Wichita eagle., 1890-03-11

lie have need OF aniething, twas bought
and TO questions Of price. These things would
Robert and hear when out at work in barn
and kitchen; SOC few came TO sit by mother
on cur settle, where she sat al day long all
ing. Not forty, and yet with streaks in her
hair, and with look in her faded eyes not to
be worGed.
A day in Mav, while mother and I were
sprinkiing tn dark, i'll smelling linen on our
bleaching ground, there rides up the general
in black velvet AS lips were thick and as
nostrils wide, but a was comeiy.
cart thou the dame who makes linen sheet
ingin saith he Il do desire a web
Ny mother was overjoyed at SO great an
order-we had none too much i the cupboard
and "a hurried around as web on tn grass,
patting and praising it and babbling with
more liveliness than for yeare Of its merits
and its defects. But the gentleman was ST.
lent looking at me instead o. the linen.
And as we sat in the cleaning came
black with curds and creame neatlie layd
upon a silver dish ''for Mistress Rose Moody"
l cared more for tn fayre dish than tn
curds, and even mother liked to try a little
off tn embossed side Of the platter, Robert
finishing all, with boys greediness.
Twas thus the next day and next and by
tn next the old wives i all Hampton grew
naybourly, but tn maids did seem thrice dis
tant and cold to me.
Tn next was wild weather; the ram that
thu wind drove aslant our lattice freezing i
the falling Robert had been forth, and did
sit steaming on tn hearth, mending S fork
as lie dried. And our mother upon tn settle
in q thick coverlet. Twas dull i tn room,
and not over warm neither. And | at tn
loom.
There came tn sound Of a horses feet and
a knock, and Gen. Moulton in our porch
bowling low. cobwebby, soaked lace falling
down over S strong white hands as he dotted
his hat to me. But Robert was SQUIRE, and
looked not from the fork teeth.
Sweetheart" says the general, follow
ing to tn loom across tn uneven floor, wilt
wed with me? Thou must go with thy linen"
Ny dry tongue let me talk not, but love
and loyalty to our mother stirred Robert.
Gen Moulton," said he, with a flaming
face. ''dost know who thou'rt asking: Hamp-
ton doth set us apart" saith he bitterlie.
"And why?' said the general fiercely.
"Thy mother could not hurt a flea common
lie. Who can say what he will doe in a fear
full peril. She will be my mother and she
will come and see us happy; it may tend to
make her soc. Ay," saith he, 'sweet Rose,
wilt come upon the hill, thou and tn mother
and Roberto
Robert looked at me jealousy. 81 shall
earn a mans wage i the year." he muttered
TREMENDOUSLY. Twas not moment! and yet
we did read each tn other i that glance.
He dropped his eyes.
Rose is good,' came quietly, yet to start
one, from tn settle where my mother sat in a
strange, unmannerlie silence. 'And thou art
good to love our poore Rose-rny girl that
hath no gear but mothers shame!" and she
hid her thin face, trembling and tearlesse.
i * 4 :" *
It's nine years have been Gen Moulton's
dame. From my great room l look off DER
the breathlessly quiet country to the banks o
sunsmtten clouds sailing landmarks 'Tis
the same landsl1ip
Am happy? / should be; for Robert by
Gen Moulton's favour hath an education and
a shippe.
Methinks, times. Old Caesar knoweth the
general better than his wife doth. Ny hUs
band goeth awaie yearly for weeks and on's
return seemeth to adapt himself TO new life.
/ have found there be spaces of his mind
where he chooses to be alone ! make no
comment. tie ndtN raised NE 10 Il rare SUI
tion-as high as of anie private gentlewoman
in tn colonies
But once, q Wild looking man came for en-
tertainment He was 4 practiser of tn black
art-it was soc sayd-and as | handed them
cups of amber drink in tn porch did beg
him for my fortune.
Thou hast had strange one, " saith he,
viewing me strangely. ''Thou art here i the
warm wurld Ask nothing further"
But pestered and would not be gainsayed.
But, at last, up waves he his empty cup.
Look, an thou rlust!' saith he. Thy will
must be my law In thine own house"
Alack, the rims of the cup expanded ard
parted, and there was my husband sitting in
my fayre room, but wripkled, and hand
some girl hung about him. Then all became
blurred like an image i stirred pool, and
was but staring into TIL cup.
Thy husband is to be twice matched"
said the man grimly, and with a hooking
reverence.
wish l had not looked in tn cup. and
yet TIA black art is fiend's pleasure. God
rules And still, would / had not this 20
think of: for I love tn day ard my house
and tn ordering o my maids.
Down i Tn graveyard mothers mound is
greene Mayhap she cid feel this once, in her
turn.
The fashion Of this wurld passeth awaie!-
Adeline S. Knight in The Springfield Repub-
Hcaa.