Year: 1872

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Tucker regarded her for an instant with SUR
prise; then sudden, swift lifting of the eye
brows showed that she comprehended the case.
She leaned forward and said, in low tone: {:


II understand your husband is not living.
I am sorry spoke oft. What fine healthy
baby yours is"


There was gentle, womanly accent in her
voice, which did not escape Harvey's ear and
the ready tact with which she had covered
the poor creatures embarrassment, turning
instantly from the painful theme to that which
would naturally be most consoling, pleased
and touched him. He look at the over-dress-
ed, loud-voiced factory girl with more Of gen.
uine admiration than he had ever bestowed on
any woman. Indeed, he was not an admirer
of women in general. A bachelor of forty,
we'll born, good looking and rich, he might
well have been mark for managing mammas
and designing daughters, had he chosen to
put himself in their way. But he was not
partial to female society. The truth was, he
had in his youth, when not so prosperous as
now, been rather badly treated by beautiful
but worldly girl, who, after encouraging his
suit, suddenly Tilted him for wealthier rival.
The experience had possibly somewhat sha-
ken his faith in women in general ; at least it
had given him distaste for their society.
He had two married brothers, but their mat
rimonial luck was not of a kind to make him
envious. The wife of one was very high
bred woman, a model of elegance and propri-
ETY. in externals, but with the temper of de-
mon the other was an amiable fool. So, on
the whole, Harvey was content to remain as
he was. Unfamiliar with women, he was, as
a rule, rather unobservant of those with whom
he might be accidentally thrown, and indif-
ferent to what they chose to say or do. So it
was, in fact, an unusual thing that he should
be listening now with interest to the talk OF
these two, one of whom was evidently no bet
ter than social pariah, and the other of a
standing and culture so inferior to his own.
He observed how the latter, though evidently
comprehending the truth with regard to her
new acquaintance, showed no shrinking or
hesitation. She saw only her need, not her
fault, and gave her all the advice in her pow
er, in tone of grave but respectful compass
sion.


They rumbled and jolted along, the road
growing more difficult with every mile, till,
indeed, it was nearly impossible. The old
lady with the baskets grew crosser and more
frightened with every fresh jolt. She scolded
the driver necessarily, as if he were somehow
responsible for the state of the roads, and
seemed out of patience with all the rest for
not being as much terrified as herself: Her
wretched husband slept continually, but man.
aged to lurch forward every moment against
the youth in front of him, till the latter very
nearly lost his temper under the inAiction.
The baby fretted and cried and as for Har-
vey, he grew so tired he began to think he
could 60 no further.


But discomfort and annoyance only SEEM
ed to bring out Lymp Tucker in greater
strength. She laughed merrily at each fresh
mishap, rallied the old lady out Of her fears,
and helped her to straighten her bonnet,
which had come to grief from the jolting
stage. She joked away her brothers i'll
humor, and produced from her satchel an
orange, which quieted the crying baby, and
gave her weary mother brief rest. Her
unfailing good humor and cheerfulness had
an effect upon all; even Harvey partly for
got weariness in the lively talk in which she
engaged him. She chatted with perfect
frankness and some disregard of grammar
rules; but the quick wit and shrewd common
sense she displayed made amends for much.


At last, in going down long hill, the ca
tastrophe which the oldlady had been looking
for came; the stage sunk with sudden lurch
into deep rut, and one of the wheels snapped
like reed. Fortunately the vehicle was not
upset, only stuck fast; but they could 60 no
farther. Here was a cheerful state Of things
The nearest house was half mile away, and
they had the alternative of walking to it
through the mud or Of waiting there in the
bleek March wind for an indefinite time, till
another conveyance was found. The former
course was plainly the wise one, and all scram-
bled out accordingly. Lymp Tucker drew up
the skirt Of her gay silk dress, thereby making
Liberal display of ankles and under-garments,
but the comely shape of the one and the spot
less neatness of the other made it excusable.
Then, taking possession Of the kicking baby,
and bidding her brother give his assistance to
Middleton, she led the way across the fields,
the whole company taking up their line of
march behind her.


Arrived, after considerable difficulty, at the
farmhouse, they had the satisfaction of learn
ing that they must wait at least two hours tor
the repair of the broken wheel, and that they
were still five miles short of the halfway
house where they had expected to take din
ner. Ofcourse, they we're all nearly famished
after riding so long in the cold The good
woman of the house seemed we'll disposed to
supply their wants, but she was alone, and her
larder somewhat lean. ri don't suppose you'd
want fried pork" she said, obviously.


81 might kill a couple of pullets."


"That would take too long altogether" said
Lymp Tucker. ave should eat the baby
before they would be ready"


swell, guess Jones's wife, down to the
corner, would let me have some ham but 1
amt got no bread baked, then"


"Oh naver mind that Give mo tho th;nps
to do it with, and I'll have the bread made by
the time you get back from Jones's."


UTa now said the hostess 1ookip douht