The Redemption Of Kenneth Galt

caused wide and growing comment. A railroad man who had returned from Atlanta informed an eager cluster of idlers in the big office of the main

had on when leaving. The town did not need to be told that in that detail alone lay ample evidence of the gravity of the case, even if it were not said-on good authority, too-that old Simon Walton, immediately on discovering the flight, had called in Bill Johnsto

prostitution in Augusta, had lived on alone in a cottage adjoining Mrs. Barry's, and who, as she cleansed the linen of her neighbors for a living, besmirched their characters as her only available solace. She wa

never liked to see him hanging round Dora. A body would see him one day over there at that big fine house with Miss Margaret, whose high-priced ruffles I've got in the

guiding tone of the gossip. "Dora says he had a kind heart, and that she's sorry for him in all his ups and downs

morning, didn't he?" was a question Mrs. C

went out to the fence to see if

neighbor, and remained fixed there in a direct and probing stare. "That's queer, for I certainly sa

s face had changed. There were splo

make mistakes in things of

e reddish, freckled face, certain long-subdued fears rose within her. She felt faint, and had a sensation as if all visible objects were whirling around her. Then she became anchored by something in the

ostman had gone on," Mrs. Barry faltere

conscious of that rocking, floating sensation. The round, red visage of the washerwoman seemed to recede from her; there was

er. A body can see it in the drooping way she has in moving about. The day you sent her over for the salt I thought, on my soul, she'd drop in her tracks before she left the kitchen. Maybe the lett

id, and she now tore herself away, conscious of her

back as she turned the corner of the cottage. "If you don't believe me

in the middle of the room like a creature deprived of animation. Through the parted

hink I'm blind. I told her you left a letter at her house th

," the man laughed. "I

arter, have they heard anything more

kitchen; no one was there, either. There was something incongruous in the contented aspect of the fat, gray cat lying and purring in the sunlight on the door-sill. Bliss like that under the coat of a mere dumb br

and women had marvelled, were red as from weeping. She gave her mother, as the old woman stood in the doorway, a weary, despondent glance, and then,

the musical voice so many had admired, and which to-d

ter from the postman this mornin

tate just an instant; t

it from,

t to say-even to you

d Walton! You ne

imply dropped her eyes to h

e had left,

r. I knew h

n is wondering why he we

have the right to t

oman shambled away, now bearing doubts whic

like that," she said. "Oh, God have mercy, I'm actually af

carrying their dinner-pails. The very cheerfulness of their faces, lightness of step, and merry jesting with one another sent shafts of mis

ame to the gate just now,

Hill wanted to know if I'd go sketching wi

re you

ra was at her place at the side of the table, and

know already? I thought you liked to go out that wa

didn't have the heart to promise. I can never wor

keep me from work. Sometimes merely being busy seems to help one. Your father used to stick at his easel as long as the light wo

d, but sai

, drink this down while it is hot," she advi

a piece of buttered toast. In the afternoon light, which fell through a western window, Mrs. Bar

pushed back her

ing else," she said, av

nything at all," Mrs. Ba

strange and desperate frankness. "I'm too mi

now supported by her two sinewy hands. She saw her daughte

at else could she have meant? Oh, God, what else-what else? She

that Mrs. Chumley had entered the outer door, and was treading softly and with bated breath i

arry said. "I can't sleep to-night unless you d

r, mother,

arry groaned. "Tell me I

elf on the bed, and with her face hidd

oke up, as she stood in the doorway. "Have it out of

A faint shock came to her with the thought that now all Stafford would know the truth, but it was followed

lone! I won't have folks bothering her. She's got enough to bea

ed herself to be le

me; I left it in the kitchen. I am much obliged, and I'm as

suspected that such a deadening blow had been dealt her to have looked in on her at this moment, as she moved dumbly about the room, her head and face hidden

daughter's room. Bending her head, she listened at the keyhole. No sound came to her ears, and she softly lifted the

father did so far away from home, and just as many other hard things have come to us. I shall stand by you through it all. It is not the first time a poor young girl has been misled. Nothing is left for us but to do our duty to the best of ou

y went out and softly closed the door. In her own room, in utter darkness, she undressed. Before retiring, and with the sunbonnet still on her head, she knelt beside a chair in the room

On the day you left never to return, you told me of the great Virginia family from which she was descended, and said that some day we'd be grandparents of children that would make us proud. Poor, dear Edwin!-that was only one of your pretty dreams-our grandchild, if God lets it come, won't even have a name of its own, and may bear this curse through a long life to its grave. Oh, Edwin!-my gentle

d up in her, but she forced them back, and, dry-eyed an

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