The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-24
Martha Phillins.

She was dead; an old woman, with
silvery hair brushed smoothly away
from her wrinkled forehead, a snowy
cap tied under her chin; a sad, quiet
face; a patient mouth, with lines about
it that told of sorrow borne with gentle
firmness; and two withered, tired hands,
crossed with a restful look. That was
all.
Who looking at the sleeping form,
would think Of love and romance, Of a
heart only just healed Of a wound re-
ceived long, long ago?
Fifty years she had lived under that
roof farmers wife. If you look on
the little plate on the coffin lid, you
will see Gagged 70'' there, and she was
only twenty when John Phillips brought
her home, bride.
4 half century she kept her careful
watch over dairy and larder, had made
butter and cheese, and looked after the
innumerable duties that fall to the share
Of a farmers wife. And John had never
gone with buttonless shirts and un-
darned socks; had not come home to an
untidy house and scolding wife. His
trim, tidy Martha had been his pride;
and though not a demOnstTative hus-
band, he had boasted sometimes of the
model housewife that kept his home in
order
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was a story that John never
dreamed of, and would hardly have be-
lieved possible had he been told. She
did not marry for love. When she was
nineteen, a rosy, happy girl, a stranger
came on a visit to their village, and that
summer was the brightest and happiest
she ever knew. Paul Gardner was the
strangers name; he was an artist, and
fell in love with the simple village mai
den and won her heart; and when be
went away in the Autumn they were
betothed.
"Pll come again in the spring. he
said. Trust me, and wait for me, Mat.
tie dear.u
She promised to love and wait for him
TO the end Of time, if need be, and with
kiss on her quivering lips he weni
away.
Matte Gray did not tell her father
and mother of her love, for they had nc
liking for London folks, and had treated
Paul none too Hospitality when he hat
ventuTed inside their house.
Spring time came, and true 10 hi:
word, Paul returned; he staid only a day
or two this time.
l am going away in a few weeks t.
Italy, to study he said. "I shall bt
gone two years, and then / shall come Il
claim you for my bride.n
Iney renewed their vows, and parted
with tears, and tender, loving words; he
put ring on her finger and cut little
curly tress from her brown hair. and
telling her to be always true. and wait
for him, went away.
The months went by, and Matte wa,
trying TO make the time seem short In
studying TO improve herself so sh,
might be worthy of her lover when h,
should return to make her his wife.
1T must be about the time he is {,
start" she said to herself one day.
And by and by, as she glanced over
newspaper, her eye was attracted by hi
name, and with white lips and dilate,
eyes, she read of his marriage to an
other.
Married. Taken another bride, in.
stead of coming back TO marry me. Oh
Paul, Paul, l loved and trusted you fol
thisr'
She covered her face with her hand.
and wept bitterly.
An hour afterwards, as she sat there
na,,al ~ 1lle twilight, with the fatal news
P1Per IN her lap, she heard n stem on fhe
SI4Nei walk; and looking I'M sba sayr
III oiiii rhillips coming up The stems Ho
-i''d Deeh 10 see her often before tnt baj
never yet spoken Of love ond Iua hnd ii'aS, ~
eoui9G, i4 received no encouragement to 10 n
farmer T with a,S no plain, hard-workine
matter-of-iact to the cor So"' mn Tiil, out
would get few caresses or tender iS 7.,'i MiIe
lie would be kind enoughGwooIplGT Tords. y; Is.
her plenty TO eat and wear ''" give
Now, he seemed TO have con,o E. =,
express purpose Of asking her 70 ~ ~ ine Ilie
wife; for he took a chair. ami soe,ill M
himself beside her, after the usnaI ,1rIl
ing, reserving scarcely a moment TO tal',
breath, began IN his business-like wa,
to converse. There was no confession =
love, no pleading, no hand-clasping. n,
tender glances, he simply wanted her
would She be his wife? His manne
was hearty enough; there was no doub
he really wanted her-would rathe
marry her than any other woman h.
knew; but that was all.
Her lips moved to tell him she did no