“Why, Hettie!” Mrs. Hampton exclaimed, as she rose to receive her.  “What is the matter?  You look tired out.  Sit here, while I get you some refreshment.”

“No, no, I mustn’t sit down,” the visitor replied, as she glanced apprehensively around.  “Gabe might come at any minute.  He’s everywhere, it seems to me, and has eyes like a hawk.”

“Yon just sit down and rest,” Mrs. Hampton ordered, leading the frightened woman to a chair.  “Your husband will not touch you here.  If he does, it won’t be well for him.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, so much.  But you don’t know Gabe as well as I do.  He will kill me if he knows I’ve been here.”

“Indeed he will do no such thing, Hettie.  Sit here and calm your mind.  I shall be back in a minute.”

Mrs. Hampton hurried into the house, and in short time returned, carrying a small tray, containing a glass of home-made wine, and a plate of cake.  This she placed on a small table near the agitated woman.

“Drink this, dear, and try some of my cake.  They will refresh you.”

Almost mechanically Mrs. Grimsby did as she was bidden, while Mrs. Hampton watched her curiously, wondering as to the cause of her excitement.

“Do you feel better now?” she asked, as the visitor replaced the glass upon the tray.

“Thank you, I do feel refreshed.  But I must not stay long, though it is so comfortable here.”

Thrusting her hand into the bosom of her dress, she brought forth a roll of bills, and laid it on Mrs. Hampton’s lap.

“There, that’s all I could find,” she whispered.  “He must have spent the rest.”

“Why, what is this?” Mrs. Hampton asked in surprise as she picked up the money.”

“It is yours; the money that Gabe took from you.  Oh, he is a villain, if ever there was one.  And to think that he should come to you, of all women, and demand payment for silence.  It’s a wonder to me the Almighty doesn’t smite him for his wickedness.”

Mrs. Hampton now understood why this poor creature had visited her, and a deep respect and pity welled up in her heart.

“How did you know about this matter?” she asked.

“Oh, Gabe was boasting about it to me.  He had been drinking, and when he is that way you never know what he will say.  I took the money from him when he was asleep.  He didn’t miss it when he left home.  But when he comes back there will be a terrible time.”

“Where is he now?”

“In the city, where he likes to be, instead of staying home and attending to his work.  He’s not only a villain, but lazy as sin.”

An anxious expression appeared in Mrs. Hampton’s eyes as she listened to this tale of woe.  She leaned over and touched her visitor on the arm.

“You say that your husband talks a great deal when he is drunk?” she asked.

“Yes, his tongue is never still unless he’s asleep.  It’s awful the way he raves and swears at times.”