The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-05-14
MARTHA PHILLIPS.

She was dead. Az old woman with
silvery hair, brushed smoothly away from
her wrinkled forehead, and snowy cap |
tied under her chin; sad, quiet face; a
patient mouth, with lines that told OF
sorrow borne with gentle tirmness; and
two withered, tired hands crossed. That
was all.
Who. looking at the sleeping form,
would think of love and romance, OF a
heart only just healed Of II wound re-
ceived long, long years ago.
Fifty years she had lived under that
roof, farmers wife. If You look on
that little plate on her coffin lid you will
see Gagged seventy" there, and she was
ONLY twenty when John Phillips brought
her home a bride.
A half century she had kept her care
full watch over her dairy and larder, had
made butter and cheese and looked after
the innumerable duties that fall to the
share of a farmers wife. And John had
never gone with buttonless shirts and
undarned socks; had not come home to
an untidy house and scolding wife.
| But underneath her quiet exterior
| there was a story that John never
dreamed of. She did not marry for love.
| When sic was nineteen, rosy, happy
| girl. Il stranger came on visit to
| their village, and that summer was the
| brightest she ever knew. Paul Gard
ner was the strangers name; he was
an artist, and fell in love with the
simple village girl and won her heart;
and when he went away in the autumn
they were betrothed.
81 will come again in the spring" he
|
tie, dear"
She promised to love and wait for him
till the end of time, if need be, and with
a kiss on her quivering lips he went
away.
Springtime came, and true to his word
Paul returned; he stayed only day OF
two this time.
81 am going away in few weeks to
study" he said.
They renewed their vows and parted
with tears and loving words; he put
tiny ring upon her finger, and cut little
curly tress from her brown HAIR, anG
telling her always to be true he went
away.
! The months went by, and Matte was
| trying to make the time seem short by
studying to improve herself SO that sh'
might be worthy of her lover when he
should come back to make her his wife
One day she glanced over a newspaper
her eyes were attracted by his name, ant
with white lips and dilated eyes she rea'
! Of his marriage to another.
] married Taken another bride III
stead of coming back to marry me! oh
Paul Paul l loved and trusted yo
for this y
She covered her face with her hand
and wcpt bitterly. An hour afterward
8 as she sat there in the twilight, sh
heard step ON the gravel walk, an
! looking up saw John Phillips coming u
the steps. He had been to see her ofte
] before, but had never spoken of love
and had received no encouragement
] do so. He was a plain, hard -workln
4 farmer, with no romance about him, b1
matter of fact to the core. His Wi
I would get few caresses or tender word
8 He would be kind enough-give h
8 plenty to eat and wear.
q Now he seemed to have come for Il
81 express purpose of asking her to be b
81 wife: for he took chair beside her, al
= after the usual greeting, reserving scare
= " a moment to take breath in, began
q his business like way. There was ]
| confession of love, no pleading, no han
/ clasping, no tender chances; he simp
/ wanted her; would she be his wife
Her lips moved to tell him she did Il
81 love him; but as she let fall her ey
, from the crimson hearted rose I'll
swung from the vine over the VI
the the dow she caught sight of those few In
i 5S1: again.
Re, " Married ?" she said to herse
'oi" .sWhat can [ do? He doesn't ask
. TO love him. If | marry him | can b'
= true wife to him, and nobody will KIN
- that Paul has Tilted me.
. Dc The decision was made. Her chez
der. were ashy pale as she looked up Il
.tas his eyes and answered, quietly: "1
al. [ will be Your wife.
.siI1 Her parents were pleased that s
ong was chosen by so well-to-do a you
w. man: so it was settled, and they W
ed married the same summer. PEG
Tch thought she sobered down wonderful
49, more than that, nothing was said t
aesed would lend any one to suppose that {
;. III change had taken place.
ostiv IL baJ SCbaraI ,3&un =