Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-03-26

an I the dear knows what ill III be
grateful if be leaves as the clothes
t, our backs. sWhat cls'd yon talk
about ~
"Oh, great many things. Books
some. He's fond of German--and,
oh, meant to tell you, he's coming
tomorrow morning and going to
read little German with me-
I" Well, Sarah, you just see here.
Let that young man know you've
something to do besides fooling
with him. | know; he wants to force
me up. I'll see DR.. Baker, guess,
before that Tom Morrison gets me
out of the house."
"Oh, Aunt! It's just because he
wants. he says, to familiarize himself
with the place."
Well, he's got all the time there
is after we're gone. | want you to
be very distant with him-and,
Sarah, | guess you'd better not be-
gin any German readings =
During Mr.. Morison's next visit
Sarah appeared in her aunt's room
with a very anxious expression.
"Aunt Polly" she said, with an
effort at composure, I" Mr.. Morisons
brought the German books, and /
don't know what to say about it
IL"
/" Well, go on" said the old lady,
81 suppose you're bent on it any
way, and perhaps he'll help you
some.''
She lay very still when she was
alone, sometimes with her eyes open,
but generally keeping them closed
as pictures from the past, and Wis
ions of what might be ahead of her
foated through her brain, and the
peculiar cruelty of her brothers will
smote her heart afresh. When she
had been left a widow forty years
ago, Ezra Turner had promptly babe
her stay on in the house which had
seen the happy years of her married
| life, and which had been endeared to
her by hundred different associa-
tions; when the sorrows it had wit
messed consecrated the place almost
as tenderly as its periods OF joy,
while from the time she had brought
her little orphan neice Sarah home,
a new interest was given her life, yet
one inseparably bound up with the
| old mansion. Ezra s will fell like a
thunderbolt upon the old lady and
her neice. Indeed, there was little
question but that it caused the weak
turn which confined her to her room;
and as she lay there now, family
conscious of the voices from below,
something like wish never to dease
the old home save for final resting
place brought hot moisture into
her eyes.
1t seemed long time before Mr..
Morrison wentaway. When the door
had closed upon him at last Mrs.
Thorpe alert for every sound, heard
Sarah lingering on the stairs. Pres
emily the girl appeared. Her checks
were scarlet.
Well,n demanded the old lady.
"what now?-what new things he
he going to claim?"
Sarah's color now swept all her
face.
"Oh, Aunt Polly" she said, /" it's
all as queer as queer can be. Oh,
if QUILL only let me. Please-oh,
Aunt Polly, it seems Mr.. Morrison
made his mind up right away, the
very first day, he says-and he new
er wanted anything so much before
-
"Sarah Molyneux," said the old
lady, sitting upright, :" what ails you
Speak English"
"Oh, he's asked me to marry him,
Aunt Polly" said Sarah that's it
and he says / mustn't say no-he
made all that up about going to be
married-or rather, he was bound to
make me say yes"
| Mrs. Thorpe remained rigid in the
same attitude for moment without
speaking. Sarah flushed and paled
and flushed again.
| What'd you tell him p at last
demanded the cid lady, with an &C
cent of fine scorn. She was very
proud of Sarah's conquest. She knew
all about young Morrison, and was
well aware how highly he was es-
teemed.
"Oh-he say it's settled" observ-
ed Sarah; land of course-he was
only going on, he says, 70 try me
about the factory and the garden
and the piano; be says, bless your
heart and he wouldn't take thing
belonging to you more'n he'd steal. >
"Only-my girl, said Mrs. Thorpe
grimly. But when Sarah bent tc
kiss her there was the kind of ten
derness in the old woman's embrace
that the girl remembered emily when
she was little child.
4