Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-02-10
MARTHA PHILLIPS.

My own sweetwife and l.
| MARTHA PHILLIPS.
She was dead. An Cd woman. with sill.
very hair brushed smoothly away from her
wrinkled forehead, andsnowy cap tied un-
derncath her chiu; . saS quiet face patient
mouth, with lines abolt it that told Of sor-
row borne with gentle firmness; and two
withercd, tired 1ands, crossed with rest.
less look. That was al.
Who, lookingat thesleeping form, would
think Of love and romance; of a heart only
Just healed Of u found received long, long
years ago.
Fifty years sh(had lived under that roof.
. farmers wife. 1f YOU look on tha, little
plate on her cofil lid, you will see tagged
70,n there, and shc was only twenty when
John Phillips bought her home bride.
| For half q century 0 more, she had kept
watch over dair1and larder, had made but
| ter and cheese, nd looked after the innu.
merable dutiesS that fall to the share of q
farmers wife, knd John had never gone
with buttonl9 shirt or undarned socks;
had not come hAne to an untidy house and
q scolding wife, His trim tidy Martha had
been his pride ;and though not a demon
ssrative husband be had boasted sometimes
Of the model kpueewile who had kept bis
homo In order.
But underneatl her quiet exterior there
was story that John never dreamed Of. and
would have believed impossible had he heard
of il.
She did net marry fr love. When she
was rosy, happy girl of nineteen, q stran.
ger came to their village, and that summer
was the brightest asd happiest she ever
knew. Paul Gardener 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 autumn,
they were betrothed.
IN come again in the spring." he said,
"Trust me, and wait for me, Matte dear"
She promised 70 love and wait for him
till the and of time, if need be I; and with .
kiss on her quivering lips he went away.
Matte Gray never told her parents OF her
love, for they had no liking for London
folks, and they treated Paul none too hos
pitably when he had ventured inside their
home.
Spring time came, and true to his word,
Paul returned; he stayed only day or two
this time.
"rm going swey in few weeks to Italy
to study" he said. 81 shall be gone two
years, and then shall come and claim you
Tsy Tss:yy Esitss. s1-.a .a... ana. rar.su WIN
tears and tender, loving words; he put .
tiny ring upon her finger and cut little
curly trcH from her brown hair, and telling
her always to be truo and wait for him, he
went away.
The months went by, and Matte was try
ing to make the time seem short by study.
ing TO improve herself so that she might be
worthy Of her lover when he should come
Iii = must t s. "a SdCs & sssSs; sssss .s : =,
she said to herself.
And by and by rs shc glanced over q
newspaper, her eyes were attracted by his
name, and with white lips and dilated eyes
she read Of his marriage to another.
married! Taken another bride instead
Of coming back to marry mel Oh, Paul,
Paul loved and trusted you for thisr
She covered her face with her hands and
wept bitterly. An hour afterward, as she
sat there 10 the twilight with the fatal news
paper in her lap, she heard step on tho
gravel walk; and looking up she saw John
Phillips coming up the steps.
He had been to sec her ofteI before but
had never yet spoken Of love, and Of course
received no encouragement to do So He
was plain, hard.working farmer, with no
romance about him, but mat.er.oi-iact to
the core. His wife would get few caresses
or tender words, He would be kind enough
give her plenty to eat and wear-but that
was all.
Now he seemed to have come for the ex-
press purpose Of asking her to be his wife,
for he took chair and seated himself be.
side her, and after the usual greeting, re-
serving scarcely moment to take breath,
began in his businsss-like way to converse
There was no confession ot love, no plead
ings, no hand clasping, no tender glances |;
he simply wanted her would she be his
wife2 His manner was hearty enough,
there was no doubt he really wanted her
would rather marry 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.
seMarriedlr she said TO herself. "What
can l do? He doesn't ask me 70 love him.
If marry him can be . true wife to him,
and nobody will know that Paul has Tilted
me.'
The decision was made. Her checks
were ashy pale as she looked straight into
hissyes and answered, "Yes, will be your
wife"
Her parents were pleased that abe wss
chosen BY 20 well.so-do . young man; so it
was settled, and they were married the
same summer. People thought she sobered
down wonderfully, more than that nothing
was said that would lead any one to suppose
that any change had taken place.
Yes, she sobered down. She dared not
think Of Paul. There was no hope ahead.
Life was time to be filled with something,
that she might not think Of herself John
was always, always kind, but she got so
wearied Of his talk Of stock and crops, and
said to herself, 81 must work harder, plan
and fuss and hustle about as other women
do, 30 that may forget and belize John."
Two years went swiftly by. A baby slept
In the cradle, and Martha sat rocking with
her foot a. she knitted blue woolen stock
ing for the baby's father. There was .
knock at the half open door.
II have got into the wrong road will you
be kind enough to direct me to the nearest
way to the villageI" said voice, and
stranger stepped in. She rose to give him
tho required direction, but stopped short,
whils he came quickly forward.
"Paullr
aMattie!"
His face lighted up and he reached out
his arms TO draw her to him. With SUR
pyised but panied look she drew back.
"Mr. Gardner, this is . most unexpected
meeting" s "a,
~Mr. Gardner.' he repeated. "Mattie,
what do you mean9'
aDon't call Inc Matte, II you please, /" she
replied, with dignity. my name is Phil
iipa."
"Phillips!" he echoed; "arc you married?'
"These arc strange words from you, Paul
Gardner. Did you think was waiting all
this time for another woman's husband--
that was keeping my faith with one who
played me false 30 soon7"
played you false have not / have
come 40 promised you. Tho two years