River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-07-21
Mrs. Peabody's
Conscience ~
By DOROTHY E. LEONARD
(Copyrght, 19Ol, b. DaIly story pub. e.

"Sakes alive, ma! If there amt MIS-
Peabody coming up the walk, and it's
most five o'clock"
Mrs. Moore peered out furtively be-
hind the curtain, then walked heavily
into the entry and opened the door.
The rays of the setting sun fell
obliquely across the path, lighting up
Mrs. Peabody's old black silk mantilla,
and the jet ornaments in her bonnet,
and touching her pale, patient face
with rosy tints.
"WeIl, Louise Peabody, if this amt
an unexpected pleasure!" cried Mrs.
Moore, in her deep voice, as her visitor
toiled up the steps. Dear me! You
are all of a tremble. Nothing hasn't
happened, has it?" the smile fading
from her face, as she took the hard,
thin hand extended to her.
ooh, no! I guess hurried so,' pant
ed the little woman. 1.-THE airs so
bracing to-day, 1 felt as if l couldn't
go slow. It's the ozone in it, so Fanny
says" she added, as she followed her
hostess into the sitting room.
Martha turned around and nodded
cordially, but did not rise. II guess
you'll excuse me under the circum-
stances" laughed she, my laps pref
ty full"
Mrs. Peabody laid aside her wraps
and sank into the nearest chair, her
heart beating like trip hammer. The
table was covered with profusion of
dainty materials and finished gar
ments and, from where she sat, she
could see that the work over which
the girl was bending was of an elabor-
ate description. She was sure now that
the report she had heard that morn
ing was true, and that Martha was go
ing to be married to Harry Summers.
AS she thought of it, and of Harry's
attentions to her own daughter Fanny,
during the past year, her brain seemed
to whirl At last she was conscious
that Mrs. Moore was addressing her.
you didn't hear me, Mis- Peabody.
Don't you want to see all we've got
done?"
Here take this seat by the window"
said Martha, rising, "you can't see we'll
over there"
BY great effort she mastered her
feelings, and, sitting down by the win
dow, silently examined the articles
shown to her.
why this is real lace, Marthy," she
said at last, in genuine surprise.
Eyes, there's to be a whole set
trimmed with that pattern" put in
the mother, proudly, 'but yet l do
think crochet is prettier and washes
better, too. Marthy does do crochet
wonderful"
80 does Fanny" said Mrs. Peabody
flushing suddenly.
Dear FAM" said Martha, "tell her
to come over Saturday and see my
things. Wait, ma! don't show her the
veil till light the lamp. The lights
all gone"
The veil would have seemed pretty
to far more critical eyes than Mrs.
Peabody's, but to the poor woman,
overwhelmed with the petty cares of
poverty stricken life, it was vision of
beauty. 1t was impossible to imagine
it on Martha's head; and Fanny's deli
cate beauty rose persistently before
her eyes until Mrs. Moore broke the
silence.
"Mr. Moore and l amt never goin'
to tell what we paid for that veil. Even
Martha don't know"
st used to be considered awful bad
luck to show the wedding Clothes" an
swered her guest struggling in vain
to suppress the jealousy which surged
in her heart.
ooh. we've got beyond such nonsense
now" laughed Martha, as she began
gathering up her treasures. Her plain,
coarse face was flushed and triumph
ant. Mrs. Peabody could not endure
to look at her. 81 just know how she
tried to get him from FANNY" the
poor woman thought to herself, "she
who has everything in the world she
wants, too"
At last it began to dawn on Mrs.
Moore that her visitor was very silent
and possibly bored.
Are Mr.. Peabody and the boys
well?" she asked.
YES"
And Fanny? We hear she's goin'
to have the school next year, too"
"Oh, that's fine for her." said Martha
carelessly.
Mrs Peabody's heart beat fast, her
brain was on fire. 81 guess Fanny'l
be hayin' something else to do then
beside teaching!" she said suggestively.
why, Louise, you don't say!" ejacu-
lated Mrs. Moore.
do you mean she's keeping COM
pany?" asked Martha, peering shrewd-
ly into the poor woman's face.
''Yes!" and for the first time in her
life Mrs. Peabody had told lie.
Il don't believe it," cried the girl
rudely
"Marthy!" said her mother, reprov-
ingly.
Well. it's awful queer nobody's
heard anything about it,"
Mrs. Peabody returned no answer.
She fingered the veil absently for few
minutes, then rose and walked slowly
to the door. well, goodnight, guess
I'd better be goin',' said she, and
stepped out bareheaded into the dark
ness. Martha ran after her and laid
a restraining hand Oh her arm. You'll
catch your death of cold, Mis- Pea
body! Don't mind what / said. Come
back and get your things on, and pail
drive you home"
81 don't see what took her So" said
the girl after they had helped her, I'M
resisting into the wagon, and gone
back to the house.