The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-29
DARBY AND JOAN.

fiuuOusly. on Mrs Trues garden The
lately transplsnied geraniums and Petu
mas lifted their heads gratefully TO the
warm shower and the fuchsias and sweet
Ulvssum frightened under its Influence
If their mistress could have seen them
she. too would have rejoiced. for the
flowers were her children. petted darlings.
attention too pains,akng She had
housed them I'm winter set them out In
summer trimmed guarded. hung over
them year after year
luvoluntarily one looked for her mild
face al the window smiling out upon
chem. but she was not 10 be seen For
the second time only IN her life Mrs True
Law I'm her chamber too III To heed the pat
terng rain or to think OF the plants grow
Ing 50 fast n the sweet. moist air. even
though through the open window OF her
room both sounds aud scents entered
freely the peaceful sounds and healthful
scents Of the country
10 was very still In the room where she
lay very still and orderly The old fur
nIture was polished and speckless the
linen. white RS snow against the pillows
which had been II part OF her bridal. outfit
rested The gray head. still neatly cared
for and the face with its pallor, still
wore look Of kindly patience
Al her side sat her husband good Deacon
True with bowed head aud sad eyes. and
in his work hardened hand me held her
feeble one
Presently footstep sounded on the
muddy sidewalk outside Then the gate
latch clicked Some one walked up the
path and tapped softly on the house door,
ami was as softly admitted
But the two with their faces turned
toward each other took no notice
Glow Is shey' said the neigkbor down
stairs who had dropped In
"FaiHn'. answered Fdela Perkins. the
maid Of Oh work. temporarily engaged for
tie emergency
"Hows hel"
Fairly beat out with crievin' Seems
= u he hadn't no heart for eatn' or
driukin or nothin' Just settin up there
along o. her and holdin her hand /
J never did see folks set sech store by
each other as they do
We'll. they haven't nobody else to set
store by you see. said the visitor. estsb
fishing herself by the fire. and holding out
two substantial feet TO the blaze
No. that's so. assented Fidelia, tax
i1g ont her knitting Now you just
make yourself comfortable, Mis- Clapp
I'm real glad to see somebody It's dread
ful lonesome here Jest those two still
critters up stairs. aud mo and the cat
down stairs. and ncthin on earth to do
Why there amt 40 much as teaspoon
ful Of dirt To clean up nowhere In the
house never did see sech Housekeeping.
she was master hand for cicanin',
said Mrs ClapP shaking her head
thoughfu!ly and as | say, there warn't
NO children TO make dirt
No there wanlt but them plants Is
about as bad to nay thinkin', cluttering
up the place half tile year and havin' to
trail around with a waterin' pot and
weedin and stewin' over EN- the rest of
the time She took q sight of comfort in
EN- though
"She was a real good woman. Mis- True
was. sighed Mrs Clapp. speaking al
ready 10 the past tense
And he's powerful good man"
There amt no better
Queer sech good folks hadn't faIo
fly"
We'll. they did have one child"
DO tellY never heard OF 1t before
Boy or gir?"
BOY I believe law. Mis- True was
most iicklcd to death about it She was
as proud as an old hen with one chick. but
it did last long Twas sent for to nurse
her. ana she was a dreadful sick woman.
ont Of her head. Jest rsvin' about the
baby. goin on about she was meanin' to
10 for it She had it all planned out for
a lifetime how she was agoin' to rock him
TO sleep nights and how. by and by. he
was agoiu to set TO the table In a high
chair alongside Of her and. finally, how he
was TO take the farm and live with them
always My she was ramblin on so fast
and a smiling away to herself. while the
rest Of us-me and the doctor and the
deacon-was Jest a-fghting for that baby's
life And at last. when she come TO her
self. there warnt nothiD but dead body
10 show 10 her
Dear. dear Did she take on muchS'
said Fidela. dropping her knitting In her
lap
Take on? Well. not like some folks
She didn't screech. nor cry; but she jest
turned awful white. and her eyes got big
and bad lookin' 1t was enough to ha'nt
you TO see EN-. and she never said nothin
10 me. Jest moaned and caught hold OF
the deacons coat sleeve as ii she needed
somcthin' to comfort her 1t did seem 5
If her heart was broke sure. She never
lad no more children.
II guess that's why they've been so set
Ou each other. unused fidelia.
well a. TO that. there amt no teiiin.
Some few folks ara so. any-considerate
and fcoln' -but mighty few Most mar
ricd folk get tired IL Twin together, or.
az any rate. they appear so. to home. But