Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-15

she took the best there was in the store. He
never spared no expense to please her"
II am glad to hear she was SO well off," said
Miss Maria. dryly, as Aunt Phemy paused to
take breath
We'll you may say SO: but not so well of as
the next Onel be- Hetty had her hard times
when they was first married. They had to
scrape along most any way some few years then
That's one good thing. always say, about mar
ryin' late in life. If you marry young Miss
Maria. you do have good deal to go through
There's trials and tribuations in every state as
the good book says. an faint the worst luck to
keep single till YOU can really better yourself"
Miss Maria shut her lips and turned her head
from Aunt PheIny. "a If she might make good
many answers to that remark if she chose: but
her visitor did not notice it. She was carried
quite away now by her own eloquence. and she
did not doubt that the spinsters silence meant
consent. And as l was SayiL | was tein'
him only the other night he'd ought to get mar
Red, an says l. There's plenty to choose from
in Canton An he answered me-you'd ought
to heard him-'Phcmy. the amt but one woman
IN canton that can take Hettys place. An
knew right off who he meant" She went on
beanlng on her nearer in an unmistakable man
ner: but he's so shy he can't bear to speak"
II you mean me-" Miss Maria said, cleaning
her throat, I'm much obliged. but 1 couldn't
think OF leaving father"
Why. there's Prudence"
=, "irudy's far too young and flighty." answered
the spnster. to whom-herselt past the danger
point at 40-her sister. five wears Younger
seemed little girl. "a couldn't think of put
ting such care on her. But there's plenty
more in Canton as YOU lust said" she added
with family ironical emphasis. Il make no
doubt some Of them would be glad of the
chance"
But Aunt Fhemy was too daZed to answer
Was her hrOther-in-law. Joseph Badger, being
retused' And just then Old Mr.. Stone came hob
pihg up the Path. supported by cane and his
1nn far
once. and surpla!iting Prudence, guided him to
a chair She was occupied with him long
enough for her visitor to recover, and perhaps
she needed the time to regain her own compo-
sure. When she turned again to Aunt Phemy
the color was gone from her cheeks and her
manner was quite as usual. But Mrs Smith
did not stay to tea perhaps it's for the best
after all, she said to herself Maria is cana
BILE. but I've always heard she had temper,
ndJosephd ruther have Abby Stebbins She's
younger. and shes pretty-appearln, and there's
no danger but she'll be glad of the chance
Com about SEWN is a miserable life any wav'
In fact. Aunt Phcmy felt her second mission
one of peculiar benevoence and though warned
by her previous experience, she set about it with
mere caution. and mentioned no names until
she was obliged. she felt very sure of her prize
this time. But the rosy little seamstress who
had only her fingers. and her trifle In the bank
against the day when those fingers failed her
proved no more tractable than Miss Maria She
declined to be piticd on her desolate condition:
she only laughed when Aunt Phemy spoke of
the advantages OF good home and provision
for the future.
well. dunno what the world is comm to-"
groaned Aunt Phemy, she walked home
when women won't marry man like Joseph
Badger. Its all these new notions about its
bein so fine to be independent; but did think
Abby Stebbins had more sense. There's one
comfort. she won't tell of it, | wish could be
as sure of Maria. | declare to goodness b'lieve
III tell Joseph he must git wife for himself |
ciuh count on it bein any such work"
She wiped the sweat from her brow as she
SPOKE The road was dusty. the day was hot,
and her office was proving burdensome And
Just then. at turn of the country way. she
came on trim little cottage II declare, I'm
een-a- most tuckered out" she painted. "Tll
jest go in and see the wilder Holmes a srell.
and %it rested. She'd be good one for Joseph,
If he wasn't sot against wdders But there, |
ain going to ask any more folks to have him
jest yet"
The widow Holmes was slight, pale. with
palmetto remnant of lost beauty in her faded
cheeks. She had been left alone in the world
five years before. with only the little home be-
tween her and starvation: but by stitching in
Writer and city bOarders in summer she pjecpd
out narrow living for herself and her only
child The little house was now full to over
lloW!ng, ana She came to the door hot and
flushed from the kitchen. But her greeting was
as cordial as heart could wish. well. I'm glad
to see YOU. Mrs Smith. Do come right in I've
had to give the paror up to a boarder. but
there's no one in this room and Won look all
beat out with the heat"
well. / am considerable tired" admitted
Mrs. smith as She sank into the old-fashloned
rocker the widow brought forward and took a
great turkey-feather fan from her hand. "Id
no iace twas so hot. or wouldn't come out.
But now I'm afraid I'm d5turbin' YOU You
was dom suthn out in the kitchen wa Mt you:"
She glanced AS she spoke through the open door
into the little lean-to that served at once as
dining-rOOm and kitchen. The sitting-room was
cool and pleasant. and though small and poorly
furnished. was in perfect order. She had seen
that as she took her seat and her respect for
the widow rose as she noted the same epotless
neatness 10 the room beyond. Cant Jest 90
right cut where you are: You're putin up
fruit s'pOse:"
obeyin9 the hint by leading the way out,
There it is; Il bnshel of black berries, and not a
berry lost, ii did DO it, And want you to see
the apple Jelly made yesterday Not that it's
any better than other folks maybe, but had
uncommon good luck | thought
We'll. now that is beautiful beautiful, Miss
Holmes said Aunt Fnemy. regarding with high
approval til" row Of glasses in the window. and
the cans Of fruit beside them. you've had
good luck. / should say. ! calculate ain
pretty good hand at jelly, but this beats Inc. Is
it half and half"
Only thirds. I cant afford halves for board
ers. she added. with \ tired little laugh
why. ii : good enough for the fair" Aunt
pheIny added, after She had tasted. YOU'D
ought to send it. Miss Holmes. and git prize"
- 1T will all be gone by fair-timc." answered
the widow. My boartlers are going to STAY
through October this year, they say, and they're
all 50 fond OF jelly"
We'll, you have your hands full" Aunt
Pheny said, as she went back to the cool sit
tng-roOm. "Ain't il pretty tough work to man
a-c all alone: I've heard city folks were SO up-
pish an hard TO suit"
Mine are pleasant enough this year" an
swered the widow: and if they wasn't-well.
you know. Mrs. Smith. woman can't afford to
quarrel with her bread and butter, I'm thank
ful to have health and strength to do all that's
asked of me-
IAN that's coed deal make no doubt"
answered the others! alphabetically; 'but yOu do
do wonderful, Mis- Holmes. We was a-speakin
of IT only the other Gay an 1 was sayin' to
brother Joseph what a smart woman YOU was to
turn Off work"
The widow laughed-a fOrloIn little Iauph
Sadder than tears. She had had a hard strur-
gle these years to get a living and pay off the
small mortgage on her home Size was like
many another OF her type. slight bat wiry trail
but tenacious and she had carried heavier bur
dens than people knew, being muc! too proud
10 tel her neigibOrS her troublc~ The Lord
helps them that helps Themselves" she said
es. that Is cOmfurtin' thought" Aunt
Phelny said. heaying that piOus 81 mh with which
some persons always refer to the deity, AN no
doubt you We found it true. But you deserve a
turn OF luck. Mis- Holmes. Now. if Won was to
think of marryin' agin: OF course it's solemn