The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-10-19

restraint about the actions and con-
versation OF both. but that gradually
died out, and in time they became
easy and natural in their department.
The doctor came, but he could NOS
give Isaac any encouragement, for he
found that Lindy was in a dangerous
condition, with little prospect of inn
provement
''She is very low" he said, "and we
can hope for no change for the better.
I'm afraid she cannot last long"
And the doctor was right, for day by
day the sick woman sank, and after
the lapse of week she closed her eyes
on earth forever. All through the
week Mrs. Martin stayed by the bed
side, devoting herself to the invalid as
faithfully rs ever nurse did, receiving
the blessings of her charge and tho
heartfelt gratitude of Isaac. Then,
when all was over, she returned to her
home happier than she had been for
thirty long years.
A year passed, and the people Of
Possum Ridge began to wonder il the
cross-fence trouble was to be revived
in court again. The time for which n
stay of proceedings had been granted
had nearly expired, and at the next
sitting of the court the case would be
called up for further action. Isaac and
and Mrs. Martin had become neigh
borly, but neither of them had ever
mentioned the cross-fence, and the
matter stood just as it had before
Lindy's death. People had talked a
great deal about it, some conjecturine
that old Isaac would dismiss the case
after Mrs Martins kindness to his
wife, some maintaining that he would
not, and some going so far as TO pre-.
dict that Mrs. Martin, in the forgiving
disposition of her heart, would dismiss
the case herself.
Late one afternoon old Isaac donned
his best clothing, and taking down his
cane, walked up the road to Mrs. Mar
tins. The widow received him
graciously, inviting him to seat on
the long, rambling porch, and exert.
ing herself to the utmost to make him
feel welcome.
"Mis' Martin" Isaac said, after
they had exchanged few common.
place remarks, "you know, of course,
that the cross-fence suit is to come up
in court next week?"
"Yes; / know it," the widow an
swered, sadly, "and 1 wish with all
my heart that il wasn't. I'm tired of
it,"
$50 am I, Mis- Martini" Isaac said,
with a slow shaking of his head. ~
wish now that cross-fence had never
existed. It's been source of sorrer
to all of us, an many's the time I've
regretted deeply that the suit was
ever brought, an I've regretted it a
thousan' times more than ever durin'
tae last year"
80 have l." the widow replied.
'Tf we could only oil been friends an
neighbors while Martin and Lindy
lived. We've missed a great deal, Mr..
Burton, by our contentious, an now
that t'other two is gone we ought to
try to live better an happier lives.
We ought to drop the old suit an
bury our differences. Don't you feel
SOP"
81 do. I've felt so for long time,
Mis- Martin, an 1 come here this
evenin' to talk the matter over an see
If we couldn't agree to n plan of settle
ment. / have n plan to offer, Jane,
which, if twas agreeable to you, would
settle the trouble forever"
Mrs. Martin arched her eyebrows in
a,, r,,r,an xvln, a,xAGA har
name, for that was the first time in
his life that he had shown such famil-
iarity. Yet she did not seem offended
ut nll, nor did she appear displeased
when he drew his chair nearer hers and
looked into her face with an unmis-
taxable tenderness.
'Jane," he went on, in low, soft
tones, 1--WE are gettin' old, an we're
all alone in the world. For thirty
years we've been as strangers, an we've
each helped to sadden the life of the
other. We can blot out the old
trouble, on the line fence with it, an
| feel that we ought to do it. It's our
duty to forget the past, an in the
future try to make up to each other
the happiness we've missed. We can
make the farms one, Jane, an then
there'll be no need of no cross fence,
an we kin make our lives an interests
one, an then therell be no nead for
no more contentious.
Isaac paused, but as the widow
did not raise her eyes nor attempt to
speak, he went on:
'Tm a lonely old man, jane" he
said, "an' | want somebody to keep
mo company through my few remain
ing years, an nobody would suit me
like You. l love you, Jane, for your
kindness to Lindy, an / want you to
forgive me for all of the past an be
my wife. We can be comfortable, an
We can cheer each other in our de-
clining days. Jane, will you do it?"
The widow lifted her face, beautiful
in spite of its age, and, looking into
Isaac's eyes with an answering tender
ness, laid her hand in his.
i L