The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-23
NO. 5000.

suit thee for wife"
Friend Mary Minton stood Mt the kitchen
table kncading the bread, snowy cop
surrounding her sweet old face like n sort
of working day halo, a white apron tied
around her ample waist. AT sixty her
color was as fresh as that of a girl, her
eyes blue as the blue heavens above.
Ezra, her adopted son-Friend Minton
and his wife had been childless-had lust
brought In a basket of russell apples the
very last in the corner bin of the barn eel
Lar. He leaned against the kitchen win
dow, playing nervously with the big, vel
vety leaves of the monster fish gcranium
that blossomed there. He was a tall
manly looking young fellow, with clear
brown eyes, fresh complexion and hair
Friend Mary's glance softencd as she looked
at him. 1t was evident that he was the
very apple of her eye.
why not, mother?" said he al know
tho village gossips don't like tho Calverly
family; but you're not ono of the gossip
ing kind"
She's very young, Ezra" meditatiyely
answered Friend Mary, "nnd very pretty. !"
"Oh, If you call those crimes''--
Wait minute, Ezrh; thee has not
heard me out. | regret deeply that instead
of going to live with Friend Warburton
the minister's wife. she has preferred to
enter the factory, where there arc SO many
giddy girls ond careless young men"
but the pay was SO much better,
mother"
IMAM doth not live by bread alone,'"
oracularly answered Friend Mary. Chico
In, hnn all
must consider what is right and seemly in
the way of matrimony. Thy father and I
would break our hearts If thee went wrong
after all our hopes and prayers"
II trust never shall do that, mother"
But thee must remember. Ezra, how
powerful an influence the wife eXerts over
the husband"
Mother, are you very much set against
Eveline Calverlys"
Friend Mary hesitated for moment.
Think it would break my heart, Ezra
she answered. ''if thee were to wed with a
daughter of Heth, like Evelne."
Then that settles the question" said
Ezra quickly. "You have done everything
for me, mother l. was houseless, home
less, friendless when you took me in and
cared for me, and should be an migrate
indeed to turn against your wishes now.
But, mother, let me go away for awhile.
Let me go to Uncle Aaron, out in Mon
tana, untl-until get over this"
Friend Mary lifted her tender blue eyes
with a plying light to his face.
SIS it so hard with thee as that. my
SOM" said she. 'Oh. 1 am sorryl IL
could almost find it In my heart"-
Although" he interrupted, with u
forced laugh, "I'm not by any means so
certain that Eveline would have me, even
if asked her. Gerard Winthrop is going.
there good deal Of late"
Yes" quietly spoke Friend Mary, who
by this time had patted her white, firm
loaves into shape in their shining oblong
pans, all ready for the oven, "and that is
one thing do not like. He is interested,
they tell me. in great lottery scheme; he
is the agent for company down south.
The factory young people have bought
tickets. Eveline among the rest''
Mother, can hardly believe that"
1.-THE superintendent himself told me.
Ezra" said Friend Mary, closing the oven
door with gentle click. He regretted
exceedingly that Winthrop had gained
such a footing there. Yes, my son, per-
haps thee had better go to Brother Aaron
for n few months. Thee needs change.n
So Ezra Minton decided to take tho step
that seemed like wrenching soul and body
apart. Friend Mary counted out his socks,
saw to the buttons on his shirts, refined
the little leather trunk with pretty paper
and shed a few tears into the neat box of
handkerchiefs as she packed them away.
If Montana were not such distance
OIL" she sighed to herself. "Or If he could
go any other way except by those dreadful
Tying trainsl Thank goodness, never
was on one, and. please heaven, 1 never
Will be! To me it seems little short of
tempting of Providence"
She sat sorrowfully in the chimney cor
ner OH the evening OF Ezra's departure
pairing the russell apples to make dish of
apple sauce. How loud the kitchen clock
tickedl How lonely the great silent room
seemed!
II think did right" she said to herself,
land yeti
Hush! There was knock at the door.
The minister's wife perhaps, or Janet
Golbe, the old carpet weaver who lived
under the mountain, come to borrow the
lye kettle.
Come in, friend, whoever thee may be. >"
said Friend Mary.
And Eveline Calverly entered the room.
looking, under her little daisy trimmed
bonnet, like veritable daisy herself.
"Are you alone, Mrs. Minton" said she,
glancing timidly around. "Oh, 1 want to
talk to you so muchw
~ am alone, Eyeline," said the widow,
her heart involuntarily warming toward
the pretty, flowerlike young thing whom
Ezra had cared for. But IL thee does not
mind, thee may call me Friend Mary 1t
sounds moro suitable in my ears"
III it isn't too familiar" faltered Eve
line. you sec, wanted to talk to some
one on whom could depend. IL have
got lottery ticket here" showing the
white CLEAN of a strip OF paper in her