The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-04-13

somewhere III the UepInh OF ms soul
had been registered a purpose to make
Marie his wife.
But of this Marie was blssfully ig-
noront. She worked about house all
day and served Abncr at table Us grace
fully rs il he were titled guest
Marie had no nonsense about her and
respected the young man who 50 faith
fully lightened her fathers toll.
On this particular afternoon she
watched her father as ne stood in the
back porch, pausing for Il few mo-
ments' rest before setting out for the
bayfield, for the afternoons work. She
noticed he passed his hands YEARLY
over his pale, tired-lool,ipg face, and
turning suddenly to him, said
''Pa, can't you sit down and rest
little while? You look more tired
than usual
"No, child There's that lot to be
raked up this afternoon, and a good
job it is. / must be going"
Abner came near and said;
SI'm willing to work extra hard on
it if you rest for little while. | think
myself you don't look quite well. If
you will trust me I will look after
that this afternoon.
Mr.. Fosdick had learned to rely Z.
Abner much more than on his own
son, Henry, who, if truth must be
told, was inclined to shirk. Henry
disliked the farm. In fact, he dis
liked labor or application of any sort,
Then J guess you may go on, Alb
ner, and | will rest a spell. To tell
the truth / don't feel very scrump-
tious,' and he seated himself in the
old-fashioned rocker out in the shady
side of the porch. He soon fell asleep.
Two hours passed, and Marie began to
feel anxious, as her father seemed still
sleeping. She passed her hand anxi-
ously over his brow. He awoke, but
seemed dazed He failed to recognize
her, as he failed to recognize all the
other members Of the family. DR..
Rome was hastily summoned, who
said he was suffering from sunstroke,
and gently intimated that his working
days were over. Abner came home
much later than usual, having stayed
to finish the lot, He found the family
in distress over Mr.. Fosdick's condi-
ton. Somehow the blow seemed to
have crushed Mrs. Fosdick She sat
in state of apathy. from which thew
could not arouse her. Everything
fell upon Marie. marie must do
this. marie" must direct that.
Henry, instead of bracing himself to
help meet the needs Of the place, grew
lazier than ever, andabsolutely refused
to be dictated to-
There's just one thing about it,
Abner, said Marie emphatically one
morning, I'VE have got to make oul
plans exactly as if Henry were not
here. He can't be depended upon
You had to do his work yesterday al
we'll as your own. He is determined
to go to the city. Let him go.
shall oppose him no longer. Then W,
shall know just what We have got tC
depend upon"
The next day Henry started for tn,
city, leaving his share Of the burden
to fall upon Marie and Abner
"Ill do the best | can, Miss Marie,
said Abner. 81 want you to feel fre,
to call upon me early and late and
will serve YOU faithfully"
81 don't doubt you will, Abner, bu
oh if only mother had not fallen int
such strange condition. She doesn'
seem to care about anything, and
= don't know much. | shall have to de
e. pend upon you entirely about tn
farm, and if fail to show judgmen
you'll know it is because I don't know
, not because | don't care, and then W.
, will talk things over and get as straigh
as we can.
G Marie was not a crying girl usually
but Just now such large tears stood i
p her pretty eyes, and she looked up int
f Abners face with such an appealing
dependent look that he felt his hear
Y Jump straight into Marie's hands.
, ITS not much that know, but 20
f.. may trust me- Miss Marie.
e Somehow Marie felt extremely con
forted from that moment, althoug
=. she could not sing about the house i
l. her old-time way, yet she worked an
directed with feeling of greater ST
!. curity than before.
e And in the midst of il all Aunt Tai
o by came. Even Marie, hospitable {
e she was, felt bit more weary after 81
had welcomed her and helped n,
d place her few garments in the mel
"spare chamber.
, 'Now, look a here, Marie. I mac
up my mind to come, even if your |
d an ma air sick. | can do little
v help, an | will, too, if you an l ca
$, agree on few things.
But you are getting old, and yc