Gratia's Trials — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS, 30 ‘“‘T am not like other girls,” Gratia answered, shortly. ‘No, you're not, more’s the pity!” commented her step- mother. | At nine oclock, just as those primitive people were beginning to think about bed, Mrs. Kempfield came into the room with a steaming coffee-pot in her hand. ‘« That smells proper good,” said old Joe, smacking his lips ‘‘T thought I’d make some, seein’ it was a cold night, and Ira’s partial to coffee,” said Mrs. Kempfield, hospitably. **There’s a wife worth havin’,” remarked the peddler, as Mrs. Kempfield- went back to the buttery for some cups. _ ‘* There ain’t many like her,” said Ira, in the conscious pride of possessing a treasure that Solomon rates ‘‘ far above rubies.” Meanwhile this invaluable gift was softly dropping something from the dark vial labeled ‘‘ Laudanum”’ into the various cups ranged before her-on a small japanned tray. ‘‘T’ve made the coffee so strong they won't taste it,” she thought, ‘‘and I mean every one in the house shall sleep sound to-night, except me.” As she poured out the hot, fragrant beverage, and passed it - around, Ira noticed that she had provided no cup for herself. ‘Ain't you goin’ to take none, Almiry ?” he asked, solicit- ously. ‘*T guess not to- night,” his wife answered. ‘‘ I’ve got some- thing of a headache, and coffee generally keeps me awake at night.” ‘¢Well, it does me, too,” said Joe Johnson, pouring his coffee into the saucer, and drinking it with evident relish; ‘‘ but this ‘ere smelt so good it warn’t in human natur’ to say ‘no’ when you brought it round.” It happened, rather curiously, that the coffee did not keep Joe Johnson awake that night. He slept like a man under the dominion of some heavy trance, so soundly that he did not hear the rustle of garments through his room, nor feel the velvety touch of fingers tampering with the purse that always lay under- (ECO A AICEl exeye) cS (ee) 3