Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-24

said Sister Killer, grlmiy. but thar folks
ez might allow that Nicely Parsons amt
any better than others that she shouldn't
have her share o trials and keers and crosses.
Riches and bringin' up don't exempt folks
from the shadder. / married Marvin Hitler
outer house ez good ez Sister Parsons
and at time when old Cyrus Parsons hadn't
q roof to his head but the cover of the emf
grant wagon be KEN across the plains in.
| might say ez Marvin knowed pretty well
wot it was to have helpmeet in his minis
tration, if it wasn't vanity OF sperit to say 1t
now. But the flesh is weak, Brother Gid.
con-" Her influenza here resolved itself
into unmistakable tears, which she wiped
away with the first article that was accessi-
BILE in the work.bsg before her. As it
CHANGED to be black silk neckerchief OF
the deceased Hiler, the result was funereal,
Suggestive but practically Ineffective,
you were good wife to Brother Hitler,
said the young man gently. Everybody
knows that"
"It's suthin' to think of since he's gone"
continued the widow, bringing Der work
nearer to her eyes to adjust 1t to their tear
dimmed focus.
It's suthin to lay to heart in the lonely
days and nights when thars no man ro9no
10 fetch water and wood and lend hand to
doin chores; it's suthin' 70 remember, with
his three children to feed, and little Selby,
the eldest, that vain and useless the he can't
even tote the baby round while l DO the
work of hired man.
It's hard trial, Sister Hiler," said Gid,
con, "but the Lord has his appointed time.
F amiiar as consolation by vague quo
tation was to Sister Hiler, there was an
occult sympathy in the tone in which this
was offered that lifted her for an instant
ont of her narrower self. She raised her
eyes to his. The personal abstraction OF the
deyotee had no place in the deep dark
eyes that were lifted from the cradle to hers
with a sad, discriminating, and almost WON
snly sympathy. Surprised out OF her sersh
preoccupation, she was reminded OF her ap-
parent callousness to what might be his
present disappointment. Perhaps it seemed
strange to her, too, that those tender eyes
should go a.begging.
Yer takin' a Christian view of yer own
disappointment, Brother Gideon, she said,
with less astringency of manner; but
every heart knoweth it's own sorrer. Ill pc
gettin supper now that baby 8 sleePin SOUND
and yell sit by and eat.
IF yon let me help you, Sister Hileri"
said the young man with cheertulness that
belied any overwhelming heart affection,
and awakened in the widow feminine curl
osity as to his real feelings to Nicely. But
her further questioning was met with frank
amiable and simple brevity that was as puz-
zling as the most artful periphrase OF tact
Accustomed as she was to the loquacity OF
grief and the confding prolixity of dsap'
pointed lovers, she could not understand her
quests quiescent attitude. her curiosity
Lowever, soon gave way TO the hao!tual con-
tmplatiou Of her own sorrows, and she
Gould not foreso the opportuue presence OF
. sympathizing auditor 10 whom she could
relieve her feelings The preparations for
the evening meal were therefore accom-
PANIED By dreary monotone OF lamenta-
ton. She bewailed her lost youth, her brief
ccurtship, the struggles Of her early married
life her premature widowhood, her penuri-
Gus and helpless existence, the disruption OF
all her present ties the hopelessness of the
future. She rehearsed the NEEDING plant
of those long evenings, set to the music OF
the restless winds around her bleak dwelling,
with something of its stridulOus reiteration.
Thsyoung man listened and replied with soft
" asserting eyes, but without pausing in the
material aid that he was quietly giving her
de had removed the cradle of the sleeping
"cLL;;li to the bedroom, quieted the sudden
wakefulness of "Pinkey," resrranged the
struggling furniture of the sitting room with
much order and tidiness, repaired the hinges
of rebellious shutter and the lock of an
unyielding door, and yet had apparently re-
tanned an undated interest in her spoken
woes. Surprised once more into recognizing
this devotion, Sister Hiler abruptly arrested
her monologue.
"Well, if you amt the handiest man |
ever seed about a house!
Am I?' said Gideon, with suddenly
sparkling eyes. Do you really think SOP
II dc"
Then you don't know how glad am. "
His frank face so Enthusiastically showed his
simple qualification that the widow, after
gazing at him for moment, was suddenly
seized with bewilderiug fancy. The first
effect OF it was the abrupt withdrawal of her
eyes, then a sudden effusion of blood to her
| forehead that finally extended to her cheek
bones, and then an interval Of forgetfulness,
where she remained with a plate held vague
ly in her hand. When she succeeded at
| last in putting it on the table instead OF the
young mans lap she said in voice quite
unlike her own:
"Sho!'
81 mean it." said Gideon, cheerfuly.
After pause, in which he uuostentatiously
rearranged the table which the widow was
aostractedly disorgsnizing, he said gently,
After tea, when you re not so much hus-
tered with work aud worry, aud more COM
posed in spirit, we'll have little talk, Sis
Ter Hiler. I'm in 70 hurry tonight, and if
YOU don mind I'll make myself comfortable
In the barn with my blanket until sun.up
tomorrow. | can get up early enough to
do some odd chores round the lot before
90"
you know best, Brother Gideon" said
the widow, family, and if you think its the
Lords will. aud no speshsl trouble to you,
| so do. But sakes alive! its time tidied my
myself little, she continued, lifting one
II
hand to her hair. while with the other she
| endeavored to fssten buttonless collar
"leaviu alone the vanities o dress, it's ez
much as one kin do TO keep clean rag on
with the children climbin' over We. Sit by
ard I'll be back in mint" She retired
to the back room, sad in few moments re-
turued with smooth hair and a palmleat
broche shawl thrown over her shoulders
which not only concealed the ravages made
BY time and maternity on the gown beneath,
but to some extent gave her the suggestion
of being casual visitor in her own house
hold. 1t must be confessed that for the rest
of the evening Sister Hitler rather lent her
self to this idea, possibly from the fact that
it temporarily obliterated the children, and
quite removed her from any responsibility
in the unpicturesque household. The effect
was only msrred BY the absence of any i'm
preston upon Gideon, who scarcely appear
ed to notice the change, aud whose soft
| a,as saar,a5 nathan 70 ;daptifv tho r,isarah HE