Jane Field

Field's secret had not been discovered. Nothing but her ill favor in the village had saved her. Nobody except Mr

Mis' Field. I know one thing: there couldn't three strange ladies come visitin' to Green River without I should feel as if I'd ought to go an' call an' find out who they was, an' pay 'em a little

was not a successful entertainer of guests. She fed them as best she could with her scanty resources, and after her house-work was done, took her

f this one and that one whom she had known, and in whom she had been interested; bu

the day but one after their arrival. "You know there was some talk about it

t remember it,"

he's got him, an' she's been teachin'-you know she had Lois's school-to get money for her weddin' outfit. They say she's got

should," repli

an nothin' at all," she said indignantly. "She don't act to me as if she had any more interest in Green River than Jerusalem, n

k she looks awfully. She's as thin as a rail, an

her but spring weather an' fussin'. I guess Mis' Field's well enough, but havin' all this property left her has ma

that," s

en?" asked Mrs.

home's the best place for ev

expect to enjoy the meetin' an' seein' the folks. I shall be kinder glad, for my part, not to see exactly the same old bonnets an' made-over sil

d they, in their best black gowns and bonnets, sat listening to t

it, and she fanned herself airily, lifting her he

id not see another woman with one as handsome. It was the gala moment of her visit to Elliot. Afterward she was wont to say that w

me. Mrs. Field, sitting with her guests, felt a strang

omin'?" asked

xwell's brother Henry's

rk on the front door-step awhile, then she went into the house. Sitting there in doubt, half hearing what might be dreadful to hear, was worse than certainty. She had at once a benumbing t

s wonderful that this call was made without exposure, but it was. Twice Mrs. Maxwell called Jane Field "Esther," b

tly bore down upon her, and swerved her aside with her own topics. Indeed, all the conversation lay between these two. There was a curious similarity betwee

ind of tentative cordiality, which might later become antagon

from cover to cover like a cat. She was afraid to have her daughter and nephew know of all the booty she obtained. She had many things snugly tucked away in bureau

trange women standing in a prim row, she gave a mea

'pose it's worth much, but if you don't use it ever, I s'pose I might as well

a reprieve from instant execution, although she had already suffered the slow torture. She went back to her guests as steady-faced as ever. She was quite sure none of t

y said, "Why did she call

roperty she had and if her daughter had married well. Amanda never looked in her face,

ect," Mrs. Field

ed a plan; her mind was settled. There was seemingly no struggle. It was to her as if she turned a corner, once turned there was no other way, and no question about it. When it was time, she got up, dressed herself, and went about the house, as usual. There was no difference in her look or manner, but all the morning Lois kept glancing at her in a startled, half-involunt

h their needle-work. Amanda's bag upstairs was all neatly packed. She would need to unpack it again t

k," said Mrs. Babcock. "She can't hardly wa

't," repli

Lois put on her hat and went down the street with so

Mrs. Babcock, when she came t

r sewing for a living from the Green River women. She knew how people in Elliot talked about

bundle," she whispered. "I tell you what 'tis, I suspect that girl is sewin' fo

awhile at the dressmaker's to sew. When she

alls. Lois stepped along lightly. She did not look like the same girl of three months ago. It was strange that in spite of all her terrible distress of mind and hard struggles since she came to Elliot it should have been so, but it was. Every life has its own conditions, although some are poisons. Whether it had been as

houlders filled out the thin fabric with sweet curves that overcame the old fashion of its make; her slender arms showed through the sleeves; and her small fair face was set in a muslin frill like a pink corolla. She had to pass the cemetery

you going

going

-do you remember how we went to walk in t

ee only the tip of her

o do-if you are not busy-that we go in

not," replied Lois,

al cool

id I'd be

f course I won't tease y

e unconcerned and to smile. He

there just a mi

ked along together to the cemetery gate; he opened it

wers on the sunny graves hung low, unless they had been freshly tended, when they stood erect in dark circles. Some of the old uncared-for graves were covered with rank growths of grass

st day," said Francis; "it's alw

t hollow of the meadows below. The grass on them had been cut short, and now had dried and turned a rosy color in the sun. The two kept their eye

re, isn't it?

l co

y. There is always a breeze her

is voice was unsteady with a tende

fore any language was made, and related to the first necessities of man. Suddenly she had ears for th

is began; the

d not l

ced me lately. There was one spell when I thought maybe- But- Well, I'm going to ask you, and have it over

her head down

can't," said Francis. "It won't be your

id not

ll me one way or

yway!" cried Lois th

arth, but maybe that's my conceit, and you'll find somebody else that will do better than I. Now don't cry." Francis pulled her hat off gently, and patted her head. His face was quite white, bu

and walked of

. She could see his profile quite pale and stern as he stood on the edge

s?" he asked, co

dn't like you," sh

oi

n't sa

you? Answe

her fa

must answ

enough, but I c

in Green River that wants

anybody," she said, and her voice was

de her. "O Lois, you

arry you,"

not,

ou mustn't

half laughing. "Some drea

dded s

obstacles go for nothing if you do like me, after all? Wait a little and

epeated Lois

cle were removed, d

ver ca

it, I shall, dear. Lois, I liked you the minute I saw you, and, it's terribly conceited, but I

ng sweetly through the pine branches. They themselves were as a fixed heart of love in the midst of it, and all aroun