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23. BEHIND PRISON BARS.
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206 BEHIND PRISON BARS. Chapter XXIII. When Regenia awakened the next morning the sun was high in the heavens. The accusation made by Mr. Foggs, together with his coarse familiarity , had served to keep her sleeplessly tossing from one side of the bed to the other the most of the night. She came down to a late breakfast still nervous and excited. For the first time during her short life she felt the poisonous sting of slander. Conscious of her innocence, she knew how impossible it is to defend a pure life against the insidious touches of that hidden serpent—a lie. She knew too well that error traveled like the hare; while truth took the gait of the tortoise. Mrs. Landers observed the forlorn look in Regenia’s face as she left the table, her breakfast untouched. She could not eat. The cankerous lie had already robbed her of her roses. She returned to her room, locked the door and throwing herself across the bed gave way to a fit of passionate weeping. Again and again did Miss Wilson tap at the door, only to receive no reply. She could hear Regenia’s bitter heart-rending sobs, but was powerless to take her that comfort which she knew her companion needed. Regenia had gone directly to her own room the night before, and consequently Miss Wilson was in blissful ignorance of the cause of her trouble. In the afternoon Dr. Leighton called. He sent up his card, but Regenia refused to make any answer to Mrs. Landers’ repeated raps at her door. Mrs. Landers was for awhile non-plussed, but finally succeeded in opening the door. Regenia eyes and hair awry, was sitting on the bed when she entered. “Why did you not open the door?” demanded Mrs. Landers, in a peremptory way. 207 hearts of gold “Because I did not wish to be disturbed,” said Regenia. “Dr. Leighton is in the parlor and wishes to see you,” said Mrs. Landers , a triumphant smile lurking about the corners of her mouth. “Tell him I am indisposed,” said Regenia, her color heightening in spite of herself. Mrs. Landers descended to the parlor and shortly returned with Dr. Leighton’s message. “Dr. Leighton wishes to come up and see you if you are ill,” she said. “I have no malady he can cure. Now please go away. I am sick and tired of everybody.” “You certainly do not object to seeing Dr. Leighton after striking Mr. Foggs for the mere mention of his name,” said Mrs. Landers, spitefully. “That’s my affair,” said Regenia, “and I am under no compulsion to make any explanation to you about it.” “You are under obligations to treat people with common politeness as long as you stay in my house,” said Mrs. Landers, hotly. “I try always to be polite,” answered Regenia, “but if your company is as ill bred as that swaggering, familiar old inebriate, Foggs, I wish to be delivered from any contact with them in any way.” “You need not put on any of your high-toned airs,” she replied. “Sally Landers knows a thing or two and can call the turn on Miss Regenia Underwood , as well as a good many other high steppers in this town if she is a mind to.” She fairly hissed these words out as she left the room, slamming the door after her. Regenia had risen from the bed, where she had been sitting. She stood there like a statue for some time after Mrs. Landers, in a towering rage, had left the room. What to do she hardly knew. She was not long in reaching a decision. Necessity is a great “encourager of hesitancy.” She washed her face, put on her hat and went over to Miss Wilson’s room. She told her the cause of her trouble. There was one other person to whom Regenia lost no time in relating her story and asking his advice. Rev. Simon Thomas was one of the ministers who lived and labored among the people surrounding the steel plant, because he saw in administering to the poor an exemplification of his humble Master. With him, sacrifice for the Master was a labor of love. In [18.207.126.53] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 08:10 GMT) 208 j. mchenry jones the midst of temptations and crime, he led the life of a saint. His sermons were a simple and free from ostentation as his life was...