The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-31
RIDGWAY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 81 1872

ing cuts and burns This is bad scald,
and don't feel like undertaking it my
self, but I'll have all the things ready
against he gets here"
Ezekiel started off without his hat, f0r-
getting entirely where he had left it,
until the hot July sun falling straight
on his bald crown brought painful re-
minder. Mark, who was at work alone
at the shady end of the field, judged
from Mr.. Pritchard's plight the accident
was worse than it was, and dropping his
rake set off toward the house on the
keen run. His long legs soon out-dis-
tanced Zekiels short ones, and when,
some minutes later, the widower stealth.
ily entered the kitchen, he was startled
by suggestive tableau. Mrs. Stepford
had gone up chamber to hunt for old
linen, and there sat Margaret leaning
back in large chair, with signs of suf-
fering still visible upon her face. Mark
knelt before her in his coarse working
clothes, his shirt sleeves of gray flannel
showing, and with cotton handkerchief
knotted about his neck. Beads of per-
spiration stood on his forehead, and
there was curious sort of trouble on
his comely face. He had wrapped the
scalded hand in cotton, and was adjust
i"g bandages with the skill of an artist.
In his heart he wished the operation
might last forever, but it did come to an
end; and still, with Margaret smiling
family, he held the hurt hand in his,
and almost unconsciously, his other
hand, large and brown, closed over Mar
garets we'll one-a dimpled, warm, cozy
little thing that futtered in his own
like scared bird. 1t was an ecststic
moment, when all heaven seemed dis
titled into drop of ineffable sweetness
and silently, by that strange magnetism
which draws two hearts together, Mark
bent forward and pressed his lips to
Margaret's. Ezekiel saw it, and he saw
that Margaret blushed and trembled,
but did not draw away her hand. Be
wildercd, he slipped out, and stole around
to the front entrance, by means of which
he regained his hat, and took himself
away, q wiser and sadder man.
A fortnight nearly had passed, and
Margaret's hand was almost well. One
warm afternoon, when doors and win
dows were all open to catch wander
ing breeze, Mrs. Sukey Stepford came
into the house with her things on, and
as she sat dow in the rocking chair she
heaved a sigh profound, but not utterly
heart-broken.
"What is the matter, auntie 2" in
quired Margaret. "Have you got one
of your hot flashes I"
"No," returned Mrs. Stepford, untying
her bonnet strings and tanning herself
with her ocket-handkcrchief, but ]
am quite overcome. What wonderful
unlooked-for things are all the time hap
pening, and what strange world thi:
is, to be sure"
"Perhaps it is," said Margaret; "but
it's dear, lovely world, and the best we
know anything about"
"When l went out of this house." put
in the widow scarcely needing her niece's
words, 81 had no more thought oi
changing my condition in life than had
of going to France. 1 had laid out tc
visit Chester's grave, for was afraid the
long spell of dry weather had killed the
white rose bush l planted by the tomb,
stone last summer. There L sot medita.
ting and rehecting-for nothing ever
passed between Chester and me but
what it's pleasant to think overland
when 1 rose up to come home, who should
l see in the path before me but ZekieI
Pritchard After we had passed the
time of day, l thought of course he
would turn down toward his own house
but instead of that he asked me to take
his arm, and as it was warm afternoon
l made no objection"
Here Mrs. Stepford paused little and
began lingering the fringes of her Can.
ton Grape shawl.
81 supposed his attentions was out o.
sympathy" she resume. because we
| had both been to visit me grave of oul
deceased pardners; and pretty soon the
conversation turned on the lonesomeness
of single lot. Well, Ezekiel grew kline
of cosy and confidential, and told mt
about his Irish help. It's dreadful tC
think how good victuals is mussed uI
and wasted in that house and there she
is using the best crockery every day, anc
the Lord only knows how much sht
steals. All of 2 sudden Ezekiel said ht
thought we was fitted to make each othel
happy, and go down this vale of tear,
arm in arm, or something to that effect
I was so struck don't know what l said
but s'pose I gave the impression
meant yes"
Here Mrs. Stepford was quite over
come, and Margaret embraced her de
lightfully.
didn't sa y he was after you, auntie ?
she cried. 81 shall like him ever sc
much as my uncle"
Margaret was in the milk-room whe1
she heard her aunt go about singing, il
a cracked soprano,
| :" This is the way long have sought,
And mourned because found it not"
A roguish smile still dimpled her fac
when she looked up and saw Marks tall
broad-shouldered person filling the door
way.
"Oh, Mark" she exclaimed, at hav
wonderful news for you. Aunt Sukey
engaged to Mr.. Pritcherd. Just thinl
from what fate that bean-porridg
saved me !"
Mark, with his eyes smiling, went for
ward and took Margaret's hand-th
hart one, which was strong enough nov
to WELD the skinner.
Margaret" said he, would you thin
it worth while to take such poor felloy
as 1 am if he kept you waiting thre
years, and could give you nothing bette
even at the end of that time than bean
porridge?"
Margaret's answer made her lips an
eyes eloquent, but was not translatabl
| in uordS IF II fai1ad to cot;of,y NJ q ~