The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-09-24

the living roam. Bill must f. tha,
up into a or-double-ouick too
Dye hear. Mr.. Taney?" laugbinr
loudly. You needn't trouble your
SELF ma am, to show the way. Com,
along, all OF you"
William stopped and looked will
sudden pity at his mother. and the,
followed his wife. who went. talkin,
loudly. up the stairs.
Mrs. Taney and Lefty placed tn,
supper on the table. The bride cam,
in, the noisiest OF the noisy party
She went hastily to the head OF tn
table saying, "This is my place,
believe"
william gravely motioned hi
mother to Seat among the strangers
His wife bore herself as though sh,
mad been mistress for years. anr
found fault freely when the humoI
suited her. The. bread was dry a.
chat, the ham was bitter with salt
she said.
That's your idea of cooking. Moth.
er fancy, eh? Ill give you a hint o,
TWO tomorrow. We young people
have progressed. you know. Not that
! mean TO take the work out of their
hands," she said to her sister aside
f"No' no! If we feed 'em, they've got
to earn their bread"
Lefty overheard the whisper. and
her scared face grew E shade paler
Very nice old silver, Williaml'
said the bride. directly, weighing the
spoons on her finger. and then read.
Ing. the mark. Cleveland eh >
You must have that altered. please
TO our Initials. l can't use spoons
with strange names on EN-"
F William glanced uneasily at his
mother. But the latter did not sneak
Very well. my dear. it shall be as
you please" he said.
! Meanwhile. Mr.. Burke had taken
lodgings with a neighboring farmer
He kept a close scrutiny on Lettv
solely for her mothers sake, he told
himself. SAe met the "beery fellow
twice, and took long walks with him:
she received letters from him by
mail. The geologfst found that this
matter interested him more than his
fossils, even.
One morning Lefty came into the
room when William stood joking with
his wife before going to the field
They looked at her with astonish.
ment, for the girl was always silent
and shy.
Brother. want to speak to you,
she said, catching her breath.
We'll. go on" said Sophy. impa-
tiently. What are you afraid Off"
Lefty spoke directly to William. ig-
noring her. The potatoes and apples
must be picked over, and the cellars
are damp. Could one of the hands
do it?,"
Good gracious! Do you want the
harvesting to stop?" cried Sophy.
You and Mother Taney can do it at
your leisure. Do you suppose your
brother pays men such ruinous wages
to wait on lot OF women?"
You have always done it," said
William.
Mother is not we'll, William"
We'll, manage it as you like. ]
can't be bothered with the kitchen
work" he burst. out.
Lefty left the room hastily.
That's right, William. The truth
Is, you're too open-handed. You can't
afford to keep a parcel Of able-bodied
women in idleness, if you ever mean
to buy the meadow lots"
That's a fact!" The mention of
the lots keyed his courage.
e. When he came back that afternoon
he found Sophy resplendent in a
pink-fowered muslin entertaining
half dozen girls in the parlor. He
stopped to joke and romp with them.
The next moment the door opened.
and Lefty stood like a ghost on the
threshold. So.
Come to mother!r she said.
What is the matter?"
"You have killed her. 1 think, d"
quietly.
The poor old woman had sunk
down on the floor of the cellar. and
lay as IL dead.
William trembled as he lifted her.
The doctor Of the village happened to
pass at. that moment.
. No, she is not dead" he said, after
examining her. "Great exhaustion.
1t will be a long illness.. She must
have rest and careful nursing"
Lefty stepped forward "She Will
have both. Mr.. Burke, will you carry
her to Mrs. Wrights-across the
road?' She has promised to give me
a, room.".
The crowd about her were so
stunned at the chiId's action that they
did nothing to oppose 1t.
Mr.. Burke promptly lHted the thin
ngure IN his arms. and had laid hsz