The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-06-28
xSvoT.
A WOMAN'S MISTAKE.

Miss Martha Bailey-know n through
It Roseyille simply as Miss Martha"
sat by one OF the windows of her cozy
stting-room, putting the last stitches
ssto flannel skirt for old Mrs. Bodley,
Who suffered terribly With the rheuma
,ism, which was not improved by the
weekly scrubbings she gave the offices
N the brick block on Main street.
Miss Martha had Just sewed q stout
hora button on the waist belt, and was
about TO fold the skirt up, smiling at
She thought Of the old woman's delight
when she should receive the gift, when
The hall door opened without the cero
mony OF q preceding mock, and neigh
Dor, Mrs Marsh, came in.
You ought not to sew by twilight
Kiss Martha" she said, as she entered
the room; you'll ruin your eyes. Bat
that's not What / came here to Say;
Mrs. NoIeross died an hour ago."
The smile faded from Miss Martha's
fsce. aud her eyes grew humid.
49, Poor woman ]" she said, in her low,
sweet voice. $50 she has gone at las.
Sic really suffered great deal"
Yes, and she was glad to go. But
she had every attention in spite of her
visited her every day, aud never charged
cent, 1 know; aud all the neighbors
sent thinps to eat. Cancers are terrible
things She was q mighty patient wo-
,n9nl Poor soul But now" with q
,udden change of tone, "WhAt's to be
Lola with Eva p
. Has she No relatives at all p
"No one. S 20 is too refined and
pretty to do housework, even II she va b,
strong enough, which she isn't. She
cAn't go TO the pooIhouse, OF course,
and she hasn't dollar there's to be a
subscription to Iay the burial ex.
psnses."
Miss Martha stood smoothing the
dan eL shirt with her white, thin hands,
her face wearing an expres ion OF deep
thought Mingled with anxiety. Once
she opened her lips, as il TO speak, then
hesitated and closed them again. Ought
she to make This sacrifice hich seemed
u,gsd upon her? 1t would be selfish
Lcs to do so. She raised her head, aud
ssil IN fifm, sweet voice:
"The girl must come to me, since
there is no one else TO take her. have
plenty for one-I can make IL enough
for two by exercising economy"
That's ldst like you, Miss Martha
knew you'd make the offer. The CIR.
has got first rate education, and she
can study up enough to take a school
Ivy next fall. OF course, you won't want
her round after you are married"
A deep flush came into M IS Martha's
naturally pale face, she dropped her
eyes, and turned away from Mrs. Marsh,
with some murmured excuse about
making the flannel skirt she held into 4
bundle to be sent away.
The neighbors agreed that Eva Nor.
cross could not have found a better
home than she had at Miss Marihas.
The little cottage stood in large gar.
dea, we'll illed with fruit trees and
shrubs. Ia the summer it was gay
with flowers of very many varieties
and swset-smelling honeysuckle wan
dered over and nearly concealed the
fence and front piazza.
Miss Martha had lived in the cottage
with old Hannah for tw elve years. Fol
three OF these ears she bad been en-
g,gsd to DIR. Tom Edgecourt, whose
practice WAS as yet too small to enable
him to marry. BE was a year younger
than MISS Martha, and this fact Otter
stung her vary keenly. She somt
times stood before her looking glass
aud attentively studied her face, wish
ing she was twenty intread of thirty
and had the blo0m of ten years before
Her hsir was still glossy aud abundant
her eyes stll bright; but the plump
ness and bloom of early girlhood ha(
fed forever.
Occasionally she wondered if Ton
would always low her, and tortured
herself with imagining it sscrihce TO
him 10 marry her Would not youn(
gll suit him better? She started lik'
guilty thing when Hannah's tap a
the door or call from the hall below in
terrupted these meditatioAs. She wa
provoked with herself that she though
so much of departed prettiness and tn
didesenoe between her age and Toms