The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-28
A CORRECTED IMPRESSION.

come to spend the afternoon With Belvi-
dera. Belvidera seldom went TO sit with
Marg ret except by special invitation, when
there was sure to be something very nice
for tea-Saily Lunn or cake or rolls. for
which Marg'ret had a wide reputation.
Marg'ret had sought Belvidera's society
since she was old enough to tod6le across
the village street. and both women were
now past three-score.
Age was kinder to Marg'ret than youth.
Even at sixty-odd one felt how very plain
she must have been at systematically
and physically; that she had been colorless.
understood; that the yellowish gray hair
on her fiat little head had been ashen her
eyes short-sighted and weak. She had no
eyebrows to speak of, no expression: more
than all, she had been fatally unattractive.
Nature had nodded Belvidera as If she
loved the task and was loath to leave ii
even with perfection attained. Her limbs
were long and rounded into marvellous
curves; her dark head it's slender neck
was incomparably graceful; her face had
delicate aquiline features and rich coloring
She never forgot that she had been lowered
above most women. She was faithful to all
her little airs and graces of half a century
ago; she dropped her hand over the arm of
wrist remained; she was as careful of the
pose of her head as in those days when
folk crowded the meeting house to worship
not God, but Belvidera until the incensed
preacher had delivered scathing discourse
from the text. What went We out for to
see?''
Marg'ret, who upon this occasion sat by
her friend, endured alternately lapses Of
consciousness and agonies of shame Bel
videra considered it a browning glory; she
would gladly have been preached to public
ly, daily, and rot complained.
Both were widowed Belvidera's husband,
the master of the sloop Belvidera J. Spranks,
had been washed overheard during storm
the bay Marg'ret's man died of a
fever; he lay in the graveyard a few PAGES
back from the river, with a high green ter
race rising against the west. Marg'ret had
her own key to the locked gate and spent
much time there after her housework was
done. She said it was "a heap q company"
Joel never had been very lively-never was
great talker.
Belvidera sat in the porch; she rarely
thought IT worth while to offer the rocking
chair to Marg're who made herself as
comfortable possible with her knitting on
any convenient seat. 1t had rained in the
night; the air was soft and sweet; the sun
barred the shadow with brilliant light.
A madeira vine climbed on tangled cords to
the caves of the porch: spikes of blossom
shook and trembled and filled the air with
a cloying fragrance. A strong breeze blew
the vine outward like a curtain.
Marg'ret looked up over her spectacles.
How pretty yo' vines ;s," she said.
Right pretty" assented Belyidera- She
was not fond of flowers; she liked TO talk
of her youth. her conquests, the pattern of
her gowns. She began to tell of a pink
organdie lawn which Margret remembered
well, and with whose glorieS she was very
familiar.
1T had a bunch of roses down the stripes
wa the Meh WIN It aG
surplice an mother she give me embroid-
AN yo' bonnet had a feather a
hangin' over the side an a. wreath O.
roses roun' the crown" interpolated
Marg'ret; AN Joel he said that very day day
things on, that yo' looked like a pictur in
pucker and lifted her chin; she struck the
Ups of her fingers daintily with the edge of
her fan.
Not on'y Joel, but everybody was a-talk-
in" she said La If I'd "a paid atten-
ton to all the compliments / got my head
d "a been clean turned"
Belvidera- Each one d try to get ahead O.
the other in sayin' the most have hes.-d
tell at they's been many man an wife
at d come to words an fall out about
yo'. but not us; never was jealous Of yo'
never-that is, but once"
when was that?" asked Belvidera She
leaned back in her chair 10 listen.
why" said Marg'ret, Il didn't low at
I'd ever tell yo-but 1 will Yo' know. I
warn't nobody surpriseder'n me when Joel
begun to take notice o me. / warn't any
thing TO- looks an hadn't takin' ways
An then right sudden TO have the pick o
the lott took my breath. | couldn't be-
ueve it. I'd aIays had a notion o. Joel. 1
found that out when he asked me to mar
ry him. He'd never seemed no nearer to
me Observation-Disclosures; not as near. fo' /
lid expect to get to heaven some day. 1t
was so much more'n I'd ever had cause to
look for. Nobody ever paid attention to
There was a smile-indulgent, supercilious
on Belvidera's handsome old face. She
remembered. In their youth Marg'ret was
the only girl whom she tolerated-no man
ever paid attention to Marg'ret.
Yes indeed" said she, "yo was different:
things at most girls loves; 20"
Marg'ret interrupted quickly:
"Twarn't that. I did care Sometimes I
was ies' hungry for EN- used to think
I'd give anything if 1 could be as pretty
rs Jane or even Sally, or talxin the
Doudy girls. l didn't seem to mount to
there. apays. / used to think it over after
Joel came: liked the difference, an 1 was
PROUD o MS preference.
you arays was the greatest woman"
said Belvidera impatiently. ito go 'roun'
Robin Hoods barn, to begin at the last an
talk back to the first. What's all that got
to do with me an Joel? What were yo'
Jealous abOut?'
'It was the Sunday yo wore the organdie
the first time; yo' looked beautiful with the
feather a-hangin down again yo' face Jes'
about that time it was that Joel begun to
take notice o. me, an they was talk goin'
| the rounds at he had been keepin' compny
with yo' on the sly. an that yo' had packed
| him off. but whether in fun in earnest
nobody seemed TO know; yo' never tot me-
NO" said Belvidera, II never tot no
| body; So"
stand no chance o. Joel If yo' wanted him.
| Well, it was beautiful Sunday, an after
| class meetin' we all went off to take a
walk up the race. They was the Doudy
| girls with Joe Nails an Silas; an Jane an
| John Grey: an Sally an Boston Bynum;
| an they was you with Charlie an the
| ColonePs son, an one or two others a-foI-
lerin'-I dsremember their Names"
1T was Charles cousin John Harmaso
| from Accomac, an Grassem Shawacre,"
| said Belvidera-
Joel was with me; we was last an
| quiet, but everybody else had a heap to
say"
| 'Yo certainly put me clean out o. pa
tience Marg'ret When yo' comm to the
! yo' was jealous o. me about?'
| do yo' recollect." asked Marg' ret, 1.-THE
| little Sluice at was cut into the race so s
| to let the water off i'm rainy seasons%"
Yes. II was half way up the glen; they
was two logs, rough-hewed, acrost it,
| 'WelP'-she leaned forward, there was an
| expression half shamed, half pleased upon
haT. fac her sniff sod l1n- 1c