Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-29

that you're willing to let mother live with us p
yes"
"well, don't believe she ever will, Mar.
gy. She's about made up her mind to go
and live with my brother Edward, whether
or no. SO you won't be troubled with her.
dare say she might have been little Of a
trial as abe grew older"
"You didn't tell me-"
~ thought it was your place to give in,
dear"
"Yes, II was, it was, George"
'Tm mighty glad you did. tell you what
II Is, dear, l don't know how you've felt, but
I've been pretty miserable lately"
Poor Georgel"
They passed Esther BArney's house, and
strolled along half a mile further. When
they returned, and Marcy stole softly into
the house and up stairs it was quite late, and
Esther had gone to bed. Marcy saw the
light was not out In her room, no she peeped
in. She could not wait till morning to tell
her.
where have you been 2" said Esther
looking up at her out of her pillows.
"Oh, l went to walk a little way with
George"
Then you've made up?'
"Yes"
"Is his mother going to live with you 2"
mo l guess not. She's going to live
with Edward. But l told him l was willing
she should. I've about made up my mind
it's woman's place to give in mostly.
s'pose you think I'm an awful fool"
mo, l DON'T no. don't, Marcy. I'm
real glad it's all right betwi1t you an George.
I've seen you weren't very happy lately"
They talked little longer then Marcy
said Good night" going over to Either aud
kissing her. Being 30 rich in love made her
generous with it. She looked down into the
older woman's thin red checked face sweet.
ly. 81 wish you we're as happy as l, said
she. II wish you and Mr.. Woodmsn could
make up too"
That's an entirely different matter.
couldn't give in in such thing as that"
Marcy looked at her she was not subtle,
but she had just come out triumphant through
innocent love and submission, and used the
wisdom which she had gained thereby.
Don't you believe, said she, 'if you was
TO give in the way l did, that he would ?"
Esther started up with an astonished air.
That had never occurred to her before. "Oh,
l don't believe he would. You don't know
him he's awful set. Besides don't know
but I'm better of the way it is"
In spite Of herself, however, she could not
help thinking Of Margy's suggestion. Would
he give in n She was hardly disposed
to run the risk. With her peculiar cast
of mind, her feeling for the ludcrous so keen
that 1t almost amounted to a special sense,
and her sensitiveness to ridicule, it would
have been easier for her to have married a
man under the shadow OF a crime than one
who was the deserving target of gibes and
jests. Besides, she told herself. it was posi-
BILE that he had changed his mind, that be no
longer cared for her. She had not Margy's
impulsiveness and innocence Of youth to ex-
cuse her.
Also, she was partly influenced by the rea-
son which she had given Marcy she was
not 90 very sure that it would be best for her
to take any such step. She was more fixed
in the peace and pride Of her old maiden.
hood than she had been in her young, and
more shy of disturbing it. Her comfortable
meals her tidy housekeeping, and her pros
porous work bad become such sources of sat
isfaction to her that she was almost welded
to them, aud jealous OF any interference.
So it is doubtful if there would have been
any change in the state of affairs il Marcus
Woodman's mother had not died toward
spring. Esther was greatly distressed about
It,
81 don't see what Marcus is going to do,
she told Marcy. He amt any filter to take
care of himself than a baby and he won't
have any housekeeper, they say"
One evening, after Mlrcus's mother had
been dead about three weeks, Esther went
over there. Marcy had gone out to walk
with George, so nobody knew. When she
reached the house-a white cottage on a hill
she saw q light 10 the kitchen window.
He's there" said she. She knocked on
the door softly Marcus shuffled over to it
he was in his stocking feet-and opened it.
Good evening. Marcus" said she, speak
ing first;
II hadn't anything special to do this even
ing, 20 l thought I'd look in minute and see
how you was getting along"
II amt getting along very well; but I'm
glad to see you. Come right in"
When she was seated opposite him by the
kitchen Ere, she surveyed him and his sur
roundings pityingly. Everything had an alb
ject air of forlornness there was neither tidi-
ness nor comfort After a few words she
rose energetically. 'See here, Marcus" said
she, you jest fill up that tea. kettle, and I'm
going to slick up here little for you while
stay"
Now. Esther, don't feel as if"
Don't you you say nothing. Here's the
tea kettle. l might jest as well be doing
that as setting still"
He watched her as she few about setting
things to rights, in a way that made her
nervous; but she said to herself that this was
easier than sitting still and gradually leading
up to the object for which she had come.
She kept wondering il she ever could accom-
plish 1t. When the room was in order, final
ly, she sat down again, with a strained-up
look in her face.
Marcus" she said, II might as well be-
gin. There was something | wanted to say
to you tonight"
He looked at her, and she went on
"Pve been thinking some lately about how
matters used to be betwiXt you an me, and
~ iaok k,kI I
have been q little more patient than was
don't know as I'd feel the same way now if"
"Oh, Esther, what do you mean?"
II amt going to tell you, Marcus Wood
man, if you can't find out. I've said full
enough more'n ever thought should."
He was an awkward man, but be rose and
threw himself on his knees at her feet with
all the grace of complete unconsci BUSINESS of
action. 'oh, Esther, you don't mean, do
you ?-you don't mean that you'd be willing
to-marry me ?"
mo; not il you don't get up. You look
ridickerlous."
Esther, do you mean it 2"
''Yes. Now get up"
"You amt thinking-I can't give up what
we had the trouble about, any more now
than could then"
"'Ain't said once that wouldn't make any
difference ?"
At that he put his head down on her knees
and sobbed
"Do, for mercy sake, stop! Somebody II
be coming in. 'Taih't as if we was young
couple"
II amt going to till have told you about
it, Esther. You 'ain't never really under
stood. In the first of it, we was both mad
but we amt now, and we can talk it over.
Oh, Esther, Eve had such an awful life I've
looked at you, and Oh DEAR dear, dear"
Marcus, you scare me to death crying
So"
81 won't. Esther, look here-it's the gos-
pei truth 1 amt thing again Mr. Morton
now"
Then why on earth don't you go into the
meeting house and behave yourself2"
Don't you suppose would il l could? 1
can't EstheT-I can't"
81 don't know what you mean by can't"
do you s'pose I've took any comfort sit
ting there on them steps in the winter SHOWS
an the summer sunsp Do you s'pose I've
took any comfort not marrying you? Don't
you s'pose I'd given all / was worth any time
the last ten year to have got up and walked
into the church with the rest of the folks 2"
"Well, I'll own, Marcus, l don't see why
you couldn't IL you wanted to-"
~ amt sure as / can see myself, Esther
All l know is can't make myself give it up.
l can't. amt made strong enough to-"
''As near as can make out, you've taken
to sitting on the church steps the way other