The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-11-15
MARTHA PHILLIPS.

SHE WAS DEAD. An cid woman,
with silvefy hsir brushed smoothly
away from her wrinkled forehead,
and snowy cap tied under her chin
sad, quiet face patient lsouth,
with lines about it that told Of sorrow
borne with frmness6 and two with
cred tired hands crossed with . rest
less look. That MAS ali
Wha, looking at the sleeping form,
would think Of love and romance. Of
a heart only Just healed Of q wound
received long, long years ago 7
Fifty years she had lived under
that rent, farmers wife If you
look GA thatlittle plate on her eoftin7
lid you will sec Aged ~ there, and
she was only twenty when John
Phillips brought her home a bride.
4 half century shc had kept her
careful watch over her dairy and lar
der, had made butter and cheese and
looked after the nnumerable duties
that fall TO the share of a farmers
wife. And john had never gone
with buttonless shirts or undarned
socks, had not come home to an un-
tidy house and scolding wife. His
priln, tidy, Martha had been his
pride; and though not a demonstra-
tive husband, he had boosted some
times of the model housewife who
kept his home in order,
But underneath her quiet exterior.
there. was a story that John never
dreamed Of, and would have believed
lit impossible had he been told She
did not marry for love, When she
was nineteen, rosy happy girb q
strap ger came on a visit to their vi!
lage, and that summer was the
brightest and happiest she ever
knew. Paul Gardner was the
strangers name 7 he was an artist,
and fell in love with the single vii
lage girl and won her heart and
when he went away in the autumn
they were betrothed.
"I'lI come again in the spring, he
said. Trust me and wait for me,
Matte, 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 did not tell her father
and mother of her love, for they had
no liking for London folks, and had
treated Paul none too Hospitality
when he had vcntpred inside their
home.
Spring-timo came, and true to his
word, Paul returned; he stayed on
ly day or two this time.
| am going away in a few weeks
to Italy, to study, he said. | shall
come and claim you from my bride
in two years.
They renewed their vows, anC
parted with tears and tender, loving
words he put a tiny ring upon he
finger, and cut little curly tres
from her brown hair; and telling
her always to be true and wait foI
| him, he went away.
4 The months went by, and Matte
was trying to make the time seen
short by studying to improve herself
so that she might be worthy Of her
lover when he should come back to
make her his wife.
And by-and-by, as she glanced
oyer the newspaper, her eyes were
attracted by his name, and with
white lips and dilated eyes, she read
Of his marriage to another.
Married Take another bride in
stead of coming back to marry me
1 Oh, Paul! Paul loved and trust
ed you for this
She covered her face with hcl
hands, and wept bitterly. An hour
afterward, as she sat there in tbs
twilight, with The fatal newspapel
lying in her lap, she heard step o.
!. the gravel walk, and looking up, sh'
saw John Phillips coming up tn
steps. He had been to see her oftel
before, but had never yet spoken 0
love, and had Of coarse received NJ
f encouragement TO do SO. He was
plain, hard working farmer, with n
romance about him, but matter of
facts to the core. His wife would
get bat few caressos or tendei
words. lie would be kind enough
( give her plenty to eat and t
wear.
Now he seemed % have come fol
the express purpose Of asking Der tc
be his wife for lie took Z chair and
seated himself beside hor, and, after
the usual greeting, rescrying scarce
| ly moment to take breath IN, be
gan in his business Ike way, to con
verse. There MAS no confession Of
love, no pleading, no hand. cIaspin$,
no tender gIances he simply want
ed her; wbudsho DC his wife -
i His m&nncr Vas hearty emouglii
there vas no doubt lie really wante
| hefZwouiol rather marry her than
any other woman he knew. but that
was all.
| Tier lips aoyed to tell i,ira she did
mot lsve him; but az she lei fall llel
eyes from the crimson hearted rose