The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-10-13

Wgu III
the yard-path he was more sprnri~.'
than he ever had been in AL his lHs
: however, ne composed himself sufH
> GENTLY To give her a fitting reception
u remove from her mind all fear O
her visit being considered an intrusion
~ hrst there was an air Of restrain
about the actions and conversation O
poth, but that gradually died out. sMe
IN hme they became easy and natura
IN their department.
The doctor came. but he could mo-
give Isaac any encouragement. for h,
round that Lindy was in a dangerou.
condition. with little prospect Of i'm,
~proyement.
she Is very low" he said, land ".
can hope for no change for the better
m afraid she cannot last long"
And the doctor was right. for day 10y
day the sick woman sank, and after The
lapse OF "A week she closed her eyes on
earth forever. All through the weel,
Mrs. Martin stayed by the bedside, de.
voting herself To the invalid as faith.
FULLY as ever nurse did. receiving the
blessings of her charge and the heart
felt gratitude Of Isaac. Then, when
all was over, She returned to her homo
happier than she had been for t,,ir.v
long years.
a year passed, and the people OF
Possnm Ridge began 10 wonder il tho
cross-fcnce trouble was to be revived In
court again. The time for which a STAY
OF proceedings had been granted had
nearly expired, N at the next sitting
OF the court the case would be called up
for further action. Isaac and Mrs. Mar
tin had become neighborly, but neither
of them had ever mentioned the eros,
fence, and the matter stood Just as il
had before Lindy's death. People had
talked a great deal about il, some con-
occurring 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 predict that Mrs. Martin, in the for
giving disposition Of her heart, would
dismiss the case herself. Sam Gross
heard all that was said. watched pro-
ceedings quietly, and even venturcd to
speak to each Of the parties separately,
In the hope of having the affair settled
amicably. But still everything re-
manned in doubt, and but a week mus:
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 n afternoon old Isaac donned
his best clothing, and, taking down his
cane, walked up the road to Mrs. Mar
tins. The widow received him graz
ciously, inviting him to q seat on the
long, rambling porch, and exerting her
self TO the utmost to make him feel
welcome.
Mis- Martin" Isaac said. after they
had exchanged a few commonplace re.
marks. you know, of course. that the
cross-fence suit is to come up in court
week?"
Yes: | know it," the widow
sadly. land l wish with all
my heart that it wasn't. I'm tired OF
it,"
$50 am !, Mis- Martin" Isaac said.
a slow shaking Of his head. II
wish now hat cross fence had never ex
It's been a source of sorrer TO all
Of us. an many's the time I've regretted
that 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. III
had only been friends an neigh bors
Martin and Indy lived. We've
missed a great deal. Mr. Burton, by our
an now that t'other two
s gone we ought 10 try to live better
IN happier lives. We ought TO dror
he old suit an bury our differences
you feel SOP"
II do. I've felt il for a long time
Mis- Martin, an l come here this even
n tn talk the matter over an see il we
couldn't agree to a plan of settlement
have a plan to offer, Jane, which, il
was agreeable to you, would settle the
roublc forever"
Mrs. Martin arched her eyebrows in
urprise when Isaac spoke her FIRST
for that was the first time in hi.
lfe that he had shown such familiarity.
'et she did not seem offended ut all.
Ior did She appear d~ispleased when he
rev his chair nearer hers and looked
lto her face with an unmistakable
endcrness.
Jane" he went on, in low soft tones.
we are gittin' old. an were ally alone
the world. For thirty years we've
cen as strangers, an we've each
TO sadden the life of the other.
ic can blot out the old trouble, an
nc linc-fencc with il, an | feel that
e ought TO do ii. It's our duty To
the past. an in the future try 10
up 10 each other the happiness
missed. We can make the farms
ne, Jane. an then thcrc'll be no need
{ no cross fence an we kin make our
an interests one. an then there'll
2 no need for no more contentious"
Isaac paused, but, as the widow did
d raise her eyes nor attempt to speak. (,
! went on: NJ l4fu s f.
I'm a lonely eldlman. Jane" he said, I
m want somebody to keep me compa- f,
: through my few remaining years. ,
/ nobody would suit me like you. / !
you. Jane. for your kindness to !
an ! want you ~ forgive me for !
| of the past an be my wife. We can :
comfortable an we can cheer each /,
her in u declining days. Jane, will :
III do it?' Ayf /,