West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-04-05
SOMETHING BEHIND 1T.
nY NonMAN q. srEnMAN.

Bf NORMAN q. sTEDMAN.
"Ch, yes, mother you're always sa,-
ing, There's something bchind it, I'm
glad m not so suspicious of everybody
and everything. believe there is such a
thing as disinterested friendship. though
at is not as common rs il used TO be. l
give everybody credit for meaning well
Iiil l lind 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
beh nd everything that's said and done. >
and Mr.. Thomas Martin leisurely changed
the position of his feet on the foot-rest
before the fire, where, encased in heavy.
gray woO.en socks, he was 'toastinp
'om, aud settled himself little deeper
IN the old rocker that had held his mas.
sive form Tor twenty years, aud bade fair
TO do so Tor another twenty, Judging
from the iron bolts which had been used
to brace up its departing strength.
Mrs Martin, a plcasant-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 encourage
ment
Nobody does you favor, but that
you wonder what's behind il; no one
does anything little out Of the ordinary
run without you say there's something
behind it; i don't tell you anyone came
TO see me without you ask, wv hat did he
wantF just as though anyone wouldn I
come to see me unless he had an AK to
grind. You've said il so much. you're
getting me all riled up 'gainst everybody
and everything and don want TO lose
faith in humanity as You seem to have
done"
Well, then, I'll say no more about
1t, but don't like to see you so often
deceived as TO the real motives of people.
who pretend TO be actuated by friendsh, ID
only. have not lost faith in humanity.
Tor the poor souls cannot help being self
ish, and the half of them don't know
themselves that tits selfishness that
prompts their acts. You say / always
ask, What did he want 2 Well. in nine
cases ont Of ten, didn't they want some
favor OF you, some help, or some ad :
vice -
Mr.. Martin made no answer.
am going into the kitchen now to
show Kate about the baking; if you want
me you must call; if you don't care to
read, take nap before dinner time"
Left to himself he 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 i'm il and laid il down
again with the vain wish that he MIGHT
be down at the office, or moving about
the factory. A severely-sprained ankle
kepthm prisoner at home.
To his great relief he heard steps upon
the walk and, turning his head, he saw
through the window the venerable Dea-
con Whiting approach the door and
heard his slow, important knock The
Deacon was an old acquaintance, who
had moved from the neighborhood a few
years before TO farm some three miles
out on the prairie, since when Mr.. Mar
tin had seldom seen him.
feeling Of gratifed pride in his visit
showed in manner and voice as he called
out; "Come in, " and rose, with the aid
of 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 aQin now
m.ddlin' hard frost last night leetIe
more snow on top this freeze, an wen
have good sleighin an that'll make
things itely; folks kin git round then
to town and mcetin.' We hal a right
smart number out TO mcetin' last sun.
day an / sez then, arter mcetin,' I wuz
cummin' to see you, an then / hccrd you
wuz IN up an Sc ], all the better: I'm
ketch him to hum, sure"
During these sentences drawled out
deliberately, Mr. Martin had been think
ing rnpidly. So the Deacon had decided
Sunday to call on him, before he heard
OF his accident evidently then he had
not cone for the sole puspose of follow
ing the injunction, ." visit the sick - and
the horrible suspicion fitted across his
m nd that the Deacon had "an ak TO
grind lie could take no interest in
the rambling talk that followed for he
expected every moment that the Hax
would be brought forward. But no. n
half hour passed and the Deacon rose to
60. Mr. Martins spirits rose; here was
direct refutation Of 4" Mothers" theory
here was a case OF % friendly call. for
frindship's sake, not for self-intercst.
The Deacon stood with his hand on the
door knob.
''Ah! / kim near furgittinR my ar.
rant lie came back and drew his
chair little nearer his friend
''lOu see, we're atryin' TO build a
mcctln mouse out in our nayburhOOd,
an We can't fix on the spot fur it
Thar's q sandy mil in Jake Stones
eighty acre piece, that ne sen he'll give
en-. Now faint as good q spot as the
cross-rOad corner in my field, but I
can't see my way 70 give 'em the land
and the trustees sen soeiu' mines the
han'mmest spot, they'll give me
hun'rcd dollars for 1T, If III raise ffty
on 10 amongst my friends. An 7 thot
bein's we'd alters been good friends.
you'd give me o ift."
The rovulsion Of feeling was 80 sud
den and so complete that he could only
say, eyes, yes l'll think Of &c."
"sariainly, sariainly, you may want
| 20 think IL over, but his face showed
disapponment his words bolied "They
,pu'f settle the matter for sometime yit
I'll, 0ood.day, take good keer Of
Aslf."