was
landing at my back.
He trowned, all the black devils i'll
lis heart coming into his look at once.
How do know! Ask Loreen; she's
h. one who sent me, | don take ac-
uuut If what goes on N the kitchen.
| begged his pardon, son -what sar-
| own, and made another at
empt to attract the attention Of the old
rome, who had remained perfectly cal
Gus to my allurements.
Il thought you liked money, | said
For Lizzie, you know, for Lizzie. -
But she only muttered i'll lower and
over guttcruls. Il can count no more"
nd disguised ut this failure before
William. being one who accounts fail
re as little short of disgrace, | drew
ack and made my way toward the
cor,
shes i'll different mood from what
le was yesterday when she snatched a
uarter from me at the first intimation
was hers don't think You can get
ar to do any work tonight. lnnocents
Ike these freaks. Isn't there some one r
Sc you can call in:'
The scowl that distgured his none
No handsome features was "A fitting pre-
lde to his words.
You talk, " said he, las if we had
lie whole village ut our command.
ow did You succeed with the lock-
NTH yesterday: Came, didn't he?
ell, that's what we have to expect
henever we want any help"
Whirling on his heel, he led the way =
1t of the hut, whittier l would have Z
followed if l had not stop.
d to take another look at the room,
hich struck me, even upon second
rutiny as one of the best ordered and
st kept | had ever entered. Even the
rings and strings of dried fruits and
getables which hung in festoons from
cry beam of the roof We're free from
list and cobwebs, and though the dish
We're few and the pans scarce they
ere bright and speckless, giving to the
elf along which they were ranged a
mblance of ornament
ssWjSa aupuf,b ta keen her hOuSp in Il