Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-09-09
CHAPTER XXI

oen. Truly her sun had set and, as ]
predicted, she was vending her way
home. She cried out at sight of me
and, instead of giving me a welcome, she
hid her face and moaned. | felt no ami
mostly toward her now; whatever she
had done, she had been bitterly punish.
ed. L took her in my arms and tried to
comfort her.
ANNIE" 1 said, my poor Annie, tell
me what has happened to you, that ]
find you like this?"
We soon discovered the cause of her
weakness was hunger. The poor thing
had spent her last shilling, and had not
eaten a crust since the morning; and.
had We not found her, she would have
spent that night starving in the streets.
1t was the work of a few moments for
John Rudd to run out and return with
food. When she came wholly to herself
again, she looked at me, dreading lest |
should question her again; and | thought
1t better to let my questions rest.
ANNIE" l said. do you feel strong
enough to go now? l must take you with
me to my rooms. | can't leave you here!''
She was too i'll to offer much resist
ance; so, after had paid the few shil-
lings that she was owing, we left that
miserable den together-Annie. still faint
and very weak, leaning heavily upon me.
John Rudd had quietly kept in the back
ground, thinking that his presence might
serve to further upset Annie. He now
as unObtrusively took his departure, af-
ter having whispered in my ear that he
would call for us in the morning. l
took his hint, and determined to act upOn
1t.
The night was very cold, and as we
left the houses and passed down the
street, facing the chilly wind, l felt
Annie tremble violently, so / hurried her
along and we soon reached the house
where | had taken my rooms. Had L
not crept into such good odor through
my acquaintance with honest John Rudd,
l should have been almost afraid to take
Annie into the house; as it was, l ex-
pected a cold greeting; but to my amaze
ment we were received with open arms.
l afterward discovered that John Rudd
had been before us, and had prepared
the way for our coming. SO when the
door was opened the landlady, who was
a good kind soul, came forward and al
most took poor Annie in her arms, and
led her, h~alf-fainting, up to the little
sitting room.
L gave her my bed room that night,
and, rolling myself in a rug, lay down
on the sofa in my little sitting room and
tried to sleep: but it was impossible, and
after a while l got up and began to walk
about the room. Annie's room adjoined
minn. 60 GOULD ham th % che 100 xxroa
awake and crying bitterly. In the morn
Ing matters were considerably worse;
poor Annie was delirious. Her pale face
was flushed, her eyes vacant, and she
cried pitifully on someone to come to her.
At 10 o'clock, John Rudd's wagon
stopped at the door; a few moments later
honest John himself was before me. 1
took him to the bedside and showed him
my poor cousin, and his eyes filled with
tears as he looked at her. Then we both
went back to the other room.
"Measter Hugh" said John, what do
zee mean to daw, sir?"
81 shall wait here till Annie gets bet
ter" l said; then 1 shall persuade her
to come home. You will be back again
on Thursday, won't you"
iCs, uHu may nap Bic III Do wen
enough by then to come. Wen make her
a bed / the avid wagon and take her
careful, Measter Hugh!"
Never in my life had 1 thought so
much of the hOnest-hearted carrier as
now, when | saw him shedding tears for
my poor cousin.
When John Rudd came on the Thurs
day, he found her sitting up in bed, able
to recognize him and talk to him, but still
too weak TO walk into the adjoining room.
Nothing was said about going away that
day; but | judged that she would be
able to make the attempt on the follow
ing Monday, the day of the carriers re-
turn.
On the Sunday morning, therefore,
when she had left her bed room, and sat
in the arm chair by the sitting room fire,
l took her poor thin hand in mine, and
said:
"Annie, my dear, do you feel strong
enough to take a journey? John Rudd
will be here tomorrow, and 1 want to
take you home"
1t was pitiful to see her face. "Oh,
Hugh! | can't go!" she cried. ~ cant
face father, it would kill me! You 60,
and leave me-try to forget you have
seen me, and they will never know"
"Annie," l said, 'the time has come
when you must tell me the whole truth.
When we met in London, you said you
were a married woman. Was that true,
or falseT
"When l told you, l thought 1t was
true. He said | was his wife. We went
before a sort of lawyer together in Plym-
outh, and though 1 prayed core to be
wed in church, he said it was the same
thing. Afterwards, when we quarreled,
he told me that the man was in his pay,
and that it was no marriage at all. That
was why l left him, and went out into
the streets to %starve."
"Now. answer me-" 1 cried, "who Is
the man? If he is living, he shall make
amends"
1900 late, too late!" she cried.
SIS he dead?'
"No Huph. he IL liyin0fu