The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-12-26
AN OLD MAID.

OF course | was an old maid; any
body in Maple Ridge could have told
you that, and good many would have
said | was several years older than the
old family bible affirmed.
felt all of my 33 years and knew
that the dark little face that looked
back at me so soberly from the cracked
mirror showed them beyond question.
But what of that | had other things
to think of than that | was an old maid
many others.
There WAS poor Susie. our pet, the
youngest of us all, who would marry
handsome, reckless Noll Dasher, who,
after a wild life of only few years,
ended it in drunkard's grave and left
poor Susie and her two babies to me.
Nor was that all for Fred, our eldest,
the pride of our old fathers and moth
er's hearts, must marry. too-which
was well enough, only after one brief
year i'll his city office, he, too grew
sick and died-but oh, so peacefully, so
noblyi
You'll care for my wife and baby,
Mary?' he said, looking at me so plead
ingly, and | answered: "Yes, Fred,
always"
SO il isn't much wonder / looked old,
since only my little dress-making shop
stood between Us all and starvation.
Father and mother had become so
feeble they could only sit on either side
OF the chimney and talk OF their trials
and sorrows.
Susie took upon herself the care of
the large household, and I've she'd many
a secret tear at night, thinking how
wan and white she was growing, our
beautiful little Susie.
What did Fred's wife do? THAT'S
a sore subject; no one ever said any
thing, but | have seen Susie shut her
lips in strange way when 1.-The LADY,
swept into our simple meals and never
offered to soil her white hands even to
wash her own dishes or clothes.
She's never been taught TO work, !
suppose, y thought; poor thing!'
Then | bent over my sewing and sat
up little later.
Things had gone on in this way for
nearly Il year, until one night, when it
was growing very late, Susie came in
and Shut the door Of my shop carefully.
Nv hat is it, my dear?' | said cheer
fully, for there was look on her face
that troubled me.
Mary" she said, sinking down at my
side and laying her pretty head on my
knee, my poor Mary!n and then she
began to sob so pitifully.
| had but little time to spare, for /
knew Mrs. Greathouse must have her
new dress by the next evening; but l
dropped my needle and took her in my
arms and whispered:
What is Tiny darling, tell me, won't
you?n
"Oh, Mary, so good, so unseltish. l
can't bear it. You are working your
self TO death for me and mine. I've
thought and thought and planned, and
there's only one way"
Il don't understand-how hot your
cheeks are! You're going to be sick" "
I'm going to die, Don't look so
startled. I'm very wicked and foolish,
but | can't see you kill yourself nor my
precious children starve. I'm only
only going to get married." desperate
ly.
Then felt her whole body shudder,
Yes, darling. but who?n
I'm going TO marry Mr.. Caleb Left
ingwell."
Susie. You are mad."
No; he proposed tonight as | left
the store, and | accepted him, that's
all; why don't you congratulate me?"
Because | can't for | kno-oh, my
darling. | know you don't love him. "
Love, | loved once and got a sweet
reward. Yes, I'm in love with the old
miser's money; that's honest
Hush! Never mind. sleep on it, pet.
Wen talk about it tomorrow. l must
finish this dress now."
Mary, do stop and rest. you unself-
ish housekeeper. Your burden shall be
lightened. I'm not half as miserable
as YOU fancy"
But | knew what she suffered, and
sighed, for things had come to a very
bad state. What with poor father down
with the rheumatism and Susie's child
ren suffering for shoes. and none of us
too warmly clad. unless it was 1.-The
lady"-that is what Susie called Fred's
wife to me more than once: but could
only sigh and remember that they were
her old gowns.
Nevertheless it did seem hard that
she and her baby should have the one
spare room, and fire, and coal so
dear. But In me. | had promised.
Such rosebud as that little cooling
baby was. If I'd had time I'd have
cuddled it by the hour. and strange to
say, the mother had called it Mary
She never said it was for me. and | often
wondered, but never asked her-for
somehow all Us simple folks were Bit
afraid of "the lady,
1t was one dull, rainy evening in
February when poor Susie came to me
with her pitiful story oe sacrifice she
had resolved to make | remember