Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-06-13
SOMETHING BEHIND IT

sob, yes, motherI you're always
saying, There's something behind it. -
I'm glad I'm not so suspicious of
everybody and everything. l believe
there is such a thing as dIsinterested
friendship, though 1t is not as common
as it used To be. l give everybody
credit for meaning well till find out
they don't; I'd hate to think people
were so selfish as you do; you can't
take any comfort in your friends so
long as you think there's something
behind everything that's said and
dOne,n and Mr. Thomas Martin leIs-
urely changed the position of his feet
on the foOt-rest before the fire, where,
encased in heavy, gray wooden socks,
he was ''toastIng 'em," and settled
himself little deeper in the old rocker
that had held his massive form for
twenty years, and babe fair to do so for
another twenty, Judging fromlthe IRON
bolts which had been used to brace up
its departing strength.
Mrs Martin, a pIeasant-faced little
woman, considerably younger than her
husband, sat by the window darning
socks similar to those mentioned and
made no reply to his remarks. But he
needed no response by way OF encOur-
agement.
Nobody does you favor, but that
you worder what's behind It; no one
does anything a little out OF the ordin-
AIRY run without you say there's some
thing behind 1t; J don't tell you anyone
came to see me without you ask, What
did he wants' Just as though anyone
wouldn't Cnme To see me unless he had
an AK to grind. You've said it so much,
you're getting me all riled up against
everybody and every thing, and don't
want To lose faith IN humanity as you
seem TO have done"
'Well, then, III say no more about
Il, but l don't like To see you so often
deceived As to the real motives of peo-
pie, who pretend to be actuated by
friendship only. I have not lost faith
in humanity, for the poor souls cannot
help being selfish, and the half OF them
don't know themselves that tits selfish
ness that prompts their acts. You say
/ always ask, 'Whae did he want2'
Well, in nine cases out of ten, didn't
they want some favor Of you, some
help, or some advice2"
Mr.. Martin made no answer.
~ am going into the kitchen now to
show Kate about :the baking; II you
want me you must call; II you don't
care 10 read, take a nap before dinner
Lime.'
Left to himself lie leaned his head
back and closed his eyes for a nap. but
his thoughts were too busy with his
wife's words. lie picked up paper
but could not get interested in It and
laid II down again with the vain wish
that he might be down at the office, or
moving about the factory. y severely
gur4iupI auEfA l-Hpt him nrigOuar
home.
To his great relief he heard steps
upon the walk and, turning his head,
he saw through the window the vener-
able Deacon Whiting approach the
door and heard his slow, important
knock. The deacon was an old ac-
quaintance, who had moved from the
nelghbOrhoOd few years before to a
farm some three miles out on the prai-
rie, since when Mr. Martin had seldom
seen him.
a feeling of gratifed pride IN his
visit showed IN manner and voice as
he called out: ''Come in" and rose,
with the aid of a clumsy, home made
crutch, to wheel up chair for the
Deacon.
Don't git up, don't git up, kin
help myself, " and the Deacon, shaking
hands very cordially, seated himself
near the fire.
"Tolerable cool weather agin now;
middliu' hard frost last night; leetle
more snow on top this freeze, an We'll
have good sleighiu' an that'll make
things lively; folks kin git round to
town and meetin'. We had right
smart number out to meetin' last Sun
day an seq then, after meetin', wuz
cummin' to see you, an then L heerd
you wuZ laid up an seZ L, all the bet
ter; III ketch him to hum, sure"
During these sentences drawled out
deliberately, Mr.. Martin had been
thinking rapidly. So the Deacon had
decided Sunday to call on him, before
he heard of his accident; evidently
then he had not come for the sole pur-
Pose Of following the injunction, visit
the sick, and the horrible suspicion
fitted across his mind that the Deacon
had Fan axe to grind" Hecould take
no interest IN the rambling talk that
followed, for he expected every mo-
ment that the lax" would be brought
forward. But no; a half hour passed
aud the Deacon rose to go. Mr.. Mar
un's spirits rose; here was direct refu-
Latlon OF '"Mother's'' theory; here was
case of friendly call, for friendships
sake, not for self-interest. The Dea-
con stood with his hand on the door
knob.
"Ah! l kim near furgitting my ar
rant He came back and drew his
chair a little nearer his friend.
GU see, we're a-tryin' to build a
meeuu' house out in our nayburhood,
an We can't fix on the spot fur It
4har's sandy null In Jake Stones
elghty acre piece. that he seZ he'll give
EN-. Now taint as good a spot as the
Cross-rOad corner in my neld, but
can I see my way TO give EN- the land,
anu The trustees seZ seein' mines the
Gah sumest spot, they'll give me
lun'red dollars for it, If III raise lfty
On II amongs my friends. An L tbo't
Oelns we'd alters been good friends,
you'd give me lift"
The revulsion of feeling was so sud-
uen and so complete that he could only
say. Yes, yes, III think of it"
Sartainly, sartainly, you may want
10 mink 1t over" but his face showed
disappointment his words belied-
1hey won't settle the matter for
some time ylt- Wa'al. good-day. take
good keer of yourself"
"Humphl'' grunted Mr.. Martin,
slowly rubbing his injured ankle and