The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-04-26
GYPSY ISAIAH'S WIFE.

booming in the valley below, and a knot
Of crows cawing mournfully in the tree
tops above the farmhouse roof, it was
lOnelier still.
Mr.. Trott was in the kitchen, with
solder kettle bubbling over the fire; he
was mending huge kettle wherewith
he proposed to rife the sweetness Of
neighbOring grove Of maple trees in the
coming month of March. Mrs. Trott was
studying out the complicated pattern of
a new device in patchwork. lent her by
a friend with half dozen blocks Of Tur-
key red, four OF white and two Of corn
colored calico; and Deborah, the only
daughter, was trimming over her Sunday
hat with newly ironed pink ribbons and
a cluster Of artificial rosebuds which she
had bought cheap at the clearing off sale
Of the Stockbridge milliner-and all
three were silent.
Suddenly the clock struck, with a
whirring sound, like an asthmstic To-
cust
"Is that 4 o'clock" said Mrs. Trott,
still puEzling over the blocks Of Turkey
red.
That's O'Clock, said Mr.. Trott, look
ing into the boiling silvery mass over
the stove.
"We shall have to light candle soon, -
said Mrs. Trott. For she had never seen
that modern abomination, gsslight,
and made it her boast that no drop OF
kerosene had ever crossed her threshold
She burned symmetrical white candles
of her own running, in old fashioned
brass candlestioks with snuffers and ex-
tinguishers to match. II wonder where
Isaiah isS We need new logs for the sit
ting room fire tonight. Squire Draper's
son told me he should drop in, in a
friendly way"
Pretty Deborah frowned over the bunch
Of rosebuds; she was dimpled, blue eyed
girl, quite unaccustomed to the business
Of frowning, so that it was rather an
effort for her to contract her bronze
brown brows.
"Isaiah," slowly repeated Mr.. Trott,
still intent on the kettle. "Why, I've
sent Isaiah over 10 Marshall Hills with
that fifty dollar bill!'
Mrs. Trott dropped her spectacles.
Thomas Trott! You haint, neverr
cried she.
eyes, I have" said Thomas Trott.
"Why shouldn't |? Whitef0ot Is lame
and I've no notion Of walking over to
Hills with my rheumatioky old bones.
And the interest on my note is due to-
day, so just gave 1t to Isaiah, and told
him to step lively and get back before
dusk"
Mrs. Trott drew an ostentatiously long
dgh.
Then you, may be very sure OF one
thing, Trott, said she you'll never Sc,
neither Isaiah nor that fifty dollar bill
again" s,,...em
"Why notS' said her spouse, staring.
because Isaiah belongs to a gypsy
race, and because all our neighbors ad
vised us not 10 ka him IN when we did!
Hes worked just as well as II ther,
wasn't gypsy blood in him, hasn't he2
demanded the farmer, sternly.
81 don't say but what he has" ad
mitted Mrs. Trott. II only know tha
what's bred in the bone won't scrub on
OF the flesh, and It NJ be just like Gyps,
Isaiah to cut aud run with that hfty dol
lar bill. And you're a bigger fool than
took you for, to trust a wild fellow lik
that with solid money"
But here pretty Deborah rose, fushe'
and painting, from her chair.
"Mother," she cried, her blue eyes a
Afanle, you shall not talk sol Isaiah
as true and good and noble asif the bloc
Of kings ran In his veins"
"Hoity-toity" cried Mrs. Trott /
amAzement, "And what Is Isaiah Black
burn TO your
Just this" said Deborah; 'that II
engaged to him"
Engaged tO-marry him9"
"Yes-to marry him.
"Debby," said Mrs. TTott, "are yo
crazyT'
II love him, mother" Debby simpl
made response. "And be loves mean
we ere to be married - soon As he he
laid up little money 70 rent farm {
his own"
Indeed said Mrs. Trott, frownin
darkly. "And your parents consent,
suppose, is matter Of no oonsequenC
whatever
1--WE thought, mother" said Debbj
|, with downoast eyes, THAT you woul
offer no objection to what would max
me 90 very, very happy"
Perhaps rigldly added Mrs. Trot
"you don't know that Orlando Draper
coming tonight With the especial intel
tion of making an offer Of marriage
you-Squire Diapers son, with q r.
; briOk house and hank account at Stool
: bridgeg
"Then he nsy 60 away again. Sai
!. Oebby, resOlutsly, "Fog I never, new
: win marry anyone but Isaiah Blacl
y burn"
"a stray gypSy lad, brought up in Il
woods, with nobody knows who for h
II father, and knack for chicken stealu
r. at his finger ends, sueered Mrs, Trott,
l. "Motherg pleaded the girl,
vs ''Now, Betsey, don't, said the farual
Al 'that aiu't fair. Isaiah 3 as good
At young chap a. ever stepped And
II you'll just remember. was as poor
ht any gypsy OF the lot when hEst We mi
Y ried Deborah's ny only ohild, and .
n shan't be leaseds Come here, Pussy, =
o give the Old father kias, "
70 And the stormy February aftorno
10 darkened into snowy nightf.ii, 4
ge Dsbby gazed wi1tfully down the rol
wondering why her lover had not