New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-09

N'llI nome.
When Mr. Mann come over in the middle of
Sunday afternoon, dressed in his suit Of black,
with his grzzed beard carefully dyed, and his
hair brought up from the back of his head over
his crown. he hardly knew the woman whom he
Lad come to see
Blndy Kibby had beautiful wavy hair, not
much streaked with gray. 1t was now closely
fastened, and allowed to Gene forward in rip
pies over her forehead. This slight change gave
her very different aspect And she had
ruife in the neck of her purple cashmere, in
stead OF the stiT linen collar. lou would hardly
have known her the woman who was catching
flies with tumbler Of soapsuds
She found Mr. Mann very intelligent and COM
panonablc, and he had that ircStimnble recon-
mcndaton 10 any woman-hc had selected her.
lie told her plainly on tho third Sunday visit
that he couldn't afford to fool away much time
courtin'. They want either OF 'cm as young
they had been. and what did she say T. marryin'
fore Ihanksgivin' aud m0vin over 10 Farnham?'
He thought she might let her own place to good
advantage
Mr.. Mann, and tine fact became generally known
throughout the village. She gave up wearing
her hair in n tight bob, ever at her work. Folks
said that Miss Kibby was growing young The
minister called and after some jocose remarks
about her Youthful appearance, he congratulated
her in set form,
that Blndy brought ont Malls two letters,
forced hcrsoli 10 read thcir once morc' AMI then
put them into the kitchel stove. carefully APP
plying LIGHTED match and watching the flames
as they curl round the paper
." do sp&r he amt thought of me for wears,
She said aloud. and | guess I've ben maxim
fool of myself about him"
She rose and looked into the glass. with unes
ton in her mind as 10 whether she should put her
front hair in crimpS FOR tomorrow, which would
Mr. Mann hal said h" didn't like to see n
womans hair straight as a pkcstaG7
She thought she, would try it, She was twist
ing her hair into the pins when il seemed TO her
that she heard steps on tho path which lci to the
barn
1t was O'Clock; late for the country. She
had lived alone too many years 10 be easily
startled.
II spos, it's Jim Bent comm to borry some
yeast fof his mother: she's always bchndhand
Saving this to herself as tho steps came nearer
she put down her crimplngpn and opened the
back door
blinded by the light Slo made ont it was 2
man. and the next moment mans voice c1iIcd
out
She began 10 trcmblc, though she could not now
The speaker shuN1ed mp nearer. and the light
fell upon him through the window.
:" guess I'll come in he said.
He entered the Kitchen and closed the door
behind him shutting ont the warm sounds and
sweet smells OF the mild fall night
He put his hands in his pockets and stood on
ono foot while he looked at Miss Kibby: who in
her turn looked At him. ILL.,,
His clothes very shabby, his beard very
long and growing almost 10 his eyes.
NJ last he laughed.
"Praps J. amt ,prinkcd up enough for you to
"""T Us mi Tiiai. rs s sh~ whispered.
"1hat's about the sire Of it,. he answered;
He sat down in a rocker and looked round
tho room. ,Shc remained standing, gazing ut
him. She wanted to scream and run away,
but she stood without moving
"Non don't seem over N above glad 10 sec
me-" hc remarked
." I've been cNpcc;in' youd write shc said,
trying hard to speak CORDIALLY.
1t DIDN'T seem worth Will" TO keep writin'
whom had nolhin' but bad luck he answered.
I've had dcspcrit bad luck. Blindy.'
His eyes kept rowing round the room:
IL guess von'rc tollablc we'll fixed, amt W.
Blindy97 Pc:orc she ooIll rop5 hc -ail lie
was "raviu' hungry. and hadn't she got some
kind cold vciual, to throw - dog -
lie ate lcrccly Of the food she s"t out on the
kitchen table
Then he leaned back in tho rocker and began
to smoke a Short, hhck pipe.
cunning eyes As ic said 10 himself he %eizcG
her up.
Wien he had hql hi, smoke he bean TO sTG,w
pathetic Ne q, ploirlCd how lie hadn't tIoGsn,
gone: but luck had nccn down him hc
said twas TOO bad To write - her He'd tricd
it; he loved her too well. At last he'd made
MP his mind 10 come back 70 her; n here Ec
was. He speed 10 man had ever IoNcl
woman = u" loved her.
At this point hi, voice seemed to fail him for
moment Tears were rolling down B'lindy's
cheeks lie saw she pitlcd him: II" could not
see that u" made her sick lie was not re-
spectacle. and not 20 be respectable l. terrible
IN Yankee womans eyes She Thought OF Mr..
Mann. and his black sunday snit, and his fifteen
COWS and his membership of the Fornham
Church
Il va, jest fool enough 90 think you'd he glad
TO see me- said Mai, ard he turned away his
Il was cApcctn' you'd writc,' again sail
B1ndy.
She tried TO become calm. She wished there
wao somebody There who would advise her. Did
Nial come back 70 marry her What was her
duty?
You know were engaged. ! amt looked AT
10 woman since I saw YOU Why cant we he
married r9ht away? | >l'll 90 il first rate II |
I love you the best kind. Don't yon 90 and
hang back now Don't you remember how you
used to write ~ me y:
Blindy's face turned burning rel
And | siioll go to the dogs double quick il
Won don't keep your word To me- Blindy. Your
sacred word to me; yon can't eit away from
Mis- Kibby Was hcp!css Her conscience rose
up OH this man> side: lie had her word. And
he was going 10 tie dog, if She didn't keep her
word It did not occur to her that he had,
perhaps, already gone 10 the docs
She must sacrifice herself. Sclfsacrifcc has
charms Tor many woman who ought 10 know
better.
But Mr.. Mani had her promise. too. In all
the pcrplcXity and suffering of tie moment there
was the decided cIaim Of the fact that two men
were wooino her; and this one had been faithful
all these years At least. ne said he had been
faithful: and he would he ruined il she didn't
marry him.
But would Mr. Mann he ruined also7
Blindy made a great effort, and said
I'm engaged 10 s0inr one else.
Malls eyes dashed. He rosc and walked the |
room. He worked himself into the deepest
emotion. lie made B'lindy cry Historically. |
What was more to the point. he made her |
promise 10 break OF with Mr.. Mann and marry |
him the next week He said he had her first |
promise He should kill himself il she didn't |
fulfil it.
At last lie went away. Though it was long |
after ten, Blindy pinned shawl over her head |
and ran at the top Of her speed over 10 Mrs |
Loobyb. That lady came down stairs with a |
" loose gown" flung over her night-rohe
Blindy clutchcd her friends arms.
" He's back! - she cried. HIS cnmn |