The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-13

I'm badly hurt. l think my ankl
is broken"
Ruth looked. and saw the poor foo
hanging limp and twisted in its we'll
worn slipper.
1T is broken, Helen" she said. e"
will call Hazel. and send her for tn,
doctor at once"
But even in her extremity Mrs
Lovejoy stretched out a detainini
hand.
Please, Ruth, don't frighten her.
she said. Couldn't you so your
self? I'll stay quietly here till yoi
come back"
MY dear, think Hazel will wan
to go, and, anyway, I'm sure II is bes
TO tell her"
Then, as Ruth started toward tn,
parlor door. something which she al
ways says was an inspiration flashed
into her mind. The boldness OF 4
terrified her for moment and mad,
her pause, but only for moment
Then, with calm face but q littl,
sick feeling at her heart, she walket
through the hall and into the parlor
She paused only long enough to bow
to the caller. and then said. quietly,
Hazel, our poor servant has falleI
on the stairs and hurt herself badly
Can you go for the doctor?"
For just a second after she hat
uttered the terrible words. Ruth fell
afraid of the issue. IL Hazel should
fail-if the canker OF thoughtlessnes.
had eaten too deep-she knew that
she should never forgive either her.
self or her niece.
But the girl, as the meaning OF hei
aunt's words made itself plain to her,
rose to her feet, and over her face. &c
the very roots of her hair. poured a
flood of crimson which quickly gave
place 10 deadly pallor.
1T is my mother" she said, with
dignity which no one had ever no.
ticed in her before. lie me 70 al
once"
Then she turned to her visitor,
wholly Indifferent as TO the impres.
sion she might make, anxious only &c
atone for her previous Cowardice.
Il know you will excuse me. Mr..
Bennett" she said. 1t is my mother
who has fallen. My aunt is punish
ing me very justly for not having told
you, as | should, that the lady who
opened the door for you this after
noon was not our servant. but my
mother. We have 10 servant"
People had often said that Mr.. Ben.
nett was fastidious He may have
been, but he was also gentleman
The scorn which HazeIs confession
could hardly help arousing had no
chance 20 show itself i'm his face
Pity for the girls embarrassment and
suffering, and admiration for her
final courage and loyalty and frank
ness. blotted out every other feeling
1T was my mistake, Miss Love
joy he said, gravely. and ! am
afraid an objectionable one. | am
more sorry than | can tell you. q"
Then, before any one could object,
he had seized his hat and started for
the doctor"
lie found him and brought him
back, and remained TO help him lift
and move the sufferer; and by and
by, when there was no excuse for
staying longer. he said 10 Hazel's
aunt, with an almost boyish dihidence
and hesitancy:
Miss Loyejoy, please do not think
me presuming. but my father and
mother are both awey, and our SER
wants have almost nothing 10 do
VIII YOU not let me send one OF them
To help you--a woman who has been
with MS a great many years? She
would be most willing to come. and
I'm sure YOU would find her OF as
sistanCe.'
With all her independence, Aunt
Ruth was almost tempted TO accept
the offer, but il was Hazel who de-
cided the matter.
1T is very kind OF you. Mr.. Ben
nett she said, "and please don't
think us unappreciatiye; but just
now, at any rate, We shall get on very
we'll ] have vacation now, and ]
can give AN my time To my mother
has waited ON me all my life
She was equally determined when
her father came home and somewhat
cXcitedly urged the necessity both of
a nurse and a Kitchen girl She con
WINGED him although he knew IL
only TOO Well balore-that they could
not afOrd it, and she had her way.
Like an young pilgrims, Hazel
found the road long and sometimes
rough, and she travelled IL often with
aching feet But she never turned
back. and ia the long days which fol.
lowed, filled as they were from early
morn tin late at night with petty
household duties. she learned as she
could never have learned In any other
way tn. cost OF that mother-loye
which had 50 long aud jealousy shell
tered her.-Youth's Companion.
For Sp1DkS.