The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-25

| uay tue SICK WOMAN SINK, anu aIler lne
lapse Of a week she closed her eyes OF
earth forever. All through the week
Mrs. Martin stayed by the bedside de
voting herself to the invalid as faithfully
a. ever nurse did, receiving the blessings
of her charge and the heartfelt gratitude
of Isaac. Then, when all was over, she
returned TO her home happier than she
had been for thirty long years.
4 year passed, and the people of Pos.
sum Ridge began 10 wonder if the cross
fence trouble was to be revived in court
again. The time for which a stay of pro-
ceedings 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 Mrs. Martin
had become neighborly, bat 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 coDjecturing
that old Isaac would dismiss the case
after Mrs. Martins Kindness 10 bis wife,
some maintaining that he would not, and
some going so far as TO predict that Mrs.
Martin, in the forgiying disposition of her
heart, would dismiss the case herself
Sam Gross heard all that was said, watch
ed proceedings quietly, and even ventur-
ed to speak TO each of the parties sepa-
rately, in the hope Of having the affair
settled amicably. But still everything
remained in doubt, and but week must
elapse before the coming on Of court.
Sam shook his head sadly, feeling that,
after all, his efforts had fallen far short
of his cherished desired.
Late one afternoon old Isaac donned
his best clothing, and, taking down bis
cane, walked up the road to Mrs. Mar
tins. The widow received him gracious
ly, inviting him to seat on the long,
rambling porch, and exerIing herself to
the utmost to make him feel welcome.
"Mis' Martin" Isaac said, after they
had exchanged few commonplace re-
marks, you know. of course, thai the
cross-fence suit is to come up in court
next week ?"
"Yes; l know it." the widow answer
ed, sadly, "and l wish With all my heart
that it wasn't. In tired of it.
$50 am I, Mis- Martin" Isaac said
with slow shaking of his head. 81 wish
now that cross fence had never existed.
It's been a source Of sorrer to all Of Us.
an. many's the time I've regretted deep
ly tha. the suit was ever brought, an
I've regretted it a thousan' times more
than ever durin' the last year"
$50 have l." the widow replied. "If
we had only been friends an neighbors
while Martin and Lindy lived We've
missed great deal, Mr. Burton, by our
contentious, an nov 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 difference. Don't you
feel 50 ?"
81 do. I've feltit for long time, Mis-
Martin, an come here this evenin' to
talk the matter over an see if We
couldn't agree to plan of settlement
have a plan to offer, Jane, which, if
twas agreeable to you, would settle the
trouble forever"
Mrs. Martin arched her eyebrows in
surprise when Isaac spoke her fret name
for that was the first time in his life that
be shown such familiarity. Yet she did
notseem offended at all, nor did she ap-
pear displeased when he drew his chair
nearer hers and looked into her face
with an unmistakable tenderness.
Jane" he went on, in low soft tones,
"we are gittin' Old, an we're all alone in
the world. For thirty years we've been
as strangers. an we've each helped To
sa1den the life of the other. We can
blot out the old trouble, an the line fence
with it, an feel that We ought to do it.
It's our duty TO fOrgit 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,
there1 be no need for no more conten-
tons"
Isaac paused, but, as the widow did
not raise her eyes nor attempt to spea
he went on
"Pm a lonely old man, Jane" he said ,
"an' want somebody 10 keep me company
through my few remaining years, an
nobody would suit me like you. 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 com
Portable an We can cheer each other in
our declinging days. Jane, viii you do
it?"
The widow lifted her face, beautiful in
spite Of is age, anl, looking into IsIae's
eyes with an answering tenderness, laid
her hands in his.
YES. Isaac" she said, Il will be your
VIE, an will faithfully try to Gil Lindy ;
place in your home.
A few days later the old couple were
married, and sam Gross. who was pres
ent at the ceremony, took 10 himself
much ofthe credit for the happy termina-
ton Of affairs, and not unj1s.ly either.
Isaac Immediately threw the Old suit
out of court, then put men to work TO
tear down the old line fence and turn the
two farms into one, jus. rs the o~ners
had turned their lives an1 interests into
one. Thus the last ves,iye Of the old
trouble was removed, and the two sur
viving litisants entered on a quiet, hap
py existence at peace with all the world.
Thomas z. Monf0rt. in Leslie's Usekig.
Sacred to the Gods.