The morning call., 1892-07-26
MARITTY.

the very edge o the workhouse, as IL were,
and made sort OF own folks here, wlth
corner bedroom to herself aud frIDged
towel on the bureau, as lady could new
ho nicer. And here she is, frettin' and cry
in half the time"
''They re fault-fndin' set, anyhow, SAID
Dorcas Jones. "Ain't no use tryln' to sat
isfy them I've give II up long ago hTeu
.Rnt sbe amt hired galp' protested
Mrs. Popley. i've took her all the same
More fool you!" remarked Mrs. Jones.
But she keenly observed Marietta Tyson
commonly called "Marity") when she
brought in the teapot and the plate of hot
biscuit for supper.
"a tail girl. with eyes as black as cher
rIeS, and cheeks for all the world Ike they
had been painted" mutteTed she to herscf.
"She's pretty III allow. l wouldn't take
no such hired gal into cur house, with John
Henry around, Men are so queer Ia
ru.her do the housework myself, until l
drop"
and il was oclock-a portentously late
hour for those country wildneTnesses-whe
at last the redoubiable John Henry escorted
his aunt home. and Mrs. Popley came into
the kitchen. where MaTittv sat moodiy by
the fire.
to lock up and 90 70 bed?
"Yes, Mrs. POpley.'
The old lady came to a dead standstill.
"Maritty," said she, you've been crying
again"
Marity jumped up and threw her arms
around Mrs. Popley's neck.
''l can't help it!' she sohbed. "Oh, /
can't help it. am so unhappy!
"What troubles you, Maritty ?" said the
old lady, kindly.
NJ want to be a lady p sobbed Maritty.
II want a house Of my own, with piano
IN the best room and store carpet on the
1J0T-TbRts what ! want.
"Hush!" said Mrs. POpley. What's
that?"
Maritty turned scarlet.
IT'S tie wind rafting the old laylock
bushes against the wooden shutters" said
No. faint" said Mrs. Popley. "Ifs
somebody knocking Open the door,
IFS fats!" persisted The girl, who was
now as pale as ashes. II often hear
them when Pm here al by myself.
"Nonsense!" cried Mrs. POpley. DO
you s'pose / don't know rats y hen | hear
'ems open the door. say, or I'll open il
myselfI'
And she did open It herself. for Maritty
had sunk, trembling. on chair, her face
covered by both hands.
A little, old man stood there under the
dew-drlppling lilac bushes, his white hair
cleaning in the starlight certain implor-
ing look in his faded eyes,
Good gracious!' cried Mrs. Popley. TITS
tramp; and Popley gene to the city !"
The old man, however, did not seem TO
hear her.
"Maritty!" he said. in faint. subdued
voice, where's Maritty? l want to speak
TO MarittY."
Il wonder" said Ms. Popley, in a sudden
panic, III we'd better loose the dog? On,
Maritiy you'd better cut across the lots and
tell John Henry Jones and his aunt 10
come back They can't be gone fur"
But MaTitty had recovered herself all OF
sudden. Size rose and came to the door.
"NO" said she, faint necessary to do
tramp that viii do you any harm, Mrs.
Popley. Ips-my father"
'Your father, Marrity y gasped the good
old woman.
Yes" the girl doggedly answered. He's
on the town at MudVille, poor father is. l
told you, didn't l." with hard, mirthless
laugh, that we weren't a prosperous
family? And they amt very good to him.
nor he don't get any too much to eat; and so
I've took the liberty every night TO give him
Fathers dreadful partial to sour milk, and
didn't think 1t any harm. and -
"Harm" cried the old woman. Tell
him to come in-tell him to sit down right
away. GIVE him some CT the raspberry
shortcake AID a glass o milk outen the
nights mikin But why on aiTth didn't
you tell me. Maritty? Why did You keep
this secret from me?'
EThe Girl looked up with glittering, wet ewes.
Did you S'pOSe l wanted folks to know
how low the Tyson family had fell ?" said
she, bitterly Father had farm OF his OVID
once-he'd a had itnOw ef he hadn't under
writ for his BROTHER and lost it all. And
that's why | vant to be lady, with house
of my own-to give father a home"
Old Mr.. Tyson slept in the kitchen cham
Der that night, rather TO his own bewlder-
ment; but he had reached that stage of
d0cile seTvility in which he accepted all
things a matter of course, and understood
very little about it.
Martty told him that sit was all right"
and he implicitly believed her and troubled
himself 10 further on the subject.
''Pve mind to let the poor Old oreetur'
stay here" said Mrs. Popey There's the
kitchen chamber ain 'tneYer used for nothin',
and shouldn't never feel what lie eats and
drinks, and he might do odd chores about
the barn"
Mr.. Popley, however. who had by this
time returned, shook his head.
MaTlttys very wei" said he: "but we
CANT keep open house for all her people.
There amt never no KNOWN where this
things going 10 stop. l guess. Phebe Ann,
we'd better let him go about his own busi-
ness, and tell Marrity not to feed him at our
back door no more, l don't quite approve
OF The principle"
When Miss Dorcas Jones heard of this
new development she chuckled within her
self
"Ain't I glad that Maritty Tyson ain't our
hired glrl?" said she. II don't s'pOse John
Henry would fancy that sort of gal, but
there amt no accounting for mans wbims
AND she has got pair o handsome black
eyes OF her 0wn-for them as fancies black
eyes. l prefer blue for my part" with a
glance at the cherry-fl AIMED glass opposite
which reflected her own faded blue orbs
with painful accuracy.
That very day, however Just on the verge
Of twilight. when the sweet-fern thickets
were Gisttllng their pleasantest odors, and
the yellow glow in the west was turning to
crimson, John Henry Jones met Marittv
Tyson in the high road.
Gould you lend me your one horse
wagon" SAID She, owistfully, "for couple
OF hours tomorrow"
YES" the young farmer answered
driver
MOP the girl replied. with decision.
That would cost too much; I want to go
cheap"
"Oh. shall not charge anything for the
drlVeT-oI the team, etherp' he said shrug-
ging his shoulders and smiling. "Wheu do
you want TO go. Maritty?"
II don't knOwv'
= You , don't know. Maritty2" he echoed
4es-snd nor retorted Maritty. az
nave got TO make Inquiries first Pm going
10 5rldgeport to get work in the factory"
In which fact0ry2"
In any Of 'em. 1t don't matter which.
They're always glad to get hands. folks tell
me-" i0'Ae Vcll
. But you don't understand factory ,,
can learn" she insisted "And Fve
father to care for now. / shan't let him eo
DaeK TO that place. I've got all my wages
saved up, and iPll keep me until secure !
place In the iactory-me and father" she
aaded' ANA the time shall come yet wber
I'll be lady, with a house of my own and
piano and store carpet on the best room
floor and cushioned Boston rocker fol
John Henry surveyed her with admirIne
eyes.