Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-06-19

furniture.
Although all her schemes came to
naught, Martha Ann neverlost heart
She was sure of one thing, and that
was that James was dying to ask her,
but couldn't. So she looked at it as
perfectly proper that she should help
him out.
The nearest he had ever come TO
saying something vital was on a day
in the preceding fall when he had
come over to help her pick some
grated apples. These apples were
so large and precious that the great
est care had TO be taken in gathering
them. On this occasion James was
up amid the branches of the tree on a
stepladder, and Martha Ann stood on
the ground, catchir z each apple, one,
by one in her apron.
Whether looking up so continuous
ly heightened her coloring or not,
James thought she had never looked
so beautiful and womanly before,
and he registered an oath in his heart
| for he never swore, that, 80 help
him Uncle John Rogers, he would ask
her the minute he got down He
even got quite brilliant up there on
/ the ladder, and actually ioked while
Martha Ann beamed one continuous
smile
Finally he gathered all the apples
/ in his reach, and 20 had TO come down
1 to get new position. But with each
downward step, down went his cour-
age, and it was only 10y "A superhnman
effort that he managed 10 say:
You're lookin purtiern all git out,
Martha Ann"
Martha Ann bluShed crimson at SO
direct compliment, for she felt that
the hour had come.
You're always iatterin' me,
James" she said.
Couldn't say too much for-yOu-
know-you-know. Guess I'd better
move the ladder ter the south side of
the tree, wouldn't you?'
Martha Ann could have cried then
and there. James said no more, and
the apple gathering went on in 81
lence
But now at the time | am writing
about. they are actually en-
gagged, and the reader will probably
come to the conclusion that Martha
Ann must have proposed, just as the
worthy gossips of the Big Creek sec
ton figured The facts are as fol-
lows
Martha Ann decided firmly on a
climax. Either James or she must
speak. If she could induce him To
declare his love, all well and good,
if not. she must draw him out. If he
would not draw, she must tell him the
old story herself No strategist could
have planned n finer campaign.
1t was the evening Of Easter Sun
day. The day bad been bright and
sunny. The services at the church
had been inspiring, and James had
come home with her for supper.
After meal which would have
warmed the heart OF cynic, let alone
IA healthy farmer like our hero, all the
folks retired to the parlor, where a
rosy fire was glowing i'll the CRATE,
the dry maple logs burning slowly
but determinedly and every coal
which dropped holding its color for
an hour
The organ was opened, and first
the pieces sung by the choir that day
were played over, as Martha Ann
said, Just ter hear how they sounded
at home
Father Todd sat near the hearth,
one knee overlapping the other, his
eyes looking cleah up through the
ceiling, past the bedroom on the sec
ond floor, past the stars in the keen
spring sky, past the boundaries Of
space into that beautiful land of
delight, where's saints immortal reign
which Martha Ann was singing about.
Mother Todd sat i'm her rocker near
him, her arms folded on her motherly
bosom. her round, fair, good old face
beaming with perfect rest and peace.
James stood by the side of the
singer and Joined in the chorus now
and then. for he had robust bass
voice which "might'd amounted ter
something" Martha Ann said, had
he only had the high trainin' Of the
choir
And so the early evening passed,
and pretty soon the old people went
to sleepin a fitful way until the worthy
sire allowed it might do fer
young folks to set up, but fer as he
was concerned, guess he'd crawl of
ter bed" He was soon followed by
his faithful partner and the field was
ready for the action to begin.
Martha Ann concluded she would
not sing any more, for her throat was
getting choked up, and with,the great
est sang froid drew the sofa up be
fore the fire sat down, leaving James
TO look out for himself.
This move put him in bad fix. If
he sat down anywhere i'll the room
but in one place her back would be
toward him. He hemIned little and
wandered ainlessly about, tried to
get interested in picture OF Mrs.
Todd's grandmother, and finally sat
down on the organ stool
Martha Ann paid no attention.
She sat with her face in her hands,
looking in the fire, az if obliyious Of