Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-04-29
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"Hush!' she said softly, holding up
her hand; and saw 1t was as thin and
transparent as if she had been III.
my names Smith," 1 said, taking
out screw-driver. my machine, how
does it go? Thought I'd come and
see."
Her face lit up moment, and she
came forward eagerly.
II am SO glad you've come" she
said. II can't quite manage this"
She pointed to the thread-regulator,
and the next minute was showing her
that it was too tight, and somehow, in
gentle, timid way, the little witch
quite got over me, and 1 stopped there
two hours helping her, till her eyes
sparkled with delight, as she found out
how easily she could now make the
needle dart in and out of the hard
material.
"Do you think you can do it now?"
1 asked.
"Oh, yes, think so, 1 am so glad
you came"
$50 am L." says I, gruffiy; ut will
the money, and pay for it."
"And will work so hard" she said
earnestly.
THAT you will, my dear" I says,
IN spite Of myself, for I felt sure It
wasn't me speaking, but something in
me. HAS she been Ill long?" 1 said,
nodding toward her mother.
Months" she said, with the tears
starting in her pretty eyes; but" she
| added brightly, Il shall have enough
with this to buy her good medicines
and things she can fancy; and as l
looked at her, something in me said,--
"God bless you, my dear! l hope
you will'; and the next minute was
going down stairs, calling myself a
fool.
They thought didn't know at home,
but 1 did; there was the wife going
over and over again to Benefits place;
and all sorts of nice things were made
and taken there. l often used to see
them talking about 1t, but 1 took no
notice; and that artful scoundrel, my
boy Luke, used to pay the half-crown
every week out Of his own pocket, after
going to fetch it from the widows.
And all the time 1 told myself
didn't like it, for 1 could see that Luke
was changed, and always thinking of
that girl-a girl not half good enough
for him. 1 remembered being poor my
self, and 1 hated poverty, and l used
| fn Il ho rel 70 7
and feel very bitter.
At last came an afternoon when
knew there was something wrong. The
wife had gone out directly after din
ner, saying she was going to see sick
woman-I knew who it was, bless you!
and Luke was fidgeting about, not
himself; and at last he took his hat
and went out.
''They might have confided in me-"
said bitterly; yet all the time l knew
that l wouldn't let them. They'll be
spending money-throwing it away.
know they've spent pounds on them al
ready"
At last 1 got in such a way that
called down our foreman, left him in
charge and took my hat and went after
| them
Everything was very quiet in Ben
netts place, for couple of dirty, de-
jected looking women, one Of whom
was In arrears TO me, had sent the
children that played in the court away,
because o. the noise and were keeping
guard so that they should not come
back.
l went up the stairs softly, and all
was very STILL only as 1 got nearer to
the room l could hear bitter, wailing
cry, and then l opened the door gently,
and went in.
| Luke was there, standing with his
head bent by the sewing machine; the
wife sat in a chair, and on her knees,
with her face buried in the wife's lap,
was the poor girl, crying as If her little
heart would break; while on the bed,
with all the look Of pain gone out Of
her face, lay the widow-gone to meet
her husband where pain and sorrow
are no more.
| l couldn't see very plainly, for there
was a mist like before my eyes; but
/ know Luke flushed up as he took a
step forward, as If to protect the girl,
and the wife looked at me in a fright
ened way.
| But there was no need, for some
thing that wasn't me spoke, and that
in very gentle way, as l stepped for
ward, raised the girl up, and kissed her
pretty face before laying her little help
less head upon my shoulder, and