News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-04-12

little reserve and caution before people.
But after the wedding dress had gone,
all question of marriage had disappeared
so entirely from her mind that the deli
cate considerations born of it vanished.
She was uncommonly hale and hearty
for woman of her age; there was APP
parently much more than two years dlt-
ference between her and her lover. 1t
was not only the Saturdays bread ana
pie that she carried now and deposited
on Davids little kitchen table, but open
w and boldly. not caring who should see
her, many a warm dinner. Every day,
after her own house-wOrk was done,
David's house was set to rights. He
should have all the comforts he needed
in his last years, she determined. That
they were his last years was evident. He
coughed, and now walked so slowly from
feebIeness and weakness that it was a
matter of doubt to observers whether he
could reach Maria Brewster's before
Monday evening.
One Sunday night he staid little
longer than usual-the clock struck ten
before he started. Then he rose, and
said, as he had done every Sunday even
ing for so many years, Wei, Maria, l
guess it's about time for me to be 60
in"
She helped him on with his coat, and
tied on his tippet Contrary TO his
usual habit he stood in the door, and
hesitated a minute: there seemed to be
something he wanted to say.
Maria"
"Well, David?"
I'm gittin' to be an old man, you
know, an I've allus been slow-goin'; [
couldn't seem to help it. There has
been a good many things haven't got
around to. The old cracked voice
quavered painfully.
Eyes, l know, David, all about it !;
you couldn't help it. I wouldn't worry
a bit about it if I were you"
you don't lay up anything agin me,
Maria ?"
mo, David"
Good night, Maria
Good night, David. will fetch you
over some boiled dinner tomorrow"
She held the lamp at the door till the
patient, lettering old figure was out of
sight. She had to wipe the tears from
her spectacles in order to see to read her
Bible when she went in.
Next morning she was hurTying up
her housework to go over to David's-
somehow she felt little anxious about
him this morniL when there was
loud knock at her door. When she
opened it boy stooo there, painting for
breath he was David's next neighbor's
son.
''DIr. Emmons is sick, he said, can
wants you. was goin' for milk, when
he raped on the window. Father an
mothers in thar, an the doctor. Mother
said, tell you to hurry"
The news had spread rapidly people
knew what it meant when they saw
Maria hUrTying down the street, without
her bonnet, her gray hair flying. One
woman cried when she saw her. ''Poor
thing !" she sobbed, poor thing -
A crowd was around David's cottage
when Mariah reached it. She went
straight in through the kitchen to his
little bedroom, and up to his side. The
doctor was in the room, and several
neighbors When he saw Maria, poor
David held out his hand to her and
smiled feebly. Then he looked implor-
ingly at the doctor, then at the others in
the room. The doctor understood, and
said a word to them, and they filed 81
lentIy out. Then he turned to Maria.
''Be quick, he whispered.
She leaned over him. Dear David >
she said, her wrinkIed face quivering,
her gray hair straying over his checks.
He looked up at her with a strange
wonder in his glazing eyes. ''NIaria "A
thin, husky voice, that was more like a
wind through dry corn stalks, said
Maria, I'm-dyin', AMI alters meant
to-have asked you to-marTy me. -
H0Tpcr'S Baz0r.