The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-08

tage. At the outset Miss Martha hat
told her that she would be required t.
do nothing but study, Hannah beins
fully competent to do the entire worl
of the small, establishment.
"You must educate yours elf to leach,
Mrs. Marsh sad, ore mornin :, as 81 {
entered the cottae in her abrupt way
and found Eva embrciderine cushion
You can't live on Miss Martha all you
life. Next fall we will try 10 get yor
into the district school at Dodd'
Corner"
e a huddered aad grew little pale
while the work fell from her hand.
''G have heard that the children al
Dodd's Corner were very rough
with the last MASTER she said, in hel
low, sof5 voice.
ga woman might have more influence
with 'em than man" said Mrs. Marsh
Amy h NV, it won't burt you to try it a
spell. Hiss Martha" as that lady came
in from the kitchen, where she had been
making ''quaker" for old Mrs. Green's
cold, "you must get the doctor to give
Eva some strengthening medicine.
Yellow dock tea would put new life into
her."
DR.. Edgecourt called that afternoon
fer ii moment, on Lis way to make a
professional visit and Nil Martha told
ann what Mrs. Mari h had said,
| The young man sat down by Eva and
took ler hand in his. Miss Martl q
watched him closely, wonder ng if he
| uoticed how round and white was the
wrist ON which he pressed his finger.
"She is not SICK" he said, "all she
needs is fre,h air and exercise;" aud
hen h proposet that she should wrap
np and get into his sleigh at the door
md drive with him to the house OF his
patient, two miles away.
Cant YOU 90 too, Marthap" he
lsked. "We will crowd you in some
shere."
II do not care to CO." she said and
Eom thous ht her manner rather Geld
, and depressing. He did not urge the
matter, for he was easily wounded, and
never ASKED her second time to grant
n'll favor. lie was not a demonstra.
we lover perhaps because Miss Martha
lever encouraged caresses. Sac did
10, think it modest or womanly to do
o, yet she often caught herself wishing
hlt Tom would be more atfectionate.
They had been engage for three years.
bus had seen comparatively little of
each o,her, owing to Toms studies ana
cor patients - of which there were
many-upd they had never grown IA
nlliar, as Is tue case with most lovers.
Miss Martha watched the couple drive
way. Tom ban to arrange the buff4lo
more closely ebout his compa1ion, aud
AID someth ng which made Them both
a1eh, and Miss Martina turned quickly
iom the window with a pain at htl
:, art. The giili,h face framed ia the
leecy wool of the black hood was so
'ery lovely Would he mark the differ
euce, and regret"
She took up her work and began to
urn down hem but she could not
rive away the haunting thoughts which
ormented her.
"Three years !" she murmured "It
- long engagement and have heard
said that men are not patient walters
[ wonder if he Las ever wished to be
rec again p
The ride proved OF much benefit to
Eva, who was brighter and gayer for
lays after. Seeing this, Tom took her
With him frequently, never thinking
hat he was cau-ing his betrothed pail
Dv so doing. He came oftener than
yer tn the cottage, playing chess and
cribbage with Eva at the center. table il
he evening, while Miss Martha sat with
her sewing, and wished she were Eva's
age.
DO You think 1 will stand any
nance of getting the school at Dodd'f
q prner next fall, Dr. Elgecour5 p
asked Eva one evening.
You surely don't think of applying
for it l' cried Tom. "Why, the children
are little heathens. They throw ink
bottles and spit balls at the teacher,
and swear like troopers. No, no, We
must not let you go there"
" must worx for myself" the girl
said. !" | cannot consent to remain de
pendent on any One."
Wal5 till next fall comes before you
begin to worry" Tom said at is only
March now, and something better may
turn up Tor us all in the next six |
months
Eva, as was her custom, left the room
IS soon as the game of chess was over |
Tom always had a few minutes alone |
with his betro he'd before leaving the |
cottage.
81 am so tired of boarding." he said
Rhen, after some III important conver-
'ation, he rose to go. 81 wish had q |
lone," and he sighed.
Now was Miss MarGha's chance to say
te der and cheerful; but the |
Words refused to form themselves on
Ter lips. she was very shy, and lately
he and Tom had seemed to be drifting
cry far apart.
Tom looked at her a moment as If ex-
,ecting her to spe ik; but as she did not
10 SO, be turned almost angrily from
Ter, a dark red flush of wounded pride
yeing his frank, fair face. He wished
e had not uttered that longing for a
iome.
oh, forgot to tell you," he said,
s he reached the hall dour, "that my
rot er Arnold is coming to Roseyilla
o-mOrrOw. He has some affection of
he head and wants to put himself un-
Ter my care for month or two. He
7ill leave his law business entirely in
lis partners hands. Poor Arnold / He
las other than physical troubles
There's an old saying that women arc at
he bottom of all mischief, and men are
uch fools sometimes Good Knight,
lartha;" and the hall door closed
oudly.
For some minutes Miss Martha stood
where he had left her, one hand bear