The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-02-03
DRAF
BY MINNIE WILLIS BANEs.

flowing fJIs of Loose white curtain which
shaded a cottage window, and touched the face
of woman sitting within with pale amber
CLEAN Ii was chiId-like face with its pure,
paie compile xion and its eyes blue as al ivy
flower, holding The sonl's like fame shining
within them; chestnut brown halr ripplea a
croSs Il low broad forehead, and was caught ah-
r1ptlv aul shaken out of curl into knot be-
lind the ear. 1t was a mouth sentiheled by
,:itupies from too near an approach-a soft
| crimson mouth, upon which the man she loved
mi@h; meet the soul that loved him. She was
sitting beside a sewing machine with IA finished
| Fit,ic garment just drawn from beneath the nee
/ die. haning back with lock of rest and salts
! faction at lis completion in her eyes,
! 1t Has attern0Un-almoSt siX-ls the hand
/ If 4 Hille French clock pointed out the hour,
aud .i.s had great deal to til him What
+ ijtis >,e has not? Grace was aslccp-Grace
/ her inIls seven months old babN-aseep and
h.r little silver beiied rattle, hertooh ring and
her sea sl,els were all scattered about the cay
! pet Her bair brush and one tiny slipper lay
| iust under the folds ef her mothers calico dress
-uaOa colored field with a white vine nean-
/ lcioe across it Marian stood up and shook
oat the little rosa-coiorld dress just finished
iol!.I it carefully and laid it away; then up
vent he easy calico sleeves 10 the white poi
ish, i elbow, anl The little woman counted her
self ready for her kitchen-the one room lying
heyond this. She WAS the wife of mechanic
--,r,. OF the happy poor men who ''earn their
bread hy the sweat of the brow" vet live the
life Of the soul OF level above that Of the
bniy. And this woman was like many an
other woman thrJugApul tie length and breadth
OF the county. She had been in refinement
aud comparative ease, and her heart was as
sensitive as a mimosa plant. her mnd was
not common, nor yet, at that other extreme,
( that Of being intellectual. Il was an eveA
miod-a finely balanced one-.l mind whose
width ard depth was wide and deep enough 20
take in the true issue of the trnest life. Hers
VAS happy nome humble and neat, simple,
huI elegant in It's SIMPLICITY. 1t WAS made sweet
by Iyye. and that free, easy Independence which
j. experienced by those who live within GER
tain limit, and feel content not to 60 out os it,
knowing enough is eAough, and more IS su-
p"IiuoGs addition.
I Oaly one shallow lay across ti.is little home
-only one clond reached downward, seeming
res3y to deIuge i! with darkness Bat Marian
| Ei,ber locked tue skeleton up and ,ln.ef the
j, key, aud though il still there, she tried to
think il could not pick the lock.
JOHN Eiler came III presently and sat down
hy the shaded window. The suft summer
bracze stole gently in through the green honey
sucAl- without, ard the white curtain swayeG
languidly mp and down back and forth The
temple curl of Johns black bair which Marian
'. - proud Of. was lifted caresSiugly from his
/ fu Il forehead gently as her dear hand was wont
z n 1
finely built. with full broad chest aai slender
/ sia ewy arms that locked rs il made iuc pro.
/ tee ting just such thing Marian all through
! The DAYS Of her lfe His hands did not look
much as If they had worn xii gloves, but they
were just such hands weary woman would
/ clinls 10 for assistance and upholding when trou
/ ble was near or a hope had failed her. He sat
/ very quiet. with the soft. scented air blowing
over him. and looked about the sitting room
| Il was very Marian's pretty little
trihes were scattered here and there-pictures
| Of her drawing hung in modest frames made
/ Of pine cones and shells against the wall
/ There was the oval mirror in its dark polished
/ frame that had often reflected her face-there
was her low rocking chair she sat in every e.
vening and rocked their baby to seep-her
work basket, with all end Of edging hanging
By the side Then he lookeJ at the rattle, and
took it up and shook it, II sounded like fu-
neral bell. The slipper he touched as revereutly
rs a little child puts out its hand to touch the
white face OF its dead mother. Marian came
in smiling, with pink flush on one cheek !;
she had been making tea.
| why, John You here? You came in so
silently never heard you. Tea Is ready for
you.
She came up close 20 him as if TO draw him
with her. He took her hand and drew her to
his knee he looked long and gently into her
clear ivy blue eyes, and then he asked her:
''Do you love me, Marian7"
Painfully drawing his face against hers, she
kissed him for an answer.
She drew him closer and shud1erod as she
| embraced him.
''If there were no skeleton there q thought
! Marian
John Elmer sighed and put her from bis knee,
and rose up and followed her into the kitchen.
! No silver graced their table, but the plain
queensware dishes wele spotlessly clean--the
table linen like snow. A freshly gathered bo-
| qget stood by John's plate composed Ot honey
suekles and late roses, and few leaves from
Marian's only h0nse-plant "a rose geranium.
, The fare was simple but sayUry. Marian pour
9 ! Johns tea, and watched him drunk it fever
;sbjy. but be would not eat.
~ hat is the matter dear, are you sick o.
asked she.
."0nly tired" said he, with a weary look
After the table was cleared and the kitchen
once more IN olsier Marian went in and sat
down oil ler husbands knee, a4d looked ten
! derlv Cp in his face saying:
II know you work too hard, dear. You
must bs careful of yourself. Some Of these
days YOU viii take sick and die, and then what