Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-08-04
Mrs. Peabody's
Conscience ~
By DOROTHY Z. LEONARD
tcOpyrigh.. lso.. b. Daily story Pub. oO.l

and Martha Moore turned ht
head and looked out Of the window.
"Sakes alive, ma! II there amt MI
Peabody coming up the walk, and 1t
most five o'clock"
Mrs. Moore peered out furtively BIZ
hind the curtain, then walked heavil
into the entry and opened the dool
We'll, Louise Peabody, II this ain
an unexpected pleasure!" cried Mri
Moore, in her deep voice, as her visito
toiled up the steps. Dear me! Yol
are all of a tremble. Nothing hasn'
happened, has III" the smile fading
from her face, US she took the hard
thin hand extended to her.
"Oh, no! guess l hurried So" pant
ed the little woman. 1.-THE airs 81
bracing to-day, l felt as If l couldn'
go slow. It's the ozon in 1t, so Fanny
says" she added, as she followed bel
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 pref
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-fnished 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 nov 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 1t, 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 well
over there
BY a 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 do
think crochet is prettier and washes
better, too. Marthy does do crochet
wonderful"
$50 does Fanny" said Mrs. Peabody
suddenly.
Dear FAM" said Martha, tell her
to come over Saturday and see my
Wait, ma! don't show her the
veil till l light the lamp. The lights
all gone"
The veil would have seemed pretty
to far more critical eyes than Mrs.
but to the poor woman,
overwhelmed with the petty cares of a
stricken life, 1t was a vision Of
1t was impossible to imagine
It on Martha's head; and Fanny's deli
,ate beauty rose perslstently before
Ter eyes until Mrs. Moore broke the
"Mr. Moore and l amt eve goin'
tell what WI paid for that veil. Even
Martha don't know"
at used TO be considered awful bad
uck to show the wedding Clothes" an
wered her guest, struggling In vain
o suppress the jealousy which surged
n her heart.
"Oh. we've got beyond such nonsense
laughed Martha, as she began
altering up her treasures. Her plain,
oarse face was flushed and triumph
mt. Mrs. Peabody could not endure
D look at her. II just know how she
ried to get him from Fanny" the '
COR woman thought to herself, "she I
'ho has everything In the world she
ANTS, too" 6
At last 1t began to dawn on Mrs.
that her visitor was very silent I
nd possibly bored.
Are Mr.. Peabody and the boys t
she asked. c
YES" u
And Fanny? We hear she's goin' a
have the school next year, too" t
ooh, that's fine for her" said Martha n
lrelessly. I
Mrs. Peabody's heart beat Fast, her A
rain was on fire. 81 guess Fanny1l y
J havin' something else to do then .
side teachingl" she said suggestlvely. +
why, Louise, you don't say!" ejacu-
led Mrs. Moore. 81
do you mean she's keeping COM "
asked Martha, peering shrewd- u
into the poor woman's face.
"Yes!" and for the first time in her "
{ lirs. Peabody had told a lie. n
q don't believe it," cried the girl -
dely. a.
"Marthy!" said her mother, reprov- W
sly.
well. it's awful queer nobody's h
ard anything about III" a
Mrs. Peabody returned no answer. CO
Ie fingered the veil absently for a few Ii
then rose and walked slowly ca
tic door. Well. goodnight, | guess g
h14t.- h. oasnBH sasl H. - III