The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-15
Mrs. Peabody's
Conscience ~
By DOROTHY Z. LEONARD
(c0pyrisht. 1905. By Daily Story Pub. Co. ,

and Martha Moore turned her
head and looked out of the window.
"Sakes alive, ma! II 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.
'Well, Louise Peabody, II 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.
"Oh, no! / guess hurried so," pant
ed the little woman. The airs so
bracing to-day, felt as If I 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. 81 guess
you'll excuse me under the circum-
stances" laughed she, my laps pret-
ty full"
Mrs. Peabody. laid aside her wraps
and sank into the nearest chair. her
heart beating like a trip hammer. The
table was covered with a profusion of
dainty materials and half-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 whiri. 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
done7"
Here take this seat by the window .
said Martha, rising, you can't see well
over there"
BY a great effort she mastered hel
feelings. and, sitting down by the win.
dow, silently examined the articles
shown to her.
why this is real lace, Marthy," sh,
said at last. in genuine surprise.
Yes, there's to be a whole Sc
trimmed with that pattern" put fl
the mother. proudly, but yet i d.
think crochet is prettier and washes
better, too. Marthy does do croche
wonderful"
$50 does Fanny" said Mrs. Peabod.
flushing suddenly.
Dear FAM" said Martha, 'tell he
to come over Saturday and see m!
things. Wait, mai don't show her tn
veil till light the lamp. The light
all gone"
The veil would have seemed prett.
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 a vision o
beauty. 1t was impossible to imagin
It on Martha's head; and Fanny's dell
cate beauty rose persistently befor
her eyes until Mrs. Moore broke tn
silence.
Mr.. Moore and / amt never goir
to tell what we paid for that veil. Eve
Martha don't know"
/
luck to show the wedding clothes" an
swered her guest. struggling in val
to suppress the jealousy which surge
in her heart.
"Oh. we've got beyond such nonsens
now" laughed Martha, as she bega
, gathering up her treasures. Her plair
coarse face was flushed and triumph
ant. Mrs. Peabody could not endur
to look at her 81 Just know how sh
, tried to get him from Fanny!" tn
poor woman thought to herself, "sh
!, who has everything in the world sh
wants. too"
= At last 1t began to dawn on Mr.
Moore that her visitor was very siler
and possibly bored.
"Are Mr.. Peabody and the boy
well?" she asked.
: "Yes."
"And Fanny? We hear she's goil
, to have the school next year. too"
"Oh, that's fine for her." said Marth
! carelessly.
A Mrs. Peabody's heart beat fast, h,
3 brain was on fire. i guess Fanny
y be havin' something elsa to do the
: beside teaching," she said suggestivel
why, Louise. you don't say!" ejacl
: lated Mrs. Moore.
do you mean she's keeping con
d pany?" asked Martha. peering shrew'
ly into the poor woman's face.
, "Yesl" and for the first time in h
e life Mrs. Peabody had told a lie.
81 don't believe it," cried the 81
: rudely.
. "Marthyl" said her mother. repro
a ingly.
L We'll. it's awful queer nobody
heard anything about it,"
Mrs. Peabody returned no answe
q She fingered the veil absently for fe
minutes. then rose and walked slow
TO the door. well. goodnight. que
, I'd better be goin'." said she, al
e stepped out bareheaded into the dar
;. ness. Martha ran after her and Ia
It o restraining hand on her arm. You
o catch your death OF cold. Mis- Pc
y bodyi Don't mind what I said. Cor
4 back and get your things on, and pa
: drive you home"
81 don't see what took her So" sa
the girl after they had helped her, u
~ resisting into the wagon. and go
back to the house.
"oh, l guess it was the heat o. {
re room after walking so fast" return
& her mother placidiy. but you d
lie speak up mighty loud and sassy to h
n Marthy. and mebbe that turned b