The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-24
We both bowed, and she vanished

hair in the blue-walled bedroom on tn,
second floor, with white-fringed coun
terpanes and curtains, and two blacl
silhouettes over the mantlepiece OF
either side of the china vases of roses.
There were only four of us at the
table-the deacon, his wife Ga stout
lady who never said more than she
could help, Mary and myself. Mary
had spent the last winter at Glasgow
and we talked about all she had seen
She was self-possessed, without being
forward, and oh, so pretty! Now, An.
gelina was splendid and queenly; SC
this was mild praise that she could not
have objected to, only l said it very
often. preached ON the next Sunday.
1t was settled that 1 should spend
the summer there. I wrote this
to Angelina:
"Since you cannot be with me, it does
not matter where l am-this stupid
place as well as any other. Address to
the care of Deacon Stevenson. shall
remain with him while 1 preach here. "
1t was a pleasant summer, despite
the dullness of the place. How good
the quaint old deacon was, when one
really knew him! How motherly was
Mrs. Stevenson! AS for Mary, she grew
sweeter every day. 1 often wondered
what Angelina would have said could
she have seen me helping her to pick
blackberries, to find the runaway COW,
to carry home the milk pail, to drive
her over to the country grocery and re-
turning with a freight of groceries
Angelina, knew nothing of domestic de-
tails, and her monogramed and per-
fumed letters were often brought over
from the office in company with the
paraffine can. l wrote my sermons at
one end of the round table, while Mary
sat at the other sewing. Between us
was lamp with a green paper shade.
Now and then a big bug would fly into
the window and go humming about our
heads, or moth would try to singe its
wings over the chimney, and l would
drive it out. The old people would 90
to bed after awhile, and then Mary and
would find ourselves hungry, and she
would go into the kitchen to find some
thing good. I always held the light for
her; and when something good was
found we ate it on the back porch. sitting
together on the step, like two children.
She was so like a child-that little
Mary-that it seemed no harm to ask
her to kiss me good night, or to hold
her hand in mine as it rested on my
arm in our long walks home from
church Sunday evening.
The summer passed.; October came;
Angelina returned to the city and wroie
to me. 1t was while we were eating
peaches and cream on the back porch |
that evening that l said to Mary: 81
will tell you a secret if you will keep it |
for awhile, Mary
"Oh, of course will, Mr.. Mactag-
CERT"
81 am going to be married this au-
tumn, Mary" 1 said "Those pretty
letters you always thought came from
sister are from the lady who is to mar
.y me. She is very beautiful, very rich,
very stylish, but very kind. You must
come and see us, Mary, when you are
married. l shall tell Angelina how
good you have been to me---what a
'weet little sister have found out here
n the Vale of Cruix. Why, Mary"
For, as spoke, 1 felt the little hand
held grow cold and heave in mine. l
aw her sink backward. The big china
'owl of peaches and cream slipped with
crash to the ground and was shatter-
d to pieces.
| caught the poor child in my arms. t
n moment she came to herself and
aid she had overtired herself she I
hought. They had been baking all
ay and it was warm. And now she t
ade me good night. But did not see C
er next day, nor the next. She kept Fl
er room, and was not well enough to d
id me goodbye. n
/ wrote to Mrs. Stevenson and her C
nswer was very brief. t,
81 haven't much time to WRITE" she
nd in her postscript. 'Mary is sick, d
nd besides being driven, l am anx-
u.s." s,
This letter was in my pocket on the p
W when Angelina and went togeth- h
to the bazar for the benefit of the c;
urch of st. Matthew. b,
After we had roamed about the bazaar h:
ID bought all sorts of knick-nacks, | re
corted Angelina to a seat, and there be
down to wait while one of the ladies by
no ION this occasion only" was do OF
9 good, onerous, hard work, brought ce
a tray of refreshments. or
AS we sat there slipping our coffee two si7
,men sat down at the next table with tn
cir backs to us. I'M
Il am very tired, are you not, Mrs. m,
ssellP" And the other answered: ge
yes, am tired. l don't think that no
s worth the while to come all the ea
y from Vale of Ciuix to Glasgow
This was the voice of Stevenson's an
irest neighbor, and 1 liked and re- sol
'cted her, yet did not feel quite sure en-,
" Angelina would like an introduce Ja
n, and so refrained from looking to
und and making myself known. sat
Il think we'd better have tea," said We
voice; ''its more refreshing than are
fee. Oh, how is Mary to-dayp Think TIVE
my never asking before" gre
Mary is poorly" said Mrs. Russell. the
h, Mrs. Cullen, what pity it is that abe
ing young minister came down to .
Vale of Cruix. l don't know what to
J. Stevenson was about to let him do g
lie did! We all thought he was pro
rting Mary. She did, poor child. ant
just loved him dearly. And that tior