Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-09-24
MARTHA PHILLIPS.

Clc was 0edI Au OlU WOH1uQ, Win
silyery hair brushed smoothly away
from he wrinkled forehead, and snowy
cap tied under her chin; sad quiet
face, patient mouth with lines about it
that told of sorrow born of gentle
firmness 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 ago7
Fifty years she had lived under that
roof, farmers wife. If you look on
that little plate on the coffin lid, you
will see aged TO-" there. She was
only twentyIwhen John Phillips brought
her home bride.
A half century she had kept watch
over dairy and larder, had made butter
and cheese, and looked after the
innumerable duties that fall to the
share of the farmers wife. And John
had never gone with buttonless shir is
or undarned socks, had never come
hoae to an untidy house and scolding
wife. His trim, tidy Martha had been
his pride; and though not demon
strative husband, he had boosted some
times of the model housewife who kept
his house in order.
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was story that John never
dreamed of, and would have believed
impossible had he been told She did
not marry for love. When she was
nineteen, rosy, happy girl. stranger
came on visit to her 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 both
betrothed.
'l1l come back in the spring." she
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 a 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 ventured inside their home.
Spring time came, and true to his
word Paul returned; he stayed only a
day or two this time.
81 am going away in few weeks to
Italy, to study" he said, 81 ehall be
gone two years, and then shall come
and claim You for my bride"
They renewed their VOWS and parted
with tears and tender, loving words he
put tiny ring upon her finger and cut
little curly tress from her brown hair
and telling her to always 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 hi.
wife.
sit must be about time for him tc
start, she said to herself one day.
And by and by as she gazed over 4
| newspaper, her eyes were attracted by
| his name. with white lips and dilated
eyes che read ofhis marriage to another
"Married! Taken another bride in
| stead of coming back to marry me
Oh, Paul, PAUL." l loved and trusted
you too much for this.
She covered her face with hel
beautiful hands and wept bitterly. Ar
hour afterwards as she sat there in the
twilight with the fatal newspaper II
her lap, she heard a step on the grave