The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-11-07

her and relieved by her womanly care
Across the meadow which separated
the two farms was the home of Daniel
Macquirk. He had never visited her
since the eve Of her new departure. He
had resented her independence and splr-
it, had sneered unfeelingly at her paste
board sign and been exasperated at her
success He had even III the bitterness
of his scorn printed sign, which on
second thoughts had been destroyed,
stating that Daniel Macquirk's opin-
ions could be obtained free. He never
omitted an opportunity of ridiculing her
and was angered that his ridicule only
acted as an incentive to the faith Of the
credulous
Of his animosity Matildy was not ig-
norant, but for time she treated it as
the necessary accompaniment Of sue
cess. By and by she attempted to soften
his unreasonable displeasure, all to no
purpose. Finally she recognized the fu-
tility of her efforts, and irritated by
her failure assumed like demeanor.
Many bitter word was spoken back
and forth until at last they eyed each
other hostilely and passed by without
uttering syllable of greeting.
Like her, he was alone in the world,
a hardworking New England farmer,
with the bitter prejudices and. deep
feelings Of his class. In their hearts
they would like the old relations to be
restored, so Like were they in loneliness.
so near in situation.
After her fathers death he had braced
himself to the point Of asking her to
be his wife, but the coldness Of his re-
ception and the preparations For de-
parture showed him conclusively how
little thought she had given to the mat
ter so important to him.
The busy days glided by, grew into
weeks, months and even years. The
village life moved on in its monotonous
round Of petty pleasures and petty pur-
suits The old died, the young married,
the children were born, but through
all her opinions on matters social and
domestic were still called for and still
paid for. Each year brought an ..ddi-
tional wrinkle to her forehead and an
additional debt Of gratitude and respect
to her exacting neighbors.
All at once rumors became rife that
she was to be married The man for
whose sake gossip pronounced her ready
and willing to make the necessary
sacrifice after years Of solitary existence
was Deacon Smith, widower, whose
deceased wife, dead one long year, had
left him the care Of six small children.
and household disorganized and dis
ordered A decent season. of mourning
having elapsed, his intentions Of seek
ing successor were soon apparent. No
one answered his requirements SO well
as Matildy, and from suggestions and
hints the repc. was soon widespread.
The match was -uItable one. and Dea-
con Smith was not ayerse to its con-
summation. He realized Matlldy's fit
ness for the position and considered he
was Offering her no mean equivalent
for her future advice and companion
ship.
His visits to her, urged forward by
the interest Of his neighbors, who SEEM
ed to consider that by promoting this
marriage they were paying off their own
long arrears of Indebtedness, and his
own predictions, were many in num-
Der and suggestive in detail Matildy
was not ignorant Of the object of his at
tentions, but with her accustomed
shrewdness and ingenuity managed to-
prevent his coming to the point until
she had satisfactorily settled in her own
mind whether it would be worth while
for the sake of having her future decided
to exchange life Of freedom for that
OF stepmother to the six young Smiths.
The question was a hard one to settle;
it presented so many aspects, was bris-
ting with so many pros and cons. So
Deacon Smith S anticipatory visits were
many in number.
Rumors of her probable consent were
waited to Daniel Macquirk's ears and
caused him many an unpleasant quarter
of an hour as he meditatively smoked
his pipe after the evening chores were
finished and nothing interfered with the
long retrospect of memory.
One night Matildy, having escorted
De:.con Smith to the front door as usual,
stood meditativeiy on the stoop, lamp
in hand, the yellow rays throwing into
prominence her angular figure and
sharply cut face, Oh which an expression
Of abstraction rested That night the
deacon, having determined to be be-
guiled no longer by her wc,nan's Wit
and worn out by the contentious and
problems Of his exact1ng household, had
blurted forth his proposal.
Matildy. hesitating to the last. fear
full OF committing herself to an irrevo-
cable step, asked a repsieve OF the night
to consider the question. No wonder she
stood there forgetful Of time and situa-
ton as size watched his sturdy figure
melt into the gloom.
Daniel Macquirk came plodding along
the narrow country road, returning
home from q neishbcrly smoke.
AS he reached the gate the long ten
drills o. yellow lamplight fell on and