The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-12-25

frdipg out how pretty she was had
t. -lir!J Rulda's head.
B5b's will and cunning were strong
and untiring. and anyway Hulda gave
up poor David Devine, and agreed to
marry that grim and greedy Marley. I
lay awake at night worrying about it
my heart was 80 sore perple1ed for poor
David, and wrathful against Bob, and
distrustful of Providence. I grew des.
perate and wicked, but David stuck to
his faith, dear fellow, though he hadn't
strength to stick to the old spot where
he had been so happy and SO miserable.
He went out IS missionary to some of
those cannibal islands, where wonder
the women didn't eat him-he was 80
handsome and so good.
The very name of Marley became an
abomination to me, and I forced a
promise from Hulda that she wouldn't
marry for a couple of years, during
which time hoped for heaven knows
what that was strange or remarkable. L
had small doubt but that poor David was
food for the fishes or the cannibals, for
I had heard no word from him but I
kept on praying and hoping for hurri-
cane that might sweep every Marley of
the face of the earth. Whenever Marley
took HULA out he brought carriage,
and as it wasn't Bob's way to waste any
luxury, he used very often to occupy the
spare seat-he and sister Of Marley's,
high-nosed, high -colored, big toothed
young woman called Judith. + saw
what was coming, and I told Bob he'd
regret it to his dying day, but he mar
ried Judith Marley within that year.
She disliked the trouble of housekeep
ing, so he brought her to board
with me. They took suite Of rooms
on the second floor, and before she had
been in the house month she began to
raise Cain, az I knew she would. OF
which I was very glad. should have
been sorely disappointed if she had
forced me to love her, as did the fond,
fighty first wife OF Bob !; for to hate the
Marleys had become my soul strength
and tonic during the days of endless
labor and WEAKNESS OF body and soul.
The spite I had against the whole
Marley race, that had spoiled my
Bob for me, and wheedled my sister
into a per6dy that broke the manly
heart of David Devine-the spite held
for them one and all kept life in me
when I should otherwise have tainted
by the way. Bob saw that we couldn't
live together, and took a furnished
house down the street; for Bob was
a big man now, aud one of the partners
of Marley & Brothers but before Judith
went away she gave me what she called
a piece of her mind. By the grace of
heaven it so happened that Hulda said
one little word or two in my defense,
when the termagant turned upon her,
and, among other insults, accused her Of
entrapping her brother into a marriage.
Hulda did not reply, but there was
something in her face that frightened
Judith. She tried to eat the mischiev-
GUS words, but knew that the Marley
link was broken. Poor Bob took up his
wife's quarrel, though one could see
this second honeymoon of his had rather
bitter favor. I ielt sorry for him and
the three poor little step-chffdren as
they went soberly down to their fine new
house.
had Hulda to myself now, and will
confess that I left no stone unturned to
accomplish my purpose. I spared
neither her suitor's age nor his infrmi
ties, and repeated, with many shy e1-
aggeration, the taunt of Judith. So all
poor Marley's entreaties, and the threats
and wrath of Bob, we're unable to mend
the mischief of one woman's tongue
Hulda gave up Marley, and settled down
with me to old-maidenhood and the
dreary monotony of keeping boarders.
Even Hulda was past middle-age when
she came down to me that morning on
the kitchen floor. As I said, there was
no necessity for Hulda's remaining
among the rust and reaches, the clatter
of the dishes. and the hustle of the black
serving-maids. I had kept Hulda the
lady manager of the house. Her laces
were real, while mine we're any two
penny cheatery that came to hand ; she
rustled in her silks, while I got about in
a gingham gown: but we worked togeth
er, Hulda and I, and the time had come
now when we could shake the dust and
ashes of this drudgery from our feet.
It WIS growing hot for that season of the
year. I had been thinking all the morn
ing of the budding larches out on the
old homestead, and the tender green of
the willow slips down by the meadow.
It seemed to me I could hear the young
lambs bleat, and catch the milky breath
of the COWS as they chewed their early
cud. It might have been the steam of the
boarding-house breakfast that dimmed
my eyes as whispered to Hulda:
"It's all settled. Tue boarders must
be told to-day. We're rid of all this din
and drudgery. I've paid the last cent
on the homestead, and it's ours, dearie,
to have and hold forever"
"And shall we live there alone, Mag
da2" she said" only You and II"
81 shall take Chloe to help about the
house," said "but as to living alone,
that's what T thought we'd been work.
ing and praying for. You certainly
don't want to take any boarders along
Mrs. Post wants to bring her sick baby
out for the summer, and that young
student on the second floor back is pes
tering me to spend his vacation with us
but surely, Hulda, you would not begin
our new life with boarders ?"
"No, Magda, no, she said, with that
little melancholy, deprecatory, ezasper.
ating smile of hers and as she went
away she left the germ after her of rather
bitter misgiving, which ripened into
full maturity when we got settled in the
old homestead, with all our household
gods about US. These deities wore q
rueful and rusty air. There was some.
thing out of joint. It was Time himself,
no doubt. The tall clock in the corner
didn't tick in the old choery way,
but put Hulda in mind of some weary
jingle she had read, with the one refrain
of "Never, forever-forever, never. .
I never could see, myself, the use oi
reading rhymes-either they are toe
silly or too grave-but Hulda had always
been what they called romantic. I be.
gan to hate the approach Of moonligh!
night, for she would sit out-of-doors
and run the risk of the ague and when
the air grew chill enough to have
a comfortable fire on the hearth,
Hulda spoiled it all by begging me
not to light the lamps, and there
she would sit in q blindman's holiday.
I began to get the ricketts, myself; and
though I Wouldu't have owned 10 80 fol