Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-26
AFTER MANY DAYS,
BY MARIE LOUISE HAYNE.
PART l.

PART l.
Margie Lee sat upon the broad stone
door step picking the caps from large
bOwlful of strawberries.
1t was one OF those perfect DAYS that
come in early June, when no sunshine
could be brighter, no flowers gaver. no
skies bluer than those-upon which this
day arose.
The broad, spreading elm that grew
Just by the well outside the door cast its
shadows upon the step and within the
open door and window, making a picture
that seemed the perfection of leafy cool
ness. But poor Margie felt none of the
pleasantness Of the scene. All through
the warm, sunshny morning she had
baked and brewed, scrubbed and
stewed'' within this seemingly cool re-
treat, with a stove that persisted in being
rcd-hot. There had been butter to churn,
pies to bake, the kitchen floor to scrub
and dinner TO prepare, and only poOr
tired Margie to do it all
To be sure, there were Clarice and vi.
but then Clarice had had an "affair,'-a
love a1fair-and, poor dear, no wonder
that she did not feel like doing such COM
m0nplace things as washing dishes or
stTinging beans, for her affair had not ter
minated happily, and she was very mis-
cradle; so she sat in the cool, shaded sit
ting room and perused absorbing pages
of "Daniel DerOnda," and she imagined
herself worse Oft than Gwendolen Har-
leth.
And Yi-she might have helped her
elder sister out of her many domestic
difficulties, but vi was a genius. She
could paint lovely pictures, and write, o
such beautiful poetry, and she preferred
to spend her time, pencil or brush in
hand, out under the leafy branches of the
orchard trees. So Margie toiled all alone.
being right and lett hand, eyes and feet,
for father and vi and Clarice.
Margie was strong and active. She had
not had any "aHair," so what could be
more proper than that she should look
after the comforts of the others?
But human nature is fallible, and hand
and feet and eyes will grow weary. and
sometimes Margie sighed over the hot
stove, and gazed out over the smiling
landscape and wished there was nothing
to do but wander down the shady lane or
sit upon the bank of the brook. But Mar
gle had not had much ''playtime" before.
and now things were to be worse. A
young man had written from the city ask
ing to be received as a bOarder for the
summer at the farm house. and DR.. Lee
finding it hard to make both ends meet.
had consented to his coming. He had Oh
jected at first, thinking it would add to
Margie's cares, "already too heavy for
her young shoulders" he SAID, lovingly:
but vi had said she would help Margie
with everything, and even Clarice had
promised her help when the work was
very heavy. and they would yet on sssplen-
didly," in NPs enthusiastic language. So
this morning Margie did not stop to think
Of brook or sunshine or anything else, out
side of her own province. She was hur-
ried. Father had gone to the station to
bring the stranger home and they would
be here presently, and the strawberries
were to be finished, the potatoes to mash
and the table TO arrange, all in fifteen min
utes. So Margie's nimble fingers, CORY
with the hearts blood Of the great ''early
scarlets," flew faster and faster, and at
last they were all done, and gathering all
up she FASTENED to do other duties.
The stove was hot, Margie's face was
scarlet, and her fingers burned from close
proximity TO the steamIng potatoes. A
4 voice sounded from the doorway:
Don't you want some help, ma'amY'
Margie turned at the sound of the
merry voice and smiled welcome from
h her eyes.
"Oh! Pm in a perfect mess. John; don't
come in here. It's too warm. Go into the
sitting room where Clarice is"
IF it isn't too warm for you il isn't
Tor me, ana I'VE come to help. What
must dO:o
Margie laughed merrily.
"Hol can't do anything IN the kitchen,
john"
Just see if | can't. Tell me what to do
and II do it. Wait a bit till 1 put on my
n apron and I'll be ready" and catching up
N one Of Margie's soiled kitchen aprons he
tied il around his waist and stood gravely
before her.
Marques eyes danced and the dimples
shune In tnB scarlet cheeks. Work did not
seem half so hard since his cheerful face
lae appeared in the room, and glancing
AZ che clook She said:
"it is almost time for father to be here,
ana The table IS not laid yet. Can you do
tlatp
Trust me" replied John, disappearing
INTO the dining room. lie danced nimbly
around, pulling out tue table and laying
lhe cl0th, hurryug brlskly from pantry to
ta0e, his dlminutiye apron iluttering Ike
mug Of truce at every motion.
Margic finished IA n potatoes, gave the
ilst look ~ each sayOry dish ready TO be
emoyed from the fire, and then stepped
p tAe door 70 view the operations Of her
new "hclp." A single glance az the table
.hii 'ed, and her clear ringing laugh
aded through the house, bringing
aricc with her book from the sitting
a.l and Y j from the grape arbor % lind
tle cause OF blargie's unusual melri-
what arc you doing, John Maynardw
ied VI, while Clarice looked In silent
ondorment from John TO Margie.
'i'm the new help. mQ'am, ald I'm law
nag the table," said John, droppnga cour-
iesy with his ridiculous apron and looking
Wtl pride upon bis work.
well, you must think either our family
/. 4 our nppetites have increased amazingly
nee you were here last" said VI, point
ms 20 the piles Of plates, cups and saucers
III at adorned the board.
Al "Woll, ! udged from the number Of
easels Margie was engineering out there
m tho stove that you would want a
rood many dishes, 80 1 put on most al
could fnd,' striving 20 wipe bis moist
row upon his apron and falling most
( suobly.