Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-01
NO.. l..
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
BY EBEN Z. REXFORD.

ing, was so absorbed with her admiration
Tor the tea rose which had blossomed for
the first time after weeks of patient wait
ing, that she didn't see Squire Gresham
unil he gave a little cough. Then she
looked up suddenly, almost startled. to
see him leaning over the garden fence
watching her.
Good morning. Susan" he said in his
brisk. cherry way. IL hope | didn't
tighlen you. You looked up as though
you had forgotten that there was anything
else in the world than that posy OF yours"
"Oh, l amt bit frightened. only was
not thinking OF anybody's being around.
you know" exclaims Miss Susan "wont
you come IMP"
81 don't know but / WILL for few min
utes," answered the Squire, unlatching
me gate, and coming up the path. "What
wonderful blossom is it you have there
now, Susanp | know it's new one, by
your looks. Whenever a new flower bios
SONS, you look as delighted as if you had
discovered gold mine"
ITS my Marshal Neil rose," answered
Miss Susan "Tve kept it for year, and
this is the first blossom Amt 1t beautyp"
Ats rather pretty said the Squire,
who WASH t looking at the great flower at
all. but straight into unconscious Miss
Susan's face. II always liked roses.''
think ii quite likely the Squire was in
dulging in metaphor. and meant such
roses rs blossomed out upon Miss Susan's
cheek when she looked up and caught him
watching her.
81 s'pose you're down to see Mehitable
about that pasture lot,' said she, pretend
ing to be very busy, all at once, pulling
weeds in the flower beds. "She conclud-
ed to let you have it. believe. There
she is now; I'll go and speak to her, and
tell her you want TO see her"
mo, you needn't" began the Squire;
but Miss Susan was gone.
II declare, she's real handsome con-
Germ, ii she is y-five," said the Squire,
to himself, as he walked up the path to the
house. "She don't show her age as most
old maids do. She's real kind o. shy of
me, won't give me half chance to talk
to her. She didn't use to be so when we
were both good deal younger than we
are now"
When they "were both a good deal
younger" people had prophesied that Su.
san Hart would be Susan Gresham some
day. But the prophecy had failed to come
true.
lie had married and she had remained
single. Four years ago his wife had died.
Now be was remodelling his house, and
lifting up his PLACE nicely. and the neigh.
bors began TO whisper to each other. that
they "b'lieved Squire Gresham thought o.
gittin' married ag'in."
"Of course he won't have Susan Hart
Mrs. Spencer the chief gossip OF the
neighborhood, declared. 'for she is q
regular old maid, and he might have had
hel once, it he'd wanted her. think he's
| an idea o. gettin' Mehitable Browne. cause
her land jlnes his.
Mehitable Browne was Miss Susan's sis
ter with whom she lived. widow, with
nice little property adjoining the Squire's.
And Miss Susan thought very much as
Mrs. Spencer did about the Squires ;nten-
| tions, though she didn't say 50 10 anybody.
He came down often and talked good
deal with Mehilable, and it was quite nat
ural for her to think that be was thinking
something OF marriage.
And he was.
The Squire was with Mrs. Browne for
an hour or two that morning, but saw
nothing more OF Miss Susan.
The truth was, Miss Susan couldn't help
feeling that she was in the way, and ii
what she conjectured was true; and then
| it made her feel lonesome when she thought
OF Mehtable's getting married, and leav-
| ing her without a home she hadn't any
one else to care for her, and it always
was a sad thing for a woman to feel that
| in q world as wide as ours, she hasn't
home of her own, and true hearts in it TO
| love her. Sometimes, when she was all
| alone, she got to thinking of it. and she
couldn't keep down the tears. 1t didn't
| matter so much now, tor she knew that
her sister was glad TO give her home;
but if she married Squire Gresham every
thing would be changed. And then--she
never liked to confess this even to herself
down deep in her heart. there was
that lingering tenderness for lover of her
youth--the only man she had ever cared
anything for.
I'm goin' to let the Squire have my
pasture lot" said Mehilable, that day at
dinner. Hes goin' 10 keep real lot o.
cows. He'll be wantin' good capable
woman to see to things. suppose.
III thought he had housekeeper." said
Miss Susan.
"He has" answered Mehitable. but
he says she don't take hold like Mrs.
Gresham used to. She amt interested, |
s'pose. 1t needs some one who SO got an
interest in the matter an things, You know,
to make everything 90 off tirst-rate. Now
ii he had smart go-ahead wife, he'd save
dollars and dollars worth of things that's
wasted now"
Then Susan changed the subject, but
she thought of what had been said all dav,
and was still thinking OF it when she start
ed to walk down 10 the village post Office
that evening.
Her way led by Squire Gresham's. She
| stopped In front of the house and noticed
the PLEASANT piazza that had lately been
| built, the new blinds and the new picket
fence which had taken the place of the
board one.
"Mehitable will have pleasant home
if she marries Squire Gresham she said.
not dreaming that soul was near enough
to hear her. 1t | only had home, don't
care how humble, and some one to care a
little for me, and that could care little
| for, should be contented but l am so
lonesome and then Miss Susan began
to cry. softly.
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