The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-05-03
MARTHA PHILIPS.

with silvery hair brushed smoothly
away from her wrinkled forehead, u
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 wither
ed, tired hands, crossed with 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
received long, long ago?
Fifty years she had lived under
that roof, farmers wife. Ii you
look on the little plate on the coffin
lid, you will see Aged 10" there; and
she was only twenty when John
Phillips brought her home, a bride.
4 half century she had 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 farmers
wife. And John had never gone
with buttonless shirts or undarned
socks had not come home TO an un-
tidy house and seolding wife. His
trim, tidy Martha had been his pride;
and though not demonstratiye hus-
band, he had boasied sometimes OF
the model housewife that kept his
home in order.
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was story that John never
dreamed OF, and would hardly have
believed possible had he been told
She did not marry for love. When
she was nineteen, rosy, happy girl, a
stranger came on visit TO their vii
lage, and that Summer Was the bright
est and hagpiest she ever knew. Paul
Gardner was the strangers name; be
was an artist, and fell in love with the
simple village msiden, and won her
heart; and, when he went away in the
Autumn they were betrothed.
Ill come again in the Spring" he
said. Trust me, and wait Tor me
Matte dear"
She promised to love and wait for
him TO the end OF time, if need lie;
and with kiss OH her quivering lips,
he went awsy.
Matte Gray did not tell her father
and mother OF her love, tor they had
no liking for London folks, aud had
treated Paul none too Hospitality y hen
he had vcntured inside their house.
Springtime came, and true To his
word, Paul returned; he stsid only a
day or two this time.
i am going away in few weeks
to Italy, 10 study" he said. Il shall
be gone two years, and then l shall
come to claim you for my bride
They renewed their VOWS, and part
ed with tears, and tender loving words;
he put tiny ring on her finger, and
cut little curly tress from her brown
hai,; and, telling her TO be always 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 she might be worthy OF her lover,
when he should return to make her
his wife.
ait must he about the time he is 70
start" she said TO herself one day.
And by aud by, as she glanced over
newspaper, her eye Was attracted by
his name, aud with white lips aud dl.
lated eyes, she read OF his marriage
to another.
"Narriedl Taken another bride.
instead OF coming back to marry me.
Oh, Paul, Paul! | loved and trusted
you for this
She covered her face with her hands
and wept bitterly.
An hour afterwards, as she sat there
in the twilight, with the fatal newspa-
per 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, received no
encouragement to do so. He was a
plain, hardworking farmer, with no
romance about him, but matter-offact
to the core. His wife would get few
csresses or tender words. He would
be kind enough-would give her
plenty to eat and wear.
Now, he seemed to have come for
the express purpose of asking her to
be his wife; for he took a chair, and
seating himself beside her, after the
usual greeting, reserving scarcely a
moment to take breath, began in his
business-like way to converse. There
was no confession of love, no plead
ing, no hand-clasping, 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 mar
ry 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 her eyes
fall from the crimson-hearted rose
that swung from the vine over the
window, she caught sight of those
few lines again.
"Married!' she said to herself
"Wha can / do? He doesn't ask me
to love him. If I marry him, / can
be true wife to him, and nobody
will know that Paul has Tilted me-"
The decision was made. Her
cheeks were ashy pale as she looked
up, straight into his eyes, and answer
ed quietly, Eyes, will be your wife. y
Her parents were pleased that she
was chosen by SO well-to-do a young
man; SO it was all settled, they were
married that same Summer. People
thought she sobered down wonder
fully; more than that, nothing was
said that would lead any one to sup
pose any change had taken place.