The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-02
HIS MATCH.
[American CuItivator. ]


dren' t0rphies. being al only child, was
unused to children.) And lastly. he was the
crossest- grained, most miserly man that ever
existed.
Every one In Hillwood knew him. They
knew he had been the means of his firs
wife's finding an early grave; and now hi
wanted TO break Miss French's heart; pretty
dimpled, brown-eyed 0rphies, the pride Of
the village, and the admiration of all.
How she came to choose a surly, selfsf
man like Hector Hunter was wonder t.
everybody. 1t was well known that blue
eyed, sunny~faced Charlie Chester stood
ready to lay down his life for her sake, and
that James Singleton had offered himself to
her at least three times.
Either would have been considered good
match, and yet it was quite evident that
Hector Hunter was the man she loved. and
she had been known to watch beside him
day and night when he was i'll, and refuse
all food till she was sure he was out of dan.
ger.
Yes, Miss French did love him. She was
engaged to him, too, and that bright sunny
morning in the month of June was to wit.
ness her bridal.
She was to be married In the little church
where she had been baptized, in the presence
of those who had known and loved her from
child.
So what was really nobody's business was
eyerybody's business, and proved the topic
of conversation throughout the entire vii
lage.
All her girl friends pitied her; all her male
of..eo ~.
the matrons bewailed her fate; and all the
sires limited that the bridegroom was lucky
man.
Finally came the organ peals, then the SOL
emn servicee for ii was soemn-and then
pretty 0rphies went down the aisle, leaning
on the arm of her sour-looking husband as
smilingy as If her path were strewn with
roses, and her future as. clear as a lake at
even, when the glory Of the setting sun rests
upon its placid bosom.
Il can't afford to take wedding trip Or
phies," Mr. Hunter had said the night he
slipped the engagement ring on her finger,
and listened to the shy Eyes" whispered
under the trees that grew back Of her old
home.
1T costs good deal to live nowadays.
The children need clothes, ane twill take
hye-d0llar bill right out Of my pocket to pay
the minister. You won't care. will you?
~
BILE woman, hadn't your That's the way
my first wife did"
And Orphies said yes, she'd do anything
that he liked" like the dear little thing she
was.
So as soon as her gray-haired pastor had
made her Mrs. Hector Hunter, she walked
quietly across the village common to the large,
gloomy-looking house built on its edge, and
closed the door in the faces of those looking
after her with world of commiseration in
their eyes.
She'll regret this act of hern, or my name
is not Mirinda Highfier." said one narrow
minded spinster.
She'll look like wilted rose by the time
she has lived three weeks with those chill
dren," said Miss Dean, the village dress
maker, Il know all about them. | once
made dress for the first Mrs Hunter, and
mad chance then to see some of their ac-
tions."
I'VE have lost our pretty Orphies for
ever" said gray-haircd Farmer Socum to
his neighbOr, Mrs. Flint. Rude hands
have picked our sweet briar rose, and there
Is none other so fair"
We are going to have Orphies French for
step-mother," said the Hunter children,
pressing up TO the window which command
ed view Of HilIswood common and church
SHES awful pretty. but it's mystery how
she came TO marry father.
You know the young folks so well 0rphes,
that there Is no need of an introduction said
MIR. Hunter. as his young bride kissed one
rosy face after another, and sat down in his
dead wife's rocking chair with the youngest
on her knee.
when you are rested we will go over the
house and take look at things, then we will
have some dinner. l dismissed the house,
keeper today, as l knew we should not need
her after you came. Her month was up, and
as penny saved is a penny earned, let her
go. Rosa Bell is large enough to help you
about the house. She Is sixteen, and as tall
as as you are. guess you will pull together
Pretty Orphies looked at her step-daughter
questioningly.
81 hope SO" she said quickly. EYES, kiss
ing her, 81 am quite sure that we shall"
That kiss won Rosa Bell.
Arthur" she said to her twelve year-old
brother, the moment the door closed behind
her new mother, take heart. l do believe
there Is change coming The second Mrs
Hunter is very sweet and smiling, but |
should not be surprised II father had found
his match She doesn't say great deal. but
there is look In her eye which makes me
feel funny,
Hell tame her before long," answered
Arthur, with a knowing shake Of his head.
'She'll have to knock under the same as the
rest OF us. | wonder if he'll let me go out on
Uncommon tonight? The boys are getting
up a base ball match. Tom Jones was here this
morning and made me promise I'd come.
The Skinfiints are going to play against the
IrOnsides, but I'll bet on the"
You mustn't bet at all, interrupted Rosa
Bell, tying on her apron and bustliDg about
tile poorly spread table In the room adjoin-
ing.
This is fathers wedding day, and it isn't
at al, likely he'll let you 60 Off Come, Kathie
peel those potatoes for me. Then set the
chairs up, aud tell the folks dinner Is ready.
/ wise had something better to offer her.,
she added, looking ruefully at the platter OF
fried pork in the centre of the table, fianked
ON either side with dish OF apple sauce and
"a huUn lpaf AZ what hrand
II wish we had silver forks" said Kathie,
hurriedly removing their brown jackets, ana
tumbling them into the blue earthen dish
which Lettie brought from the closet.
We'll, If Mrs. Hunter is as hungryas / am
she won't think of any thing but her dinner"
exclaimed Arthur, bringing up the, chairs
with good deaf OF noise. THAT apple sauce
Is scoIcht d, Rosa Bell; smelt it. Father
wont relish that"
We'll, l can't help it," answered the .giIl,
in a discouraged tone. "He needn't have
sent Martha off just at this time
ITS all right, dear," said pleasant voice
behind her, and 0rphies slipped into her
seat at the head of the table.
She had changed her wedding dress for a
simple calico, and white apron was tied
about her trim waist. Martha was getting
old, Rosa Bell. We want a younger maid
of-all- work. Never mind the forks, Kathie
Ihave some better ones in my trunk. Hector,
it strikes me this dining room Is rather small"
looking about the dingy, pOorly-furnished
apartment "It must be enlarged in some
way. You must see Durham about it at once
as 1t must be attended to before warm wealth
er sets in. Dog days are so trying In HIS
wood"
my dear Orphies, Mr.. Hunter turned
his severe eye on the dimpled face opposite
at would cost mint of money to enlarge
this ROOM"
mot SO very much" said Mrs. Hunter,
composedly. 1--WE had ours done at home,
| think papa said the cost was $3.50"
Zone hundred and fifty dollarsl" cried Mr..
Hunter, staring at his young wife as II he
thought her crazy why, my dear Orphies,
you speak as if money grew on bushes. and
could be picked as easily as berries. Be-
sides, never heard the first Mrs Hunter
complain that this room was close"
PERHAPS t9b e eddp Sfa dare to what weie
you saying, Arthur? A base ball match on
the common? Why, that's delightful Don't
stay at home on my account, beg of you.
- a ~