Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-20

her too lar out OF the reach OF the
boy, and made new connection
among the farming folk Of the Fell
country. f
Just outside the village of Langtoa,
where the road is wide, with
stretches of grass on either side, Is
Ingleton's Farm. The house stands
well back behind its trim patch of
garden, but beyond /. the farm build
ings come down close to the road.
Just within the hedge, against the
shipper, there is an old lean-to shed,
long ago fallen into disuse, which
only awaited an interval of leisure or
a spell Of unusual activity on Farmer
Ingleton's part to be pulled down.
Two years ago Marget's wande.ings
came to an end, and she took UP her
abode in this shed. She had been In
stalled there some days before any
one discovered ner, and she was al
ready as much at home as II she had
lived there all her life. When 1t was
understood that she meant to live
here altogether. it became quite a
scandal among the responsibilities Of
the neighborhood, and the farmer
was sternly taken to task by the vicar
for aiding and abetting Marget in her
refusal to go decently to the work
house. But Ingleton carried a very
tender heart beneath rough exterior
and his sympathies were altogether
on the side Of the old woman.
1--WE no fancy for the wo.knouse
myself" he said to his wife; land
they would not let ner stop here.
They'd send her to Worcestershire,
and we don't know what sort Of a
place they have there. So long as
Marget keeps the place clean, and
lights no fire inside the. shed, she's
welcome to STOP"
So he refused to cooperate with
the vicar and patched up the old shed
to make 1t waterproof, With little
straw and bundle Of sweet hay as
bedding and an old packing case or
two in lieu of furniture, Crazy Mar
get was as proud OF her dwelling as
II it mad been a palace; and on fine
days she might be seen, with a fire
lighted close to the roadside brook.
hanging her washing out on the
hedge In serene indifference OF all
laws of vulgar etiquette.
It was in these circumstances that
made her acquaintance. came
upon the little encampment -one day,
and thought it so picturesque chat I
sat down to make sketch. In tina
Marget and became quite intimate,
and discovered that her Greatness"
was nothing worse than a mania for
cleanliness. She would walk miles
on the promise of bit of soaA and
It was the one thing she had ever
been known to beg for. By degrees I
drew from her all her story, but in
speaking OF her son she showed a
certain amount of reserve. She was
very proud of him. He was son any
mtoher might be proud of, she told
me me-. He Hell had -neyee s4#eaa her any
trouble; good scholar, and could
read and write like a gentleman-he
was always fond of his books. was
James. He was tailor by trade.
Yes; she had thought it out careful,
and the tailor's was a good trade.
where you always had roof over
your head. James had seen enough
Of living in the fields when he was a
baby-it was all very well for an old
woman, but man had a right to
look for something better.
you'd never think he was my
son." she said, with sudden glow
of pride, "in his black coat, an his
hat all a-shining."
well, Marget, why don't you go
to live with James, instead Of stop
ping in this tumble down shed?"
said.
"Eh? Live with James! Eth, my
dear, that would never do. Why, he
have grand little house, and wife
and all, James have; and think what
the neighbors and them would say
An could never live in town
sakes no, they puts their washing
out!"
HE ought to do something for
you, Marget," said
do something's" she said eagerly.
"Why, sir. the very last time he was
here he give me shilling. There's
not many sons is like my James,"
"Then he does come to see you
sometimes?"
She nodded at me with q sudden
air of mystery.
81 don't tell they folk" she said,
pointing towards the village. Il
would neved do for the likes of them
to know. Eth, no; James is not the
one to forget his old mother. He
comes o. nights, so he not be seen
It's bit now since he came, three
months-well, very near four; maybe
he'll come down tonight, maybe next
week. I'm no great sleeper, and
when lies down nights, l leaves
the door slanting open, SO can hear
better, an keeps listenin, listenin'
for footsteps on the road from Fazer.
ley. There's bit O. paving by the
church, and there they sounds quite
loud, and then they dies off in the
lane till they gets quite near the
farm. And when they gets as close as
that l can tell my sons step from all
the village. It's quick, light step
like as if he was hurrying. 1t passes
the time, listenin' out, an when
there's no more footsteps it's very
near daylight, and time to get up
Eth, yes; he's good son to me
James s."-Waverley Magazine.
WEDDING PRACTICAL.