Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-12-22
A WOMAN'S CURSE.

A homelike log farm house, will
smoothly mown front yard.
Here and there rose bushes. A
the front gate q sweet syringa tree
Rows Of currant bushes beside
the fence. Also cherry trees
From the gate to the front door
with its simple steps, leads a path,
made by passing feet.
The windows are shaded by the
climbing morning glory.
Passing inside, one sees a large
square room, with its floor covered
with a rag carpet, Of bright and
cheerful hues.
Curtains of snowy muslin cover
the windows, looped back with
blue cord.
Two beds stand each in what is
termed in country phase, a recess,
with white curtains in front. Up
on a table is a large bible.
Upon rustic mantel stands a
large old fashioned clock garnised
on either side with vases of roses.
Several chairs, q rustic lounge,
a second table, larger, upon which
is q few books, some simple pic
lures hung upon the wall, COM
pletes its furnishing.
Back of this is a simple dining
room, kitchen, and further on a
wood shed, and last though not
least, the traditionary milk house.
In this simple home, with plain
house but many acres of rich, farm
ing land, lived, at the time my
story commences, worthy farmer,
MS wife and only daughter.
The last mentioned was once
beautiful, but at the date of my
story, she was a sober yet SEEM
ingly happy enough maiden OF
twenty-five or whereabouts.
Why, then, if beautiful, had she
never married, which is the usual |
fate Of beautiful vomenl
For seven long years she had
been keeping company with the
son Of a neighboring farmer, Mark
Brainard by name.
And at first everybody said it
would be sure to be match.
But as the years passed on, and
Sarah's beautiful face changed
from that to a careworn looking
woman, many marveled thereat
and all the wiseacres shook their
heads, and wagged their tongues.
wv ny did they not get married"
said they all. Sure enough, why
did they mott
Mark was the blacksmith of the
village, and called by many, hand
some, with a face as dark as that
Of Spaniard, with hair and point
ed mustache of jetty black, and
eyes Of that peculiar balisk-like
glitter which fascinates, and at the
same time fills with fear the be-
holder.
Nobody liked him, though he
was considered rich and cookbook
ing.
On the contrary everybody loved
poor brown-eyed Sarah, though in
consequence Of the protracted en-
gagement, and certain unaccount-
able things which had happened
during the time, her good name be-
gan TO suffer.
Twice she had gone away, no
one of the neighbors knew where,
and after an absense of a month or
two, had returned in company with
young Mark, pale and CHASTITY, and
Tor weeks thereafter had closely
kept the house.
This morning, at the beginning
Of my story, she was in the yard
cutting fresh boquets of roses for
he mantel vases.
Slender and graceful, neat to
ault, with bingham dress smooth
lowing, and linen apron tied above,
he deftly culled her flowers, and
s she was turning to enter the
Iouse the gate clicked, and, look
og around, she saw Mark.
"Good morning." he said, as he
in.
She responded to his easy salu-
alton, and thus both entered the !
ouse together. /.
And together they arranged the
overs for the vases.
AS they did so, what a contrast
as afforded in the two faces.