The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-11-01
MARTHA PHILLIPS.

She was dead. An old woman, with
silyery hair brushed smoothly away
from her wrinkled forehead, and snowy
cap tied under her chin; sad, quiet
face; patient mouth, with lines about
it that told of sorrow borne with gentle
tirmness and two withered, tired hands
crossed with a restless look. That was
all.
Who, looking at the sleeping form,
would think Of love and romance, OF Il
heart only just healed of wound re-
ceived long. long years ago?
Fifty wears she had lived under that
roof, farmers wife. If you look on
that little plate on her coffin-lid you
will see Aged 10 there, and she was
only twenty when John Phillips brought
her home a bride.
A half century she had Fept her care.
ful watch over her dairy and larder,
had made butter and cheese, and looked
after the innumerable duties that fall
to the share of farmers wife. And
John had never gone with buttonless
shirts OF undarned socks had not come
home to an untidy house and scolding
wife. His pm, tidy Martha had been
his pride and though not a demonstra-
tive husband he HAD boosted sometimes
of the model housewife who kept his
home in orde~.
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was q story that John never
dreamed o.. and would have believed il
impossible had he been told. She did
not marry for love. When she was
nineteen, rosy, happy girl, a stranger
- I, 11,., i /. lot
summer was the brightest and happiest
she ever knew. Paul Gardner was the
strangers name; ne was an artist, and
fell in love with the simple village
girl and won her heart and when he
went away IL the autumn they were be-
trothed.
"Tu come again in the spring" he
said. Trust me and wa for me, Mat
tie, dear"
She promised to love and wait for
him till the end of time, if need be;
and with kiss on her quivering lips,
he went away.
Matte Gray die not tell her father
and mother OF her love, for they had no
liking for London folks, and had treat.
ed Paul none too hostably when he had
ventured inside their home.
Spring.time came, and, true to his
word, Faul returned; he stayed only a
day or two this time.
. am going away in few weeks to
Italy, to study ne said. g shall be
gone two years, and then | shall come
and claim you for my bride"
They renewed taeir vows, and parted
with tears and tender, loving words;
h. "a ~ ha,.
cut a little curly yress from her brown
hair; and telling her always to be true
and wait for him, ne went away.
The months went by, and Matte was
trying TO maze the time seem short by
studying TO improve herself so that she
might be worthy o. her lover when he
should come back to make her his
wife.
alt must be about the time he is to
start" she said to herself one day.
And by-and.by, as ;he glanced over
the newspapers, her eyes were attract.
ed by his name, and with white lips and
dilated eyes she read of his marriage to
another.
Married Taken another bride IN.
stead of coming back 20 marry me!
Oh, Paul Paul! ! loved and trusted
you for this =
She covered Ler face with her hands
and wept bitterly. An hour alterward,
as she sat there in the twilight, with
the fatal newspaper lying in her lap,
she heard step on the gravel walk,
and looking up, she saw John Phillips
coming up the steps. He had been to
see her often before, but mad never vet
sDoL-pn of love erd had of coursa 20
ceived no announcement to do so. He
was plain, hard-working farmer, with
no romance ABOUT him, but matter.of-
fact to the core. His wife would get
but few caresses or tender words. lie
would be kind cLough-give her plenty
TO eat and wear.
Now he seemed 10 have come for the
express purpose of asking her to be his
wife: for ne took a char and seated
himself beside her, and, after the usual
greeting, reserving scarcely a moment
to take breath in, began, in his bust.
ness.like way, 20 converse. There was
no confession of love, no pleading, no
hand claspine, no tender glances; he
simply wanted her; would she be his
wife? His manner was hearty enough
there was no doubt he really wanted
her-would rather marry her than any
other woman he knew, but that was
all.
Her lips moved to tell him she did
not love him; but as she let fall her
eyes from the crimson-hearted rose
that swun from the vine over the win
dow, she caught sight Of those few lines
again.