Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-05-16

and genuine as mans" another for her
merry laugh.
In the meantime they all carried their
secrets to her the very classmates of
the Noyes boys wrote to her about
their college sorapes that she might
d" see father and mother about it, and
beg them off" She had a queer "fol-
lowing" of women, too; shabby widows
and fashionable bellies and poor seam
stresses-you were Just as likely to find
one at her table as the other. She had
not the least perception of cl, IS dis
tinctions, owing perhaps t o those Quaker
grandfathers who measured the world
and all in it by ideas. She had, too,
different rates of value from ours with
regard to other things. Mrs. Tanning
uuoonsciously ranked herself high in
the scale of being because of her price
less bric.a-brac, and portfolio of proofs
before letters. Dode also surrounded
herself with old china and pictures,
but was indifferent about it she did
not carry little luxuries with the uneasy
vanity of n workman in his Sunday
shirt. Art and wealth had been ordina-
ry appliances of her mothers family for
generations. She took no more notice
as to whether a mao was rich or poor in
such things than whether he came to
her gloved or ungloved.
Somebody was sure to bring every
foreign traveller to the doctors house
whether it was prince, novelist or poet,
Mrs. Dode welcomed them to her ordl-
nary table and habits, not concerning
herself if they were used to a palace or
howell and they in turn forgot to notice
whether the napkins were folded IN
English fashion, or how she dealt with
her e's.
81 wish you to judge of us by our
representative women Mrs. Tanning
said to one of these tourists, while they
were dining at the doctors and not
by negative characters"
But he could look at nobody but the
homely little woman at the head of the
table. "Ah, madam" he cried, ''there
are so many representative women J
But the old story tells us how Prince
Charming married the good fairy, and
by her had a family of but few chill
dren, all of whom were born in the
light of the moon and I meet one now
and then in this country or in that.
When | find one of them, then [ look
no farther"
It was quite natural that Mrs. Dode,
having lived in so negative a way, with
out making mark or bruit in the world,
should die in the same fashion. 1t APP
pears that while she seemed in health
some secret symptoms led her to consult
a physician. She went to New York to
do this, saying nothing to her husband.
and there learned that she had but a
short time to live. Whatever grief she
may have felt, she showed one and
told nobody her secret. When she
came back the home life went OF in its
usual merry fashion. Dick and Joe
both br ught their brides home that
winter. DIR. Noyse, who had grown
younger and more energetic every year
since his marriage, vas busted with
some experiments in electricity, which
added greatly to his reputation. Mrs.
Dode did not change her habits in the
least. She never had been a constant
church-goer, or a member of any chart
table society, and she did not become
one now. TWAS remembered afterward
that she remained out longer in the
mornings on her rounds among the poor,
and that she had a print which was in
her chamber re-hung that she could see
it when she woke in the morning. ct
was the Head crowned with thorns.)
In June her husband was invited to
Baltimore to IN anniversary celebration,
in which he always took a keen delight.
She chung to him and cried when he was
going. eff you need me, Dode, I will
stay with you," he said, tenderly. She
hesitated a little, and then raised her
self, smiling. Ono, IL VIII be pleas
anter for you there" said she, "only
goodbye once more, dear" She went
to bed as usual that night. In the
morning they found her dead, her check
resting on her hand, a half smile on the
freckled face; her other hand, tight
closed, was lying on her heart, and they
found in it a bit of the hair Of the
little dead-born baby that came to hel
years ago, whose head had never rested
on her bosom. The morning sun shont
brightly over her, and the room wa.
filled with the perfume of sweet roses