Marshall County Republican., 1872-10-31
MARTHA PHILLIPS.


She was dead. An old woman, with
silvery 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
frmness; and two withered tired hands
crossed with restless 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 years ago?
Fifty years she had lived under that
roof, farmers wife. If you look on
that little plate on her cofin-lid you
will see "A ged TO- there, and she was
only twenty when ohm Phillips brought
her home bride.
A half century she had kept her care
full 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 prim, tidy Martha had been
his pride; and thoug not demonstra-
tive husband, he had boasted sometimes
of the model housewife who kept his
home IN order.
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was story that John never
dreamed of, and would have believed it
impossible 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
girl and won her heart; and when he
went away in the autumn they were be-
trothed.
"rlI 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 did not tell her father
and mother OF her love, for they had no
liking for London folks, and had treat
ed Paul none too hositably when he had
ventured inside their home.
Spring came, and, true to his
word, Paul returned; he stayed only a
day or two this time.
Z" am going away in few weeks to
Italy, to study he said. Il shall be
gone two years, and then l shall come
and claim you for my BRIDE"
They renewed their vows, and parted
with tears and tender, loving words ;
la baar Gyc ~
cut little curly tress from her brown
hair; and telling her always to be true
and wait for him, he went away.
The months went by, and Matte was
trying to make the time seem 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.
cit must be about the time he is to
start" she said to herself one day.
And by-and-by, as she glanced over
the newspapers, her eyes were attract
ed by his name, and with white lips ard
dilated eyes she read of his marriage to
another.
Married! Taken another bride in.
stead Of coming back to marry me
Oh, Paul! Paul loved and trusted
you for this!
She covered her face with her hand.
and wept bitterly. An hour afterward
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 had never YET
spoken of love, and had of course re
ceived no encouragement to do so. He
was a plain, hard-working farmer, with
no romance about him, but matter-of
fact to the core. His wife would gel
but few caresses or tender words. He
would be kind enough-giye her plenty
to eat and wear.
Now ne seemed to have come for the
express purpose of asking her to be his
wife; for he took q chair and seated
himself beside her, and, after the usua
greeting, reserving scarcely momen
to take breath in, began, in his bust
ness-hke way, to converse. There wa
no confession of love, no pleading, NJ
hand-clasping, no tender glances; ht
simply wanted her; would she be hi
wife? His manner was hearty enough
there was no doubt he really wanted
her-would rather marry her than an,
other woman he knew, but that wa
all.
Her lips moved to tell him she die
not love him; but as she let fall he
eyes from the crimson-hearted rose
that swun from the vine over the win
dow, she caught sight of those few line
again.