Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-05-13
The whole Crawford family had ac-

hOio hCi SLOdho.
When poor Mrs. Taney stepped for
ward, therefore, her thin face red
dening, and her hands held out, the
bride received her welcome with a
careless nod.
Il hope you will be happy in your
new home, my DEAR" said the gentle
lady.
"Oh. no doubt, ma'am! 1 generally
hold my own pretty well. Come in,
pappy. Come, sue. 1 want you to see
my house before it is dark. Here's
the living room. Bill must fit that up
into parlor-double quick, too. Dye
i hear that, Mr.. Taney
loudly. "You needn't trouble yourself,
ma'am, to show the way. Come along,
all of you"
William stopped, and looked with
sudden pity at his mother, and then
followed his wife, who went, talking
loudly, up the stairs. (,
Mrs. Taney and Lefty placed the
supper on the table. The bride came
in, the noisiest of theSnoisy party. She
went hastily to the head Of the table
saying,
This is my place, 1 believe
William gravely motioned his moth
er to seat among the strangers. His
wife bore herself as though she had
been mistress for years, ana found
fault freely when the humor seized
her. The bread was dry as chaff, the
ham was bitter with salt, she said.
That's your idea of cooking, moth
er Taney, eh? I'll give you a hint or
two, tomorrow. We young people
have progressed, you know"
mot tnat l mean to take the work
out of their hands, she said to her
sister. aside. mo, no! If we feed
'em they've got to earn their bread"
Lefty overheard the whisper, and
her scared face grew a shade paler.
VERY nice old silver, William" said
the bride, directly, weighing the
spoons on her finger, and then read
ing the mark.
Cleveland, eh? You must have
that altered, please, to our initials. 1
can't use spoons with strange names
on 'em."
William glanced uneasily at his
mother. But the latter did not speak.
"very well, my dear, it shall be as
you please" he said.
One morning Lefty came into the
room, when William stood joking with
his wife before going to the field. They
looked at her with astonishment for
the girl was always silent and shy.
Brother, l want to speak to you,"
she said, catching her breath.
"Well, go on" said Sophy, impa-
tiently. "What are you afraid Off"
Lefty spoke directly to william, ig-
noring her. "The potatoes and apples
must be picked over, and the cellars
are damp. Could one of the hands do
it?"
Good gracious Do you want har-
vesting to stop?" cried Sophy. you
and mother Taney can do it at your
leisure. Do you suppose your brother
pays men such ruinous wages to wait
on lot Of women?"
''You have always done it." said
William.
Mother is not well, William"
well, manage it as you like. l
can't be bothered with the kitchen
work." he burst out.
Lefty left the room hastily.
"Thats right, William. The truth
is, you're too open-handed. You can't
afford parcel of able-bodied women
in idleness, if you ever mean to buy
the meadow lots"
That's a factv'
The mention of the meadow lots
keyed his courage.
When he came back that afternoon
he found Sophy, resplendent in pink
flowered muslin entertaining half a
dozen girls in the parlor. He stopped
to Joke and romp with them. The
next moment the door opened, and
Lefty stood, like ghost, on the
threshold.
"Come to motherw she said.
"What is the matter?"
you have killed her, 1 think" she
said quietly.
The poor old woman had sunk down
on the floor Of the cellar and lay as
If dead.
William trembled as he lifted her
The doctor of the village happened to
pass at the moment.
mo, she is not dead" he said, after
examining her. "Great exhaustion. II
will be long illness. She must have
rest and careful nursing"
Lefty stepped forward.
| uGho will hova both Ar D,,.i-.