Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-05-19

/ the Steps llG had been 10 SEQ her
often bgtore, but had never yet spoken
81 love, and hai feeeivod no encourage.
inlcni % ito sos He Wis plain, hard
wOrsmE Eiarmet. aitbnorcrnauco sbouh
I h'm, bul maueT,pi-Iaet TO. The core.
Ills wife would get few care ,Ses or ten
( der words Hew1uld be Kind enough
4 give her plenty 10 eat and wear
Now he seemed 10 have come for the
the express pufpda Of asking her to be
his vile; fur he iouk ular beside heF.
and after the usvai greeting, reserving
scarcely q moment To lake breath in,
began, y, his business-like way Ihera
Was no confession ps love, 10 pieAlifg,
no hand-clasping. no tender glances;
he SIMPLY wantcd her; would she be
his wife2 af -. s3a
Her lips moved % tell him she aid
not love hini but as she let fall her
eycs from the crimson-hcaued rose that
y swung from tho vine over lhc window
sho caught sight q those few lines
ngain.
'What can IdoP lie doesn't Ask me
to love him. II marry him can be a
arue vile 70 him, and nobody will know
that Paul nas lifted me
The decision was made Her checks
were ashy pale as She looked up into
his eyes and answered, quietly; "Yes.
| | viii be your Wife"
Her parents were pleased that she
was chosen by so weii-to-do Young
mau; 20 Il was settled, and they were
married the same summer People
thought that she sobered down wonder.
fully; more than that, nothing was sald
that wonld lead any Oueio suppose that
ans change had taken place.
Yes, she had sobered down. She
dared not think OF Paul There was no
hope ahead, Life was time 10 be
died With something SO that she might
not think OF herself john was always
kind, but she got So weariedrOf his talk
OF stock and urops, and said 10 herself:
81 must work harder. plan end fuss and
hustle about as other women do. SO that
may forget and grow like John.n
Two years went by. A bsby slept in
the cradle and Martha nobody called
her Matte but Paul sat rocking wlth
her foot as she knitted blue wooden
stocking for the babvs father. There
was a knock al the balf-open door
tWin you be kind enough 20 direct
r,lr titr iiraresp way 10 the N1iiage2
said a voice, and q stranger stepped in.
She rose to give him the required
direction when he came quickly for
ward
" Paulr'
"Mattien'
Ills face lightedup and he reached ont
bis arms. With d surprised, painful
7 look. she drew back.
' Mr.. Gardner, this IS a most un-
= expected meeting
"Mr Gardner he repeatedi Mat
tie, what do YOU meang
tDon't call me Matte. IL you please,
! she replied with dignity. "Mg name
u Is Philips
"Pbiilips,n he echoed. ''Are you
; married?n
..These are strange words from you,
!, Paul Gardner; did you think / was
! waiting all this time for another
4 woman husband2--thatl was keeping
my faith with one who played false so
a s0on9H raal 7o.7
, PLAYED YOU false am come rs 1
g promised YOU. The two years are but
3 Just passed.. and am here TO claim you,
WHY do YOU greet me thus? Are you,
Y indeed, married, Matte Gray?n
I She was trembling like an aspen leaf,
II For an answer she pointed 10 the
I. cradle Hecbme and stood before her
u with white face and folded arms.
$ ''Tcll nue. why YOU did this Didn't
y You ioye me well enough to wait foi
q mep'
7 She went and unlocked n drawer and
Z took Out n newspaper Unfolding u
j and finding the place, she pointed to II
with her linger ahdih he read the mar
G riaup notice
), "What Of thjsp' he asked, as he met
her reproachful look. ''Oh, Matte
u you thought IL meant me. 1t is nay
u COUSIN / am not married nor in love
y with any one but yep
(" Arc sou telling the truthg shl
Is asked, in an eager, husky Whisper
q And then, rs he replied "lf IS trpe, ,
She gave a low groan and sank down
= into . chair f
al nOh. Pauls forgive me! l didn't
= know YOU had cousin by the same
I. nams. OUGHT not to have .doubted
!. YOU, hut twas tlicre in black and whit
~ and this man, my husband, came,
y anil | married him,nF
With bitter tears, she told him how
= all happened. With clenched hands
y he walked to and fro, then stopped be
y side the cradle and bent over the sleep
y ing child. atH aspl f1a
I. Then he turned, and, kneeling before
y her, said in low voice "l forgive YOU
4 Matte: be rs happy as you cam liz
I took both her hands in his and looked
steaiily. lovingly into her face. Hi'
!. lihs twitehed conyulsNely, II have NJ
/, right here you are anotherman's vile
" Good-hY. Good bless your -
And she went down ON her knees
l. beside her sleeping baby and pray ef
for strength. They never saw one an