Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-07-28

uiu, anu she remembere1 TOO, that he haC
been very ready to respond to her invita-
ton to come In when they got back from
the office. and seemed In no hurry to go
IL had all come about so naturally that she
had given the subject no further thought
but 1t was evident from what she heard
that evening that Miss Lucretia was tax.
ing serious view of the matter, and tina,
II was by no means an agreeable one 10
her.
And so she thinks there's danger of his
becoming interested in me does she p
thought Martha. what mistake" But a
moment after when she thought to convince
Miss Lucretia of her mistake hy being
careful TO keep out of her brothers way,
she was obliged to confess that it would
not be so easy for her as she at first
thought; but those dull gray eyes, which
seemed to have so little expression. flashed
now with determination which would
have made Miss Lucretia vince had she
caught but one glimpse; once sure that a
course of conduct was best, Martha Os-
| born was not the one to falter, so 1t was
not strange that weeks passed by without
Josiah's having a chance to speak to her.
Tie sense of loss this gave him revealed
the fact Of which he had hitherto been un-
| conscious that he really cared for her, and
/ the more he thought about the matter, the
| more determined he felt that he would as
seri his rights and ask her to he his wife
| His parents having died when he was
| very young, he had always looked up to
| Miss Lucretia who was many wears his
| senior But surely a man of forty might
think for himself However, he found it
much easier to plan than to execute, for
all his efforts to see Martha failed
For while Miss Lucretla kept close
watch, but not seeing ANYTHING to arouse
| her suspicious, concluded the lesson she
| gave him had proved sufficient and that il
he had ever cared anything about her he
had forgotten all about it, sn she cleaned
honse, made preserves and gathered all the
village gossip to her hearts content
Autumn came, and with it the favored
time for Josiah to obtain the interview be
hsd 50 long desired. "She won't see me
coming il 60 after dark" he SAID IL him
self, $50 she can't keep out OF sight ani
send some one else to the door. that's
certain And As If to favor his plan
Martha herself answered his ring
DIDN'T call your mother" he said a.
soon as he was shown into the coy bar.
lor, II have an errand to you first VIII
yon 20 to the concert with he to morrow
evening""
Here indeed was great temptation she
had fe't strong desire 10 attend this con
cert aud now 10 have this chance could
She refuse?
Taxing advantage of her evident desire
70 comply with hts request. he went on.
"lve hardly caught glimpse of you all
summer aud I've missed you very much;
there's no use Of mY going into any rnpnd.
about way; don't know how. but 10
know thst lin very lonely; will YOU con.
sent TO 60 with me through life?"
For a few minutes Martha was so stun.
nei by the -uddenncss Of it all thst il
seemed as II her tongue were psraly zed
She was not pleased with mankind IN gen
eral she really loved this one, that She
could not deny. Then the recollection OF
her resolve n View Of his sisters opinion.
came back - her. and endcavoring 70 con
ceal how much il cost her To saw IT, She
said. II thank YOU very much for your in.
vitation 70 the concert bn, must decline
And the other most important natter"
he said, ''you Will AZ least consider that"
"Id better answer now" she said. aud
then added there are enough unhappy
homes now 10 the world. III not help 10
make another"
There was NJ further need 10 wonder If
she heard his sisters remarks on that
evening 80 long sgo.
"l;'s nphoty'> business bu, nv own. he
said hotly. Martha. the question Is not
can YOU love my relations, but can YOU love
mrf"
Bat Martha was Arm. and vet going
over carefully every word ~ sh-n-v4t ~.
she did not object to him. "hut Der duty at
present WAS To her parents
What queer things women are, he
muttered. a. he walked up aud down the
npor OF his room I'll have her vet II
there's any such thing"
"Lucrrtia he said few days afterward.
I've been thinking whata nice building
spot that is on the hill. | think III put up
s house there"
What an idea" snapped Miss Lucretia
VINO wants TO live up theref I'm sure |
don't"
Apparently he took no notice OF her re
mark hut went on as If thinking aloud,
Yes think 1t would be a good invest
mcnt."
We'll don't" said she, "Im sure I'm
not willing 70 move up there and a. for
letting house, deliver me from it tenants
are never satisfied. | think the hill Is pret-
tier a il i, and shant Put any Of my
money into house there"
She was too excited to notice the amused
look on her brothers face, and as he sud
denly thought he must see 10 things In the
barn. she was left to her own reflections
II wish Josiah didn't have so many no.
tions," she said aloud. as she went about
her work, he keeps ne in stir the most
Of the time"
While she was considering how she
could best bring him back from this new
fight his fancy had taken her attention
was attracted to a carriage AZ the cottage.
Hastily wiping her hands she went 10 the
window and convinced herself that Judge
Lane was just going up to the door.
Now the Judge was an old school-mate
Of Miss Lucretia. and she had fondly
dreamed Of being mistress OF his elegant
mansion. He had never given her the
slightest cause for such a dream, sill as
he continued 10 live on with his mother.
she did not give up the hope that he would
yet see that she was especially suited to
make him happy.
II wish | could see who comes to the
door" she thought, why, If he hasn't
lifted his hat" she Indignantly exclaimed
las II such people were worth that
trouble"
There, | guess I'll go over and take
Mrs. Osborn some Of my new yeast. but
must change my dress first. and seizing q
fresh ginghsm she attempted to hurry into
Il, thinking, ''it won't do to look too much
fixed up, for il must appear to be an acci-
dent that happened over there just now"
But her haste caused a different kind OF
an accident to happen, for giving one
sleeve sudden jerk it parted company
| with the waist, and just then the Judge
drove away trying to make up his mud
what reason Martha Osborn could have
for declining to take a ride in his new
carriage.
Miss Lucretia was so upset by this inter
ruption in her mornings work that it took
some time to get back to her usual round
| Of duties and in an absent minded fit she
| opened the cellar instead of the pantry
door and found herself unceremoniously
landed at the foot of the cellar stairs.
| A broken ankle being the result, Aunt
Jane was sent for and In the week that
followed, she told Miss Lucretia about the
| Osborns; how she had once lived in the
same town; how they had a pretty home
| of their own and moved in the best So
| ciety. until Mr.. Osborn signed note for a
| large amount to oblige one in whom he
| placed more confidence than the person
! was worthy Of, the panic In business
circles followed, the mothers health failed
and the father became mental wreck.
| Miss Lucretia was touched by the sad
story, but the ruling thought of her life
I came out in the remark What q pity
that Martha is 50 plain, she might have
got married, and had an easier time"
| "Lucretia!" said Aunt Jane, rather
sharply. Martha Osborn has not lived
| single withont rhapcas tn dn ofharwisa