Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-05-14

NOW, Martha, you hush, an do |
)est's tell you. Ny minds made up.
an don't calculate to change it,
Matts Mills went down to certain |
favorite nook OF hers behind the barn,
sherc the little brook curelel away un-
Ter tie branches o! a superb old butter.
nut tree, and INDUCED herself ia hear
Is cry.
"As if she sobDe !, ''t wasn't bad
enough to be poor. without exposing our
poverty to all the oil ministers il the
country. | wisn there wasnt any con
7entioa. I wish it me. some yewhere
so wish had succeeded in getting
ray ythorn School to teach! I wish
lother hadn't put all her money. in the
'irazer's Bank the week before it
prohe. | wish | was a man like jim,
nd could 60 out 70 seek ny fortune,
instead Of staying at home anl econo.
nizing coppers and washing dishes and
outting patches on old garments. Oae
,hing I'm determined on won't 90
scar the house all the time those boarl-
rrs are there If mother will take 'em.
/ ne must wait on 'em herself And
aeither will consent to use cent OF
! ne wretched money they pay. And as
or going to sleep at Aunt Betsy's,
simply WON'T
" hen the moon rose, orange gold and
| glitterlng through the branches OF the
butternut tree, Matty was still sitting
here, her elbys resting on her knees,
and two bright tears on her cheeks.
Poor girl! Sac fancied herself the
most miserable being in the world.
"Mr. Brlrnr'. az" Mrs Mills had
come 10 the door in bcvildercd way.
proud to make your acquaintance. sir,
I'm sure: but l didn't noxavs look for
you before tomorrow morning. Rid
over a-horse5ack, did you2 Oh, no, i
amt no Inconvenience to me-not the
least. I'll get you a bite o supper
dreckly, If You'll just lead your horse
down to the barn at the foot Of the lane
We don't keep no boy, but you'll fn'
hay and oats handy, Martha. Martini
Where is the child? | do b'Ieve she
gone to Aunt Betsy Bilingses Already
Just like Martha. She never was Z
calculator'
Matty Mills, however, was not so ia
distant as her perturbed mother imag
ineds
She had slipped in at the back doc
of the barn, patted the red COW VIII
stood ruminating in her stall, made he
self cosy little nest in the fragrant ha
UP stairs, and, ishtHs the old lantern
sat down to read.
Suddenly there came hestating foo
step on the threshold outside.
: The door opened. Matty started fro:
her book. She leaned over the b
! beam, all fringcI with hay, which mad
the partition Of her impromptu diyan.
t "Who's there she called. ",Jim
oh, Jim! Don't be frightened, it's me
0 Matty. I'm hiding from mother We
had difference of opinion. Mother h
IL taken four horrid, stupid ministers
convention, .Jim-and-Oa, do wait
'S minute.'
y She swung herself lightly over I
'e beam and alighted, like a flutterin
7e brig crested bird, on the floor Of I
We barn.
4. ''Ol, Jim, if you only knew
Il beg your PARDON spo<e a qui'
% 4 composed voice, in the deep, well-moc
lated tones that bes peak muca practlt
r. .but | think there must be 50 ne II
take. Mrs. Mills sent nc here TO nut
it. my horse I'm afraid an one of
-four horrll minister's Bat ass'
I. you-
Matty caught up the barn lantern q
rs. held it on 4 level with his face.
~ why" She exclaimed, ''it's
lie Beresford'"
,jl THAT is my name. Aud you
el- Mattv MlllS," said stranger, a sud'
III lisht Of reco ignition illuminated hi, ia
But, j, It IS an allowable question
ers how on earth came yoa here."
ed in the most natural way in
rat world. live here. AaI YOU
ne i an here 20 attend the conventio
am. "Nr Berestori.'
nth Miss Natty,,'
''Are you a-ninisterl'
res II have that honor, Miss M4tty'
day st can. Be possible
"Why shouldn't It BE possibe2
- though YOU, perhaps, We're not awar
il, WAS theological student VII
..v met YOU in Massachusetts. Ycs,
Al N7.tv' with a ruisclievo1s mol Of