Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-06-04

my poor husband was injured
lingering 80 long, and final y
| died.
And tears dimfned the bright
ness of her eyes.
The intense cold or something
caused great drops to stand ia
those Of John Armstrong as we'll
| Cold, most probably, as he tuck ed
the robes more closely about his
companion, and hurried along fas-
ter.
"You were, M. Armstrong,
and
Call nae John. as you always
did, Martha, ne interrupted.
Ami I'll never forget it, Mr.. -
John, and | often wished i could
do something for you in return,
and-But, John, you are driving
past the lane leading to nay poor
little house. What is the matter
with you? WHAT
might just as we'll try to hold
a pair of locomotives he answer
ed andibly, and then chuckled to
himself at the idea of any team
running away with him; and af-
ter pause he continued; but |
reckon little longer ride won't
do you any harm, Martha, for l
don't believe you have one very
often"
mo-" sighed the widow.
"Then we'll go on. There, you
brutes, you are satisfied to stop
now you have got home; and Mar
tina, you might as well get out,
and warm yourselves, and I've
got something to show you.p
He lifted out the widow and her
boy before any objections could
be- made. and babe them run in
while he put the blankets OYER
his horses. A few minutes later
be followed, and found her stand
ing in the middle of the kitchen
floor, laughing heartily
What has been going on
here she questioned, looking
rogn!sh and rosy.
He told her, and her laughter
increased, she now and then ejac-
ulating, Just like man !" and
then asked where his women
folks were, and when they would
| be home.
"Not for couple Of days, end |
shall either starve or kill myself
by that time. BY the way, Mar
tina you and the boy must be hum
CRY, and s'pose we get rousing
dinner, and eat it together, -
He turned away. Was too big
hearted to even hint that her
meals must generally be Slim
ones. But she caught the idea,
and in her heart blessed him for
mis- tender consideration.
1t didn't take John Armstrong
very long to chop wood, and
when he returned, Martha had
laid aside bonnet and shawl,
found an old apron and was busy
clearing up the wreck. With his
assistance this was soon accom-
plished, and order brought from
chaos. Then he slaughtered four
chickens, dressed them and
blundered around until Martha
laughingly told him he was only
in the way, and, sitting down
where he could watch her, be took
the little boy in his lap, and at
tempted TO amuse him by telling
him stories.
But he made even more blund-
er work than at housekeeping.
His eyes and thoughts were upon
the woman whom by strategy he
had gotten to cook his dinner; and
a trim figure was Martha En-
munds's, FULLY ten years his jun
Tor, with wavy, nut brown hair,
clear, blue eyes, full red lips,
white teeth, round waist, and, as
she rolled up her sleeves to make
biscuit, he would have sworn
there never were more snowy or
| plump arms in the world. f.
And such a dinner ! 1t always
made his mouth wafer when he
recoilected it. He fancied that
chickens mast enjoy being cooked
in such manner, that no woman
( living or dead ever made such
biscuits or pies, that potatoes
were never mashed so white, rich
and smooth, that table was never
arranged so daintily.
He ate and ate until there was a
comfortable pain beneath his
vest, and then laid the little fellow
away to take nap, while he as
sisted Martha in clearing the ia
BILE. That done, the floor swept,
and the house tidied up, both de-
clared it was the pleasantest day
they had passed for many years.
but" said the widow sudden
ly, with the richest color flaming
in her cheeks, II must go home.
| How people would talk If they
I only knew