Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-21
Mrs. Peabody's
 Conscience @
Copyright. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Col
By DOROTHY E. LEONARD

dttu McILlld smOOI0 JuTuGU uSI head and looked out of the window
 "sakes alive. ma! If there ain't Mis- Peabody coming up the walk, and it's most five o'clock.
 Mrs. Moore peered ort furtiyeiy be. hind the curtain. then walked heavily into the entry and opened the door
 .'Well, Louise Peabody, If this aint an unexpected pleasure!'. cried Mrs Moore, in her deep voice, as her visitor tofled Up the steps. Dear ne! You gre all of 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! I guess hurried so." pant ed the little woman The airs 50 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 T 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 trip hammer. The table was covered with profusion ot dainty materials and half-fnished gar ments; and, from where she sat, she could sec 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 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.
 "Yss, there's to be whole set trimmed with that pattern, put in the mother, proudly, but yet I do think crochet is prettier and washes better, too. Marthy does do crochet wonderful!'
 80 does Fanny!" said Mrs. Peabody flushing suddenly.
 Dear Fan!" said Martha, tell her ao 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 a poverty stricken life, it was vision of beauty It was impossible to imagine it on Martha's head; and Fanny's deli cate beauty rose consistently before her eyes until Mrs. Moore broke the silence.
 MT. Moore and ain't never goin' to tell what we paid for that veil. Even Martha don't know
 "It 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.
 "Oh. 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. T 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 boya 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. II guess FannY'H be navin' 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, pcering shrewde ly into1 the poor woman's face.
 ''Yes!" aad 2or the first time in her life Mrs. Peabody had told lie.
 \ don't believe it!" cried the girl rudeiy
 ''Marthyi" said her mother, reprov- tngly.
 Well, it's awful queer nobody's hoard anything about 1t!
 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 betber be goin','' said she. and stepped out bareheaded into the dark ness. Martha ran after her and laid a restraining hand on her arm. You'll catch your death of cold, Mis- Pea body! Don't mind what I said. Come back and get your things on, and pail drive you home"
 q don't see what took her so," said