Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-04-09
MArTIE's GOOD WORK.

'sThe doctor says he cannot live more
than few days longer"
Matte Colwell had been inquiring how
it Jared with Simon cartwright, the rich
man of Upham, who lay wasting with d
fatal sickness. Not a young man, yet one
who carried fifty years as erect as
thirty, and who had borne promise OF a
long life before the fatal disease came sud-
denly to end his hope. In the 'sauld lang
syne'' which every man and woman past
their first love carries in their heart, Simon
Hartwell had wooed pretty Matte Colwell
and won her love. Before their betrothal
was six months old, when the lovers were
driving out together, the horse had taken
fright, run away, and Matte was thrown
out and crippled for life. When this was
an established fact, the girl had hidden her
lover farewell, and refusing all his warm
entreaties, had taken up the burden OF her
life alone. AS years rolled by her in6rmi-
ties had Increased, until at fifty she was
a feeble old woman beside the strong, stall
wart lover of her youth.
1t had been one of the rarest cases where
love had mellowed into lifelong friendship,
though Simon had married and lost his
wife, and had one son living, estranged
from his father, son upon whom Matte
had poured out all the mother love that
every woman hides in her he rt.
But while sorrow, pain and loneliness had
never hardened Mattie's heart, but left it
at fifty as tender, pure and true as it was
at seventeen. Simon cartwright had
grown hard and stern. devoted to money
making, and full of worldly wisdom. When
his old love had timidly tried to heal the
breach between himself and Edward, his
first-born, he had repulsed her kind offices
so sternly that she had never dared repeat
them. and only comforted her heart by
corresponding with the boy she loved sc
we'll.
But the fiat bad gone forth that over
came all womanly timidity, and Matte
when her question was answered, went
slowly to her own room, her head bowed
and tears coursing down her withereG
cheek. Once there, she knelt and prayed
long and fervently. She rose from hel
knees very pale, but with steady light ii
her soft, brown eyes, and putting on hel
derure Quaker-like bonnet and cape, went
out into the chill, winter air. All about
her the snow fakes whirled in the bittel
wind. but she kept forward till she stooG
at the door of the great, white house 81
mon cartwright had built for his home
The housekeeper, who opened the door
knew Miss Matte well; for the crippled
old maid was beloved by every man, woman
and child in Upham, for her gentle CHAIR
ties, and noble, self-sacrificing life.
eI'm glad you've come to see Mr.. Hart
wright said the housekeeper, ''for he i
! very bad to day. He can't lie down nov
at all, wi hout suffoeating spells. Will
you go up?" .
Up to the lofty room, luxuriously fur
1 nished. where the sick man sat in grea
armchair, far away from the rudy graf
| fire that tortured his lungs.
With smile thIt few people ever saw OF
his hard face, Simon cartwright stretched
out his hand to Matte Colwell.
II felt sure you would come when the,
told YOU how bad was,'' he said, foldint
her little white hand in his own, almost a
I white now. "You have not been my frien,
Of late, Mattie?"
"Always your friend, Simon,'' was tn
answer, ''but thinking you wrong in on
act Of your life. 1t is for that am here.
She threw aside her hat and cape as sh
spoke, and took chair beside the invalid
Upon his face had gathered hard frown
his lips were firmly folded, and his eye
cruel as death. Undaunted Matte said:
s.You will forgive Ned, Simon?''
.tNever! He disobeyed me where ] ha
most set my heart"
SHE married Lucy Wheaton, loving her.
"a girl whose father was commo
drunkard, who died in delirium ttemen
and was buried by Charity"
s'But a pure, good girl, who uobly di
her duty to father and baby-sister till bot
died. A loving tender girl, against whol
there was no whisper Of reproach, and
faithful, good wife now for three year
You will not die unforgiving."
II have made my will. 1t is here, y an
he opened drawer in the table beside hin
4iThere are some legacies, but the bulk {
my fortune goes to found a library in d
ham, this house to be used for the purpos
Ned will have five hundred dollars.''
| "Oh, Simon, destroy that wiIll''
"When Edward defed me, when he clur
Ito the girl I detested and secretly marie