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

through his brain. And she had
turned again TO the fire.
He coughed a little, made "a If 10
get up, but subsided. He turned all
colors. And there sat Martha Ann
looking so cozy.
\ look of heroism came into his
eyes. He arose, pulled down his
trousers. and sat down again, got mp
once more, aud the first thing he
knew he was actually sitting on the
same sofa with her, and she, never
moving from her place near the mid
die, continued her weird stare into
the fire.
james, she said, II never see such
u buildiu' Of palaces and maxim OF
stories "a there is in the fire there to-
night"
Can't say as | see much, Martha
Ann"
Look there, right side the dog.
Can't YOU see The little house there
and the vine. a-trailing up over the
roof. aud the door wide open and the
children a-playin' about, and the old
we'll there-see ii. James, bucket,
beam, everything jes aS natural as
life; and what's them bendin over
the well? They may be elovers James,
a-bendin' over the water jes as we
are over the fire.
You got tarnal good eyes Martha
Ann. ter see all them things. PrapS
| amt no Imagination, but | can't
see nothing but some Goals a-breath-
ing sorter like as if they hated ter
give IN. 80
Martha Ann continued her rapt at
tention of the drama in the fire, aud
Jane began to get TO home on the
sofa.
Bv and 10y she lifted her hand and
brushed back her hair, and then let il
descend in careless way till it fell on
that of her companion.
What great, strong hand you
have" she said slowly. "Do YOU
know the marks in the hand? Let
me show you. See this longest one
curving around the thumb. That's
for long life. You will live to be
very old. And see this little one
here-wonder what it, for9 See
mine. jes' the same mark. Oh. know
now: | remember.
What is it fery'
Its fer love
The Websterian catalogue was too
limited for the bashful young farmer
10 find anything TO say 10 this, and SO
they sat i'm silence, her hand still rest
ing almost caressingly on his. Out
in the sittingroom could be heard
the measured, solemn tick took OF the
great oaken clock, and outside the
wind breathing through the trees
added a certain weirdness TO the Sab
bath repose. Every now and then
the sound of the old dog in the wood
shed turning over restlessly could
be heard, and all the while the man :
heart was demanding that he should
express himself, commission the
tongue refused TO obey.
Finally Martha Ann, without rails
ing her hand, said, dreamily:
DO you know, James, I've often
wondered why you didn't ever get
married You see, | have always
looked upon myself as IA sister to YOU
wishin' always fer your welfare and
happiness, and | have asked myself
agin and agin, Now why don't he
find some good, true girl and marry
herr You'd make some woman a
good husband, james; ! know you
would, you're so good and stidy and
home lovin'. and sech men amt plen-
full. 1t amt fer you 10 be spending
your Sunday evenings with me, who
is only your true friend, fer you'd
ought to be findin' sweetheart an
gettin married and settled in life
"Oh, Martha Annw he found cour-
age to say.
She continued as is not noticing the
interruption.
"A man n has reached your age
ought ter be loOkin' round him, and
there's a-plenty Of girls would have
YOU. too. a-plenty Of them. Now.
there's Mary Gibson-she's "A good
cirl as ever lived, splendid house
Keeper. and religious. Or Sally
Stevens. or Esther Lapuu, any OF
them would jump at the chance to be
come Mrs Simpkins.'
James groaned in spirit. The per
spiration tickled down his forehead
and settled in drop on the tip OF his
nose. a. il undecided whether or not
it were best 20 fall.
"Oh. Martha Ann he said again
plaintiyeIy, "how could yer think OF
such a thing?'
She removed her hand from his and
turned her face, now flushed warm
by the fire. until her eyes met his aud I
asked, as if with the greatest won
der:
why not?'
Its you / want, Martha Ann
his tongue was getting into line-1ts /
you as | have been a-planning this
wear or more to ask, but somehow
you was alters so sweet lookin' and 30
quiet that / somehow couldn't do it.
Surely the uDruly vocal powers were
getting very obedient. I've loved
yer from little girl-I've-I'ye" -
The machinery stopped suddenly
here. and it was as much as half a
minute before he continued.
Ias.. 30 ell