The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-09-03
iSISTER MARTHA.
By AUGUSTA HARMED.

-"That's Marthy Marier Whitcumb all
over" muttered Ann, as she retired to
the woodshed to give vent to her feelings.
The tea party came off that evening
without anything to mar the pleasure of
the occasion. 1t was all that had been
anticipated in the way of culinary ex-
cellence. Deacon Folsom, q nervous
dyspeptic, ate far more than was good
fCr him, and his wife was up nearly all
night applying mustard plasters to SEN
sitive parts of his body. There were
several old ladies who Toasted as they
seldom did except at Thanksgiving.
They laughed and joked softly together
at the amount they had eaten, though it
had slightly stupefed their brains. The
three Miss Slows. who were genteelly
poor, and starved themselves habitually
on bread and weak tea to keep up ap-
pearances, only wished their capacity
for salad and ice cream had proved
greater, and that the food might abide
with them for days to come. The
clergyman even, though bound to set an
example. made noble inroads on the
viands before him.
The high tea had been 80 delicious, such
q conspicuous example of good cookery
that the guests were loath to leave the
table. Mrs. Whitcumb scintillated in
her black silk with bead trimmings. 1t
was one of the proudest moments of her
life. Her religious convictions were
elastic and easily accommodated them
selves in all companies. Had she been
at home in Bath among her own set she
would have proposed cards for the even
ing's diversion, but with minister and
q deacon present such thing could not
he thought of. Instead there was a tri-
fling little game introduced on which no
faint of worldliness rested and in which
all could take part.
As it was rather noisy Sister Martha
carefully closed all the doors between
the parlor and Miss Mayhew's room.
The eldest Miss Stow had proposed to go
up stairs and pay flying visit to the
invalid, but Ann brought her mistress
thanks and excuses. So well did Sister
Martha play her role that the lady of the
house was quite forgotten. And when
at half past ten the guests went away
she felt that she had triumphed. The
fame of her veal loaf and chicken salad
and picked oysters was at that moment
travelling over Littlefield.
She was just on the point of locking
the house door and putting out the
lights, when a mans step came down
the gravel walk and mounted the porch
There was no knock or ring. but slight
pause-a sound of fumbling about the
threshold, then the steps went away and
she heard the gravel crunch under the
mans heel. With lamp in her hand
she stepped out into the hall. A bit of
something white protruded from under
the door. She pulled at it, and as she
stopped down the light fell on a torn
envelope. Her face flushed angrily.
"Well," said she half aloud, "If that
amt the impolitest thing ever did hear
of! A regular slap in the face"
1t was the invitation she had sent to
Captain Bigh returned without thanks.
She stood there a long time with black
drop of bitterness diffusing itself through
her thoughts. To be so scorned had
furnished the glory of her tea party.
She had been a fool to think of having
it. Anger, hatred, remorse by turns
came uppe1nost. When she went to
bed there were hot, miserable tears in
her eyes, and she was q woman who sci. |
dom wept.
The next morning as soon as Ann
opened the chamber door she saw that
something strange had happened to Miss
Mayhem. Her face looked almost trans
parent with the shiny luster of mother
of-pearl, and her eyes were wide open
and CLASSY bright. She took hold of
AIMS arm when she came to set down |
the tray, and said in half whisper.
"What made him come into the yard
last night and up the stepsY"
Lord! Miss Mayhem, what do you
meanT
Captain Bligh came into the yard:
heard him."
AIMS face wore the set, hard look Of |
perfect incredulity, but she laid her
hand not urgently on the thin, pale one |
that rested on the bedspread.
There, there" said she, as If sooth- |
ing an unreasonable baby; don't take |
on 30. OF course he never did come