New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-27

Mrs McGee. She smiled.
The wifd lifted her hair. 1t came from the
south and was like n caress. The frogs down III
tie meadow kept up an inccsSant piping "hcn
she had heard tlcni this spring She mad remem'
hcred that what you are dong when you notl'a
that sound for the first time, that you VIII be
doing all the year.
Il think have been very calm" Sic said aloud
in a low voice. And she added III whisper
But | wish my Heart would not ache so. l am
so tired of this ache. Shall l always haze it?'
She stepped on tie old, worn doorstone and
turned her face toward the distant slope where
sic could see the CLEAN OF marble slabs. That
was where the Turtles had been buried for many
generations That was where her father and
mother lay
She could not get up May hill, said Rowena.
"She said she could trust me. Thank uod Tor
that"
She was turning back into the house when she
saw figure hurrying along the road 1t was a
woman's figure, and it had hemp bag hanging
by it's side.
Marthy s. came on with her small, quick steps.
She nodded eagerly at Rowena, who at thaU mo-
mcnt was thinking that she could not stay mere
where she must be visited by such people. Ihey
wore upon her; they took the life out OF her
size could not bear it, Then some gentIer emotion
came to her A food of sympathy suddenly filled
her heart. 1t was the tenderness that couies 10
the nature which grief softcns instead Of embittcr-
ing.
II thought I must call, though it was some
out Of my way exclaimed Marthy S, coming
up brcathless, and extending mittened hand
How be We? How do We git long,
Rowena stepped back into the entry Come
in. | am very WELL
She led the way into the stting-room, where
there was low fire in the alright
Il s'posc you're dretful lonesome
Marthy s, took off her mittcns and put them
in her bag, but she said it was not worth while
to lay of her things
She had, as has been hinted experienced re-
vulsion in her mental attitude toward Rowena.
And Rowena was too sensitive not TO have been
dimly aware of this change.
YES" Marthy S. looked about her. "You
must he dretful lonesome
IL am
81 didn't think you'd stay here evcns longs
you have
Il haven't decided on any plans yet.' replied
Rowena, in her set phrase.
Il s'posc you're waitin' to hear from your
husband"
No response.
The young woman was thinking that there was
still something very rasping in this woman S
presence.
1T happened real bad that he couldn't be 20
the funeral. didn't it?7 went on Marthy S.
He could not have come in time
81 s'posc so. But it made it bad. ~ folks
like 10 talk
Yes" said Rowcna with some incision, |" i know
they like TO talk
A dull red mounted 10 the drcssmakcrs forehead.
She hestated before she said in n different tone :
Il didn't mean IN bc kind Of provoliin, hut
you know there's good deal of curiosity round
is there p
"Yes. And you know your bein' married in
foreign parts So
What p
" In foreign parts So"
~ don't think / understand you
These words were spoken so coldly that they
had the rather peculiar effect OF making the
drcssma kers blood begin TO boil And she was
little frightened. too When she gave one swift
look into Rowcna's face she made slight. re-
treating movement
81 declare she said, 81 didn't mean TO he SO
provokin'. ] guess my curiosity cot the better Of
me. kind Of
In the pause which followed these words, Marthy
s took ont her mittcns and put them on. Then
she folded her hands
IL didn't know there was s'much OH Adam in
me, she said. We don't seem TO iibe somehow.
wanted 10 tell you somethin, Mis- Bradford. But
dnow'S You'll be interested. It's about me- You
know You told mc-you said you thought
Nlarthy s. stammcrcd and blushcd.
Rowcnas face softcncd a. she turned il toward
the old maid and waited for hcr 70 60 on.
Bout my engagement speaking with pride the
word engagement. Z" You know what you said ~
I've been thinkin' Of it ever scnse. " ! don't
love him grain. ] couldn't honestly say that I
loved him one grain. But you know women want
10 git married That IS. expect they do. | told
Deacon Roper the last time he come over 7 I didn't
love him He laughed. You know what "A laugh
he has II kinder grated on me He said that
didn't make difference lie said love hadn't
got nothn 20 do with it. When it come to that
kind Of stun, did expect lac loved me Married
folks got along better if they want in love. lie
respected me. N he thought was a good house
keeper, scrabblin' N all that. Bat if had any
objections, why, there was Ann Dclano that would
Jump al him If he give her a chance. | some
mad told him he might give Ann Dclano the
chance TO Jump, for | didn't knows ! even went
80 fars rcspcctn him. lie bounced up ont Of
his chair. lie said All right in an awful loud
voice. He marched out of the room The next
IT. was some tough But there amt ben minute
sine" ! done It that ! amt been glad | done it,
You see | wanted 10 tell you | feel relieved that
/ amt engaged 10 him. But, you know, TWAS kind
Of grand. TO be engaged. / never WAS engaged
before. But don't love him, n | wouldn't be
his wife for all the world
Mlarhy 5. rose from her chair. She hung her
bag with almost violent motion on her arm.
No. she repeated in n mllder tone. d" | never
was engaged before. II want so intcrestn az I
expected H. would be. But mcbby if it had been
somebody besides the deacon. 'twoud have ben
more intcrcstiu'. I'm relieved guess better
be a goin' / shin tell folks that Mr.. Bradford
couldn't have got here in time.
But it's provokin> that everybody says the
deacon broke il OIL. II makes me mad.
If they say 50 to me ! know how to reply
said Rowena.