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The fisherwoman's life she had led had been harder thana crooked path, while Myra, well--the brat slept in the cradle Both girls saw her glance toward it and read her thoughts

Myra's face deepened in color, Tessibel hu up children anywheres decent," the woman broke in sharply, after a silent moment "God! but to see one's own--"

"Ma," Myra's voice was pleading, "it air over and ye said--"

"I knows I did, and so did yer Daddy But I ain't thinkin' only of ye to-night, Myra, look at the s, and just 'cause ye won't oin' to oin' to stay with Daddy"

"Yer Daddy won't live allers," interposed Mrs Longman, "and what's more, yer better off with a man ill look after ye as Ezy will Be ye a thinkin' of it at all, Tessibel?"

The girl shook her head

"Nope, 'taint no use; don't like Ezy anyway"

"Ezry ain't the worst boy in the world," defended the ood man Ye couldn't think of tryin' hiain She shuddered perceptibly, and Myra thought she realized the feeling in the girl's heart

"Don't bother her, ma, don't bother--"

"If ye'd a bothered a little yerself, Myra," broke in the woht all been better off It ain't 'cause of the brat, air it, Tessibel?"

She shot a glance at the infant's box

"Why 'cause of the brat," asked Tessibel sharply, "why 'cause of the brat?"

"He air a come-be-chance, ye know--"

"That ain't no fault of his'n, air it," demanded Tessibel "Nope, 'tain't nothin' to do with the brat I loves him, I does, come-be-chance or no It don't make no difference tofellowship

"Ye allers was a funny gal, Tessibel," rus as toads, lizards and snakes, shows as how ye needs some one to help ye God'll make ye a happy mother if ye'll keep yer nose low in the air, and not think too much of yer betters"