New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-23

| amt likely. But ] must own ain thous"' VI
him so much late years. God does let time as IL
! goes on. do something for us. II he dion
| d'know what we should do
The speakers hands were hanging beside re-
they were shut fast as hands inVoiuhtari! nut
ut some intolerable memory.
Iavy rea he'd forward and took one OF nose
hands in Doth Of her own. The buttons fell RAJ
fling on the floor from her lap as she did So
more buttons for Freddy. Alminy sail a
fash Of fun coming to her gray eyes: but the
fun subsidized instantly
You don't mean you've heard from nm!
asked Ivy keeping hold Of her sisters hanh'
"Ob. no: no indeed But I've heard from his
| daughter"
Then he's dead?"
81 don't know Read that. then tell me what
YOU think I'm sure don't know what to thinK
myself"
Miss Drowdy drew the letter from her pocket
and tossed 1t into her sisters lap. Ihen she W.
gan walking about the room again. he' nps
were pressed tightly together; the lines on her
forehead were still more Marked 'he ua'A"e''
under her eyes was heavier.
But still there was curious kind or triumph
in her aspect triumph of one who has
again Weakened from half a life into life con-
tanning more than the sordid everyday cares
Suffering might be life but torpor was not even
though 1t might be mistaken for peace
Olivia was not as she would have said. much
used to reading writing. She held the sheet IN
both hands and held 1t far from her, though
she had not come to spectacles and couid see
perfectly well. Somehow she could not quite
bring her mind to the written words she was
thinking of Roger Crawford. The thought OF
him had not crossed her mind for years Now
it seemed to her that she recalled everything
about him sin a flash.
Roger and Alminy had certainly been what Is
| called 'in love- with each other; and see now
| it all turned OUT Olivia did not understand any
thing about being in love. and therefore she o'd
not in the least believe in any such state 1t was
unnatural and really quite indicate Tor d
woman to feel anything more than respect ana d
moderate liking for a man.
II it had not been for that affair with Roger
and for the fact that Alminy had silly streak
of sentimentality in her somewhere. she might
have married DR.. Newcomb ten years ago. ana
been living now in that brck-ended two-story
house right in the middle Of the village.
DIR. Newcomb had lost his wife and Alminy
r,,owdv was his first choice for his second part
.
Olivia. comfortably married and settled. had
argued and pleaded with her sister 10 become
Mrs. Newcomb
There amt thing against the doctor she
said "You can't say. Alminy as there's a 'nins
against him; now, can you
"Whv. no Of course | can't. Who said there
was?" had been the response.
Olivia had gazed despairngly at her sister.
And you like him. don't your
Yes. indeed"
Then why don't you m&rry him.?
At this point in every conversation Alimhy
hn
had laughed in the most irritating way az she
answered,
Il don't know as it's any reason why should
marry man because there isn't anything
against him. and because like him. hho"
half-a-dozen men in this village whom there 'sn
ANYTHING against. and whom like.
But they don't want to MARK you" said her
sister.
NO they don't. and that's a fact 30 'ha'
puts them out OF the question.
And then Alminy had laughed again. and her
sister had sighed and said that there want no
use: Aminy was jest as odd as she couid Dc
And she had added warningy.
"You know you're CROWN older every day the
men'l be lookin' for younger women You can
expect many more chances"
Il know IT," was the reckless response
In her secret heart Olivia had wondered II
Roger Crawford, or rather the memory OF MIN
had had anything to do with making Alminy Sc
odd But Almny had been little odd always
and OF course she would grow more and more so
since she refused ito settle What couid you
expect OF a woman who deliberately refused &c
settle? And there was but one way made KNOWN
whereby woman could settle
All these thoughts and memories were in a
tumble in Ovia's mind as she sat there with th'
shoe vamps about her trying to read the letter
her sister had given her
She turned over the sheets and looked at tht
name signed She read 1t aloud.
"Temple-Tempe Crawford. WHAT'S tina
mean? That amt no kind OF a name. Is 1t
, girl? What makes you think It's a girl
ct think so from the letter" answered Alminy
She stopped her walk in front Of her sister
Temple was Rogers mothers maiden name
s'pose that's why he named his daughter so
, He thought lot of his mother"
The tones Of the speaker were so different from
/ her ordinary voice that Olivia looked up at hel
in a kind Of fright.
Here" she said. extending the paper 81 wish
you'd read 1t. 'Taint very plain writing.
s'pose you've made 1t out once. n you can agin
Jest read II to me, will your
Alminy took the letter and still standing, reat
1t aloud
Hoyt. Massachusetts.
: Dear Madame had letter from father las
. night He said he thought he should be dead b!
the time got 1t. He went to Manitoba Tor NJ
health almost year ago, and haven't seei
him since You See I don't know which to tel
, first. for I'm not used to writing and my pei
won't say anything want 1t to. I'll write jus
t as things come into my head. I'm girl. though
I folks don't seem to think so when they just hea
1 NV name without seeing me. My grandmothe
. was Temple; my father always said that Their
. wasn't any better name under the canopy. s
= he named me that 1t doesn't make any differ
= ence to me- My father was queer kind OF mar
r I reckon I love him. because he's my father
| hut I get along mighty well without him. An