The morning call., 1891-06-23
MISS MARTHA.

change of tone, whats to be done with
Eva?"
Has she no relative at all?'
..No one. She is too refined and pretty
tn do house work, even if she was strong
enough. which she isn't. She can't 90 to
the poorhouse. Of course, and she hasn't
dollar-there's to be subscription to pay
the burial expenses"
Miss Martha stood smoothing the flannel
skirt with her white, thin hands, her face
wearing an expression of deep thought min
gled with anxiety. Once she opened her
lips as II to speak, then hesitated and closed
them again. Ought she to make this sacrl-
fee which seemed urged upon her? 1t
would be selfish not TO do 50. She raised
her hand and said, in firm, sweet voice;
1.-The girl must come to NE, since there is
no one else to take her, l have plenty for
one-I can make it enough for two by exer-
Cisiug economy.
knew you'd make the offer The girl has
got a tirSt-Tate education, and she can study
M enough to take a school by next tall.
OF course YOU wont want her around alter
you are married.
deeu flush came into Miss MaTtha's nat
urally pale face; she dropped her eyes, and
turned away from Mrs. Marsh. with some
murmuTed excuse about making the flannel
shirt she held into a bundle TO be sent away.
The neighbOTs agreed that Eva NOrcToSs
could not have found better home than
she had at Miss MaTthas. Inc little cot
tage stood in a large garden, we'll filled with
fruit trees and shrubs. In the summer II
was CAV with flowers of very many yaTle-
ties and sweet smelling hOneysuckIe wan
dercd over and nearly concealed the fence
ana front piazza. Miss Martha had lived IN
the cottage with old Hannah for twelve
years. For three of these years she had
been engaged to DR.. Tom Ed ecOurt, whose
practice was yet too small to enable him TO
marry. He was a year younger than MISS
Martha and this fact often Stung her very
keenlv. Size sometimes stood before ner
lo0king-glass and attentjvely studied her
face. wishing whe was 20 instead Of 80, and
had the bloom of ten years before der
hair was still glossy and abundant, her eyes
still bright; but the plumpness and DlOon
Of her early girlh0Od lad fed forever.
Occasionally she wondered if Tom would
ALWAYS love her and tortured herself with
imagining il a sacrifice for him TO marry
her Would not a young girl suit him bet
Ter? She started like guilty thing when
Hanuahs tap at the door " call from the
hall below Interrupted these medltatIonS.
She was ashamed of herself that she
thought so much Of her departed pTettlncsS
and the difference between her age ana
Toms Yet she could not drive away her
haTas5ing doubts, nor would she Try 70 set
-
She was Shy aud sensitive, aud SO was ne,
and they we're both very proud.
Eva NOrcross found her new home a very
quiet but not al unhappy one. she was
gentle and timid and did not care for the So
ciety Of girls of her own age. She liked
nothing better than TO lie in al easy chair
all day with book or some embroidery IN
her white pretty hands, which Miss Martha
was never weary OF admlTing. The dead
mother had INDUCED her one child and had
never taught her 10 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 com
petent to do the entire WOrK OF t1e small
establishment. .,
"You must educate yourself to teach,
Mrs Marsh said one morning, as she en-
tered The cottage in her abrupt way aud
found Eva embTOldeTing cushion. on
can't live on Miss Martha all your life.
Next fall We VIII try t. get you the district
school at Dodds Corner"
Eva shuddered and grew little pale,
while tie work fell from her hand.
Il have heard that the children at DOddl
Corner were very rough with the last mas
ter" she said, in a 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 1t spell
Miss Martha" as tuat lady came In IRON
the kitchen, where she had been making {
quaker" for old Mrs. Green's cold, 'you
must get the doctor to give Eva some
strengthening medicine. yellow dock Tea
would put new lie into her.
Dr. EIEec0urt called that afternoon for {
moment on his way TO make professional
visit, and Miss Martha told him what Mrs
Marsh had said.
Tie Young man sat down by Eva and tool
her hand in his. Miss Martha watched hin
closely, wondering if he noticed how round
aud white was the wrist on which he pressed
sShe is not sick" he said; "all she need
Is fresh air and eXeTclse" and then he pro
posed that she should wrap I'D and get Int
his sleigh at the door and drive win him t
the house Of his patient, two miles away.
Cant you 60, too, Martha? he asked
1--WE will crowd you IN somewhere
Il do not care to 20" she said, an
Tom thought her N amer rather cold an,
depressing. He did not urge the matter, 10
he was easily wounded and never asked hin
a second time to grant him favor. ii
was not demonstratve lover, perhaps be
cause Miss Martha never encouraged Cd
resses. She did not think IL modest 0
womanly 10 do so, yet she often caught her
self wishing that Tom would be more afec
tionate. They had been engaged Tor tnTe
years, but had seen comparatively little 0
each other, owing TO Toms studies AMI poo
patienIs-Of which there were many-an
they had never grown familiar, as Is IN
case with most lovers.
Miss Martha watched the couple driv
away. Tom bent TO arrange the buffalo rob
more closely about his companion, and saI
something which made them both laugh, an
Miss Martha turned quickly from the win
dow with PAIN at her heart The girls
face framed in fieecy wood Of the blac
hood was so very lOvelyl Would he mar
the difference, and regret
She took up her work and began to tur
down hem; but she could not drive ava
the haunting thoughts which tormented hel
." Three wears u she muTmured. 1T is
long engagement, and have heard ii sal
that men are not patient walters. l W0nde
if he has ever wished to be free again.
The ride proved of much benefit to Evi
vino was brighter and gayer for days aftel
Seeing this, Tom took her with him FRI
ouently, never thinking that he was causln
bis betrOthed pain by so doing. He cam
Oftener to the cottage, playing chess an
cribhage with Eva at the center table in tn
evening, while Miss Martha sat by with BIZ
sewing and wished she were EYa's age.
DO YOU think l will stand any chance
getting the school at Dodds Corner nel
fall, Dr. Edgecourt ?" asked Eva one ever
SYou surely don't think of applying fc
tP' cried Tom. why, the children al
little heathens. They throw nk-bOttles an
spitballs at the teacher and swear liz
troopers. No, no; we must not let you g
there"
Il must work for myself" the girl sail
81 cannot consent to remain dependent o
any one"
swat until next fall comes before 20
begin to worry" Tom said tits onl
March now and something better may TUT
up in the next six months"
Eva, as was her custom, left the room {
soon as the game Of chess was over. To-
always had few minutes alone with b
betrothed before leaving the cottage.
Il am so tired of boarding." he sal
-fs.nrar rFnra 400
ton, lie rose to go. Il wish l had home.
ana he sighed.
For some minutes Miss Martha stoC
where lie had left her, one hand bearin
rather heavily on the small hall tabl
Could he only have known what stress 81
laid mnnn his carelass HHnrdsl She mechal