Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-08
and Perry, when one day he received this

and Perry, when one day he received this
note:
.My DEAR FRIEND PERRy-I am 50 terri
bly,, deSolatcly lonely. | want friendship,
association. sympathy. and | am coming to
spend the summer near you--l and my little
one. Can you engage II nice, pleasant farm
house home? Send particulars to Arlington
House.
"Now, as ever, your sincere friend.
MARCIA"
Perry secured board for Mrs. Lindsay at n
large, old farmhouse, five minutes walk
from the rectory; and she was soon settled
there IIelens black eyebrows met in
frown, when, the day after Mrs. LindSay's
arrival her husband went to call on his old
friend and she sat long in the little, honey
suckle-shadowed parlor, musing angrily.
She believed that, during their two years of
marriage, she had never yet been more to
Perry Williston than a cousin ; that he had
never yet realized what a change had come
in his life. She believed, though he had
never spoken Marcia's name, that the old
lovc-glamor was on him, and made his Il
dreamy, ideal life. Now the awakening
must come What would it reveal to him :?
Tiny footsteps interrupted her thoughts,
and child, beautiful as a fairy, wandered
into the little parlor. Helen loved children,
yet had none to pet. Instantly her arms
unclasped toward the pretty stranger, but
other steps sounded on the walk, and through
the shetering vines She saw blnck-robed
figure approaching the house, arm in arm
with Perry, and knew whose child this was.
She closed her arms detantly, and caught
her breath as she heard Marcia's ) words,
where she fingered at the foot of the piazza
steps.
"What lovely home you have, Perry.
You must be happy as the day is long in
this cosy little nest, with Helen to pet. BY
the way, how much better we women can
read the future than men. Do you remember
declaring that you never could be content
with skim-milk after cream, and that | told
you the cream was yet to find? You see l
was right. was only the skim-mlk after
all, ~ and she laughed so charminSy. But
bO tdht ~ ttiAiouN W "tS " iiCtiiSl
Helen has changed as little as YOU"
They entered the parlor; and Helen came
forward to greet Mrs. Lindsay--a smile on
her lip, but cold light in her eye that
changed Marca's warm words to more
formal ones. They cEatted, the three, II
while of other day-. then Birdie came in and
teascd to be taken back, and Mrs. Lindsay
arose to leave.
''You must consider this another home,
all through the summer, Marcia,' spoke
Perry. "Ilelcn will be so glad to have IL
constant companion. And this little Birdie
We must teach to love this cage, and he
snatchcd the child to his arms, kissing her
pas~ionatcly.
Helen seconded her husbands invitation
warmly enough to make any reserve in her
manner pass unnoticed by the bright, sun
ny-tempercd little widow, who really longc |
for. just such friendly associates.
And through rose-pertumcd June, and
sultry July, Marcia came and went at the
parsonage. She and Perry, as in the days
vi e'Sii S'ttiiiui i'iiS N'hNSi udiIS VI
painters, poets, musicians, authors, ethics,
politics, and religion. And vainy Helen
sought for any proof that this woman was
aught but true, pure, innately womanly, or
her husband more than Il faithful friend
bound to Marcia by the wondrous affinites
of their mental natures.
And August had come. One evening
Mrs. Lindsay came to the parsonage-only
Helen was homeland asked
''IIelen, may send Birdie and her nurse
over here tomorrow? Sudden business will
take me to the city for few hours, and |
shall feel so much better if know the child
is with you?'
1t was satisfactorily arranged, and the
morning found Birdie and her young nurse
at the rectory. y short time after, Perry
came in from the Office hurriedly.
''lIelen, | find | must 90 down to town,
on the nne-fftecn train"
"Very WELL"