Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-04-20
The Story Teller.
MARRYING AGAIN.

'Janie,' said Squire Marden, shave you fed
the young turkeys -
''Yes, John,' jamie answered.
s'And looked after the calves, and turned
the cheeses, and aired the feather,beds, and
cleaned the cellar, and sorted over the russell
apples ?"
Eyes, cousin John.'
''Ah % said Squire Marden, ''it's heavy
responsibility to put upon one person, all these
daily duties, jamie, eh?'
II hope to do everything to please you,
John, "faltered the quiet girl, who sat picking
over beans in huge four quart pan.
Eyes, Janie-yeS, I've no cause to COM
plain, said the Squire, thoughtfully feeling OF
his handsome, smooth-shaven chin, as he sat
looking at the slender, pretty girl.
While jamie Lee, conscious that his eyes
were upon her, changed from pink to pale and
then back again, and worked more steadfastly
than ever.
''Japie,'' said the squire, suddenly, 1--WE
something to say to you, and there is no use in
putting it off,"
jamie glanced up, more agitated than ever.
''I'm thinking of marrying again, y said the
squire, abruptly.
jamie tried to say, care you ?" but her
tongue Glove to the roof of her mouth. Poor,
little, tluttering shy thing-at that moment
food of indescribable happiness seemed to
overflow her soul. Ever since her cousin
Mrs Marden) had died, four years ago, and
She, girl of sixteen, had taken the helm of
keeping into her strong, young hands,
she had been learning to worship the stately,
handsome, nobe-natured squire. Nothing was
too much for her, when it was done for him.
Full Of Carlyle's ''Hero Worship" jamie Lee
could have written half dozen volumes on
the subject, and taken Squire John Marden for
the central point of every one of them. Now
and then, spurred by kindly word, gentle
tone, she had ventured to hope she knew not
what. Oftener still, she had fallen into the
deeps of deSpondency-until at last, she had
resolved to spend her quiet and uneventful Life
in Squire Marden's service, whether or not her
craved.
But now-now that he looked at her with
those kindly pleasant eyes-nOw that he spoke
of marrying again''-her heart leaped high
in her bosom. Were those long years OF con-
scientious toll appreciated at last !? Was he,
indeed, about to ask her to be his wife?
Marrying again!' the squire repeated,
slowly. You wouldn't object, eh, jamie p
''I 20 she faltered.
"Your position, you see, would remain Just
the same,'' said he Matilda is perfect
child about the cares of housekeeping, and
will, doubt not, be pleased to retain you here
as her right hand in the house for, as you
may perhaps have guessed, have proposed to
Matilda Kerr
Janies heart seemed turning to ice within
her. Matilda Kerr, the daShing city beauty
who had been spending the summer at Mrs.
Waller's-the handsome, dark-eyed Di Fer-
non of girl, who had made fun of farms and
farmers, avoWed her ignorance Of all domestic
details as if it were merit, and dawdled away
her time in croquet, lawn-tennls and novel
,l>o inf tlp py-
treme Of fashion, with friZzed hair, stilt-heel
French boots, pullback dresses, elbow sleeves
and long, wrinkle-twisted kid gloves-who de-
clared that life wasn't worth having without
archery-parties, charades and chocolate cara
mels The last person in the world whom
one could have imagined john Marden to
fancy
''Don't fret, jamie - said the squire kindly.
''Your home is here always, wife or no Wife
l haven't forgotten all that you were to poor
Mary, before she died -
The touch of his hand upon her dropping
head seemed to loose the fountain of her tears,
and fingng away her work, jamie darted, Sob
bling, from the room.
Squire Marden looked after her, in slow,
scarcely ly-comprehending surprise.
''Of all enigmas,'' he said aloud, ''women
are the least comprehensive. One would
think she would have been delighted at the
prospect of some one to keep her company III
the house. But perhaps she prefers being
alone jamie always was aquiet little thing"
But when she came to call him to tea, jamie
Lee was quite calm and composed again-a
little pale, perhaps, but otherwise entirely her
self.
ssMr. Marden,n said she, with downcast
eyes, II am sorry behaved so foollShly, this
afternoon but / was so taken by surprise
II am sure I hope that you will be happy -
''You are always kind little darling, ia
ME-" said Mr.. Marden, witha smile. And
am sure you and Tillie will get along nicely
together
jamie did not reply but after the house
work was all done, that evening, and she was
in her own room, she set herself diligently to
work. writing out al advertisement-"Wan
ed, Situation"
isFor I never can live in the same house
with the naughty beauty who has stolen John
Marden's love away from me-" she thought,
with cruel pang at her heart.
So the lovely September days went by, and
the colored leaves began to fall, and the nuts
to drop softly in the woods at night; and
when October reigned it royalty over hill and
mountain, the wedding-day drew near.
Tillie Kerr had been to visit the farmhouse.
A hard, hard day it was for jamie when she
came with her black silk dress, with it's fan
shaped train and plumed Rubens hat, and
white blonde scarf, wrapped like fringe of
sea foam around her neck, to criticise and lind
fault, and stare in curious, lstless way at
the rooms which had been Janie's pride and
care so long.
This hall is so ridculously narrow" said
the bride elect "and the idea of such funny
little winding stairs Why, they make me
think of a cork-screw ~
John Marden looked at the staircase down
which he had been carried a baby. 1t had
never struck him as incongruous before.
''And, of course" ratified on Miss Kerr,
'syou will have the partition between these
two rooms taken down, and an archery put
up?"
''Of course,'' echoed Squire Marden.
But he didn't know why he said it. jamie
was looking on, and there was painedlook in
her face. She was thinking how poor Mary's
corpse, crowned with white flowers, had lain
there so short a time agO-how the dear Old
mother whose memory John still so tenderly re-
vered, died in the sunny back room, just when
the March snow-dropS were bursting through
the frozen ground.
Though I don't know" added the bride,
playing with the ivory top of her parasol,
.'but that it would really be cheaper in the
end to pull the whole thing down, and build
something to suit ones self exactly.'
1.-The house is over hundred years old, y
said Squire Marden, gravely. "There is no
other house in the country so Old"
ooh, horrid ~ cried Matilda, recoiling with
!, little theatrical cry. 1.-The idea Of living in
a house that is-a hundred years old''
And she laughed and ruStled away with her
Jet chains sparkling, her presence leaving a
faint perfume behind her of patchouly and
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