Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-01-31


lived in the cottage with old Hannah fol
twelve years. For three of these years she
had been engaged to DIR. Tom Edgecourt
whose practice was yet too small to enable
him to marry. He was year younger thar
Miss Martha, and this fact often stung mel
very keenly. She sometimes stood before
her looking-glass and attentively studied hel
face, wishing that she was twenty instead
Of thirty, and had the bloom Of ten year:
before. Her hair was still glossy and
abundant, her eyes still bright; but the
plumpness and bloom of her early girlhood
had fed forever.
Eva Norcross found her new home a very
quiet but not an unhappy one. She was
gentle and timid, and did not care for the
society Of girls Of her own age She liked
nothing better than to lie in an easy chaiI
all day with book or some embroidery in
her white, pretty hands, which Miss Martha
was not weary of admiring. The dead
mother had INDUCED her one child, and
never taught her to make herself useful
There was no need for her to be active in
the cottage. At the outset Miss Martha
had told her that she would be required to
do nothing but study. Hannah being fully
competent to do the entire work of the small
establishment.
You must educate yourself to teach u
Mrs. Marsh said one morning as she entered
the cottage in her abr upt way and found
Eva embroidering a cushion. "You can't
live on Miss Martha all your life. Next fall
we will try to get you the district school at
Dodd's Corner.
Eva shuddered and grew a little pale,
while the work fell from her hand.
AT - Al M
Corner were very rough with the last mas
ter" she said, in her soft, low voice.
"a woman might have more influence
with 'em than a man." said Mrs. Marsh.
anyhow, it won't hurt you TO try it spell.
Miss Martha" as that lady came in from
the kitchen where she had been making a
quaker for old Mrs. Green's cold, '.you
must get the doctor to give Eva some
strengthening medicine. Yellow dock tea
would put new life into her."
DR.. Edgecourt called that afternoon for a
moment, on his way to make professional
visit. and Miss Martha told him what Mrs.
Marsh had said.
The young man sat down by Eva and took
her hand in his. Miss Martha watched him
closely, wondering if he noticed how round
and white was the wrist on which he pressed
his finger.
'She is not sick," he said, 'all she needs
is fresh air and EXERCISE" and then he pro-
posed that she should wrap up and get into
his sleigh at the door and drive with him to
the house of his patient, two miles away.
Cant you go, too, Martha" he asked.
I've will crowd you in somewhere"
81 do not care to CO." she said, and Tom
thought her manner rather cold and depres-
sing. He did not urge the matter, for he
was easily wounded, and never asked her a
second time to grant him favor. He was
not demonstrative lover, perhaps because
Miss Mortha never encouraged caresses.
She did not think it modest or womanly to
do so, yet she often caught herself wishing
that Tom would be more affectionate.
Miss Martha watched the couple drive
away. Tom bent to arrange the buffalo robe
more closely about his companion, and said
something which made them both laugh,
and Miss Martha turned quickly from the
window with a pain at her heart.
''Three yearsl' she murmured. SIT is a
long engagement: and / have heard it said
that men are not patient walters. wonder
If he has ever wished to be free again"
The ride proved of much benefit to Eva,
who was brighter and gayer for days after.
Seeing this, Tom took her with him fire.
quently, never thinking that he was causing
his betrothed pain by so doing He came
oftener than ever to the cottage, playing
chess and cribbage with Eva at the center
table in the evening, while Miss Martha sat
by with her sewing and wished she was
Eva's age.
"Do you think will stand any chance of
rraffinor tho enhnO1 OF nnII,c
fall, DR.. Edgecourt!" asked Eva, one even
ing.
"You surely don't think of applying for
it ~ cried Tom. "Why, the children are
little heathens. They throw ink bottles
troopers. No, no; we must not let you go
there"
~ must work for myself, the girl said.
81 can not consent to remain dependent on
any one"
"Wait until next fall comes before -ou
begin to worry" Tom said. ats OILY
March now, and something better may turn
up in the next six months"
Eva, as was her custom, left the room as
soon as the game of chess was over. Tom
always had few minutes alone with his
Detrothed before leaving the cottage.
Il am so tired of boarding." he said, when,
after some unimportant conversation he
rose to go. Il wish had home" and he
sighed.
Now was Miss Martha's chance to say
cheerful, but the words refused
TO form themselves on her lips. She was
very shy, and lately she and Tom had
seemed to be drifting very far apart.
Tom looked at her a moment, as if ex-
pecting her to speak, but as she did not do
so he turned almost angrily from her, a dark
red flush of wounded pride dyeing his fair,
frank face. He wished he had not uttered
hat longing for home
20, l forgot to tell YOU" he said, as he
'eached the hall door, shat my brother Ar
lold is coming to RoSeville tomorrow. He
las some affection of the head and wants to
,ut himself under my care for month or
wo. He will leave his law business en-
irely in his partners hands. Poor Arnold
lie has other than physical troubles There's
IN old saying that women are at the bottom
II all mischief, and men are such fools
ometimes. Goodnight MARTHA" and the
loor closed loudly.
For some minutes Miss Martha stood where
lie had left her, one hand bearing rather |
leavily on a small hall table. Could he |
My have known what stress she laid upon |
lis careless wordsl She mechanically re- |
,eated over and over the last sentence he |
lad uttered, and remembered the bitterness |
4 his tone. Then she walked slowly into /
he small parlor again, and dropping on her |
,nees by an easy chair, buried her face in |
he soft cushions.
Eva noticed that Miss Martha was very
ale and distract the following day, and was
lot looking her best when Arnold Edge
curt came with Tom to call. She had never
cen this brother before, but he was so like
'om in every way that she liked him at
nee He was. however, more man of the
World than Tom, and while Toms face wore
look Of frank good nature, Arnold's was