Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-01-14

s,-M " side nniled anG
patted the alpaca folds straight, the old
woman observing this process of adjust
ment with a look OF helpless anxiety,
her elbows lifted.
81 won't know thing to say" sht
argued.
"Oh, mother! don't get to worrying
again. You won't have anything to say.
He'll do the talking. You just sit uF
and listen. Here's your hemstitched
handkerchief with the initial. I'd hold
it like this" She drew the stiff linen
into shape, hold it at the centre with an
assumption of carelessness.
A candle on the bureau with its rest
less brush OF fame painted in the oval
glass sketcly picture of the room, the
ceiling of which lifted like tent. A
spot of rich blue deepened In the home
spun bed cover. Yawning darkly under
the low side wall was little hide-bound
trunk, the Dimensions of which were
exactly reproduced In the creases of the
alpaca skirt.
You look mighty nice, y said the girl,
stepping away. She was young, with a
peachy face in the round cheeks oil
which certain little dimples were furtive-
ly tucked. Her hair, of the faint brown
which is shot with silvery reflections,
was coiled awkwardly, as If it had only
lately been )ilcd at all, and still ycaEned
to lie in the hanging brads OF girhood.
al hope my collar Is even," refecte /
the other woman. at isn't that care for
myself, Lizzie. amt cared to dress
since-your father went away. !
wouldn't think it looked just right. B 1t
William nav is rale dressy. saw her
once at church. And so | want to pear
Just as | know how. OAIy do hope
never'Il hev to 90 through with any such
doin's againi l do So"
The girl slipped out a low gurgle OF
laughter.
II don't reckon YOU will" she said,
tseeing I'm the only daughter you got.
! don't look to be asked for more than
once. Hush! Oh, mother, there's him
knocking right nov -
"You better go to the door. Give
me the candle. I'll light you down"
The old woman, seeming to gather
resolution of despair, stepped heavily oa
the first step of the narrow stair. Lizzie
held the faring taper aloft WITH a saaz-
ing hand. Suddenly she caught her
mother sleeve.
"Don't say much about father. Will
knows he amt here She hung breath
less in the shadow of the staircase,
listening to the little hustle of entrance
just below. A young mans voice stam-
mercd out greeting.
Right cold night, ." he said. "Reckon
we're going to have real cold weather by
next week.
Lizzie, banging against the deal cas-
ing, heard the sitting room door shut.
From within SLOW murmur of talk
came. The girl, wide-eyed and flush
ing, crept down the steep stairs, slipping
into room across the bit of entry.
A young fellow whose boyish face
reduplicated in less delicate tone her
own pink and white tints glanced up
from book.
keep calm, L 'zzie," be said, teas.
ingly. "You LOOK excited. l reckon
mother'll say yes. You told her to say
yes, didn't your l expect she'll be easy
on him-a nice young man like Will
Raley. Only thing is she may forget
what you told her he drew up,
warned by the tremor Of his sisters lip
that this heart-stirring mo.nen. wac no.
time for jest.
1t occurred to him for the FIRST time
how little she must he to him in the
future, this pretty sister of his whose
ways were appointing iu the room across
the hall
"IIl hate to see you marry, Liz" he
exclaimed. "And mother-it'll be aw.
full hard for her. She's oaly got us
two. Aud she's hal fearful lot to put
up with. Father"
"She wouldn't like to have YOU
breathe word against him, Ed" Sac
started as she spoke. Her mother was
pushing at the door. She came in CROP
ing little,
"Go, Lizzie" she said in a lahore
voice. "I've give you to him. He -
he's po'rful fond O you. He'll make
you good man..
And as the girl flung toward her i'm
pulsively, she made out to smile. Don't
you mind me. daughter He's waitin'
on you-go on" Shutting the door
upon the girl, she sat down heavily.
"Don't feel so bad, NANNY" cried
the young man. "rheres no nicer fell
low anywhere than Will. Well fixed
and all. he could have had his PICK.
He's never had eyes for any one but Liz
since he settled here year back. She s
as sweet as pink, but, mother, we've
got nothing. Aud then. folks remem-
ber-well, you know, father often
times"
The woman at the hearth listens with
a quivering chin.
Pm not saying word against him,
other"
Don't you, Ediiei"
81 amt, mother.
Because Eddie, be had his faults,
but be was rale good hearted when he
was himself" The son set his lips.
"And since he went off I've often
stu lied that maybe wasn't as patient
as ought to been. / wake up night:
and GET to studying over US being conf
terrible -you with good place in th,
store and L zzie going to marry we'll
when maybe he's out a roof to bis head
j mas been three ,ears since he left
reckon he's aoed Leapp