Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

night, was Ambrose! He leaped the wall
and stood beside her.
Don't You say a word against my
mothe She was up on her feet and
backed against the barn, at bay.
Il amt goin'-'
Don't you say a word against my
mother" Her voice was a shrek.
Ambrose gently opened her clenched
him. The angle of the barn hid them
alike from his house and from hers.
I've known this before. Saloam." His
voice was only serious, not tragic.
The girl rocked herself back and forth.
''Ohl OIL oh! tried to keep 1t. I tried
to keep it!' she repeated necessarily.
With one hand Ambrose held her hands.
with the other he stroked her hair tender
ly. Poor little girl!' he said once to
himself, his voice deep with pity.
Soothed in spite Of herself. Saloam gave
him quick glance. He was smiling down
down on her with infinite love-
How come you to be here?
Miss Wren took one of her poor turns
with her head. an 1 promised I'd stay
with her till Nate could raise her daughter
long Bashan road. So. not ter put Cap'n
Wisdom out on his cruise. sent him an
Nate on together. he'd Jest come out
ter look at the ounces when I see your
mother"
How did you know f1rst?' saloanA
turned her face, white with suffering. to
him.
Ambrose. still stroking her hair. an
swered in his quiet drawl:
TWAS a night last week. Old Bully
warn't we'll. an I'd come out on the mid
die O. tn night ter tn barn, fur thought
1 heard him kickin'. think a sight O
tibet horse, though he is so old. for father
always drove him. When come out O. tn
barn I see somethin' movin' over here.
I donno jest what 1 expected ter find. but
crep' over kind O. careful hidin' en-
them same bushes. an. pretty quick 1
made out your mother
'Oh!' Saloam struggled to- rise
Ambrose held her back gently with his
big hands.
How long We known, honey?"
-Four nights ago.
-Four nights! Well, now" he laughed
softly. IAN I thought We wuz sick or tn
Ye couldn't tell me? No, I suppose We
couldn't"
III you tell any one-if you speak to
her-Ambrose Treadway. I won't answer
for what I'll do to you
. 'Saloam. we listen ter me an believe me-
tew. for I'm giving we tn square truth.
Her miserable eyes met his full of an
assurance Of love and help. Eye an me
don't think jest tn same bout your
mother always but there amt two minds
between us, there amt two minds en- this
town bout yer mothers unrightness. She's
good woman. an honest woman. Ever
since / wuz born I've liv6d neighbor ter
her an I know she'd starve before she'd
take potater that warn't hers rightly.
She'd put one O. my apples back eff ct
blew over tn fence fore she'd touch ct.
Now. I'm a-comin' ter the hull pint.
Yer mother deems tibet South Piece es
hers. Yeve told me so yeself an mother
tor me fore she died how Widow Judd
amt never give en- ter tn decision o. tn
courts concernin' ct. 'Twarn't but a
week ago 1 heard her myself a-tellin' We
right here tibet tn land an every vege-
table a-growin' there wuz hers.
'Saloam.' each word seemed pondered
over as it came from him, do We call ter
mind a sermon Elder Watrous preached
a week ago Sabbath? Twas bout tn
smallness O. tn Importance O. folks acts
an tn awful bigness O. tn motives tibet
made 'em commit 'em. / amt much on
carryin' away words commonly, but I've
kept hold on these ne said: Motive is
the essence of moral Distinction There's
bout all tn world en- them words. tn
height an depth O. ct. I've chewed on
'em constable. goin' over en- my mind
things I've done an things others has
done ter me.