Year: 1872

nervous manner, and spoke softly, as
if frightened at the sound of her own
voice. She had been pretty once, bu,
now her face had weary, hopeless
look, which touched Middleton's
sympathies. Miss Tucker answered
her questions with ready good nature,
soon drawing from her the fact tha,
she was on her way to Lowell in the
hope of finding employment.


Have you any friends in that city !?
she presently asked.


No


But what will you do with your
baby if you work in the millsY


Il thought perhaps could get some
one to look after him, if had the luck
to find work


Haven't you any friends where you
come from that would take him-your
own folkss'


'No--rather hesitatingly. Il haven't
any folks-at least they don't care for
me now


Where is your husband: 2 was the
next abrupt question.


A fiery blush spread over the wo
mans face and her lips contracted as
if with sharp spasm Of pain, but she
made no answer. Miss Tucker re-
parded her for an instant with sur.
prise; then sudden, swift lifting of
the eyebrows showed that she compre-
hended the case. She leaned forward
and said. in low tone, i understand ::
your husband is not living. l am sorry
spoke of it. What fine healthy
baby yours is"


There was a gentle. womanly accent
IN her voice, which did not escape
Harvey's ear and the ready tact with
which she had covered the poor crca-
ture's embarrassment, turning Instant
ly from the painful theme to that
which would naturally be most con-
soling, pleased and touched him. He
looked at the over. dressed. loud voiced
factory-girl with more of genuine
admiration than he had often bestowed
on any woman. Indeed, he was not
an admirer Of women in general. A
bachelor of forty, well born, good
looking, and rich, he might we'll 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 socie-
tv. The truth was, he had in his
youth, when not SO prosperous as now
been rather ball Y treated by beautl-
lui but worldly girl, who, after en-
eouraging his suit, suddenly Tilted him
for wealthier rival. The experience
h"a ~osSihiv so"owhps shake" h;-. r. u D
IN women IN general; at least it had
given him distance from their society.
He had two married brothers, but their
matrimonial luck was not of kind to
make him envious. The wife of one
was very high-brcd women, n model
of elegance and propriety in externals,
but with the temper Of demon the
whole, Harvey was content To remain
as he was Unfamiliar with women,
he was, as rule, rather unobservant
Of those with whom he might be ac-
cidentally thrown, and indifferent 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 whoa
was evidently comprehending the truth
with regard to her acquaintance, vet
showing 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
compassion.


They rumbled and jolted along, the
road growing more difficult with every
mile, till indeed, it was nearly i'm
passable. The old lady with the
baskets grew crosscr and more fright
eued 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 rs much
terrified rs herself. Her wretched
husband slept continually, but man
aged 10 iurcli forward every moment
against the youth in front OF him, tlll
the latter very nearly lost his temper
under the inhiction. The baby fretted
and cried and AS for Harvey, he grew
SO tired that he began to think he
could 90 10 further.


But discomfort and annoyance only
seemed to bring out Lymph Tucker III
greater strength. She laughed nerrily
at each fresh mishsp, rallied the Old
lady out of her fears, aud helped her
to straighten her smashed bonnet
which had come to grief from the jolt
ing stage shejoked away her brother 5
i'll humor and produced from her
satchel an orange which auieted tht
orving baby, and gave its weary moth
er brief rest. Her untaiing gooo
humor and cheerfulness had an effect
upon all; even Harvey partly forgo
his weariness in the lively talk in which
she engaged him. She chatted witt
perfect frankness and some disregard
of grammar rules but the quick wit
and the shrewd common-sensc she dis
played made amends for much.


AT last, in going down a long hill
the catastrophe which the old lady ha,
been looking for came the stage sanl
with a sudden lurch into u deep rnt
and one of the wheels snapped like a
reed. Fortunately the vehicle Was mo-
upset, only stuck fast but they could
go no farther. Here was cheerfn
state of things! The nearest house
was half a mile away and they had til,
alternative Of walking TO it through
the mud or Of waiting there in the
bleak March wind for IN indefinite tim,
till another conveyance was found
The former course was plainly the wise
one, and all scrabbled ont accordingly
Lymp Tucker drew up the skirt of he
gay silk, thereby making q liberal dis
play Of ankles and under-sarments
but the comely shape Of the one ant
the spOtless neatness Of the othe
made it excusable. Then taking pos
session Of the kicking baby, and bid