The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-09
A HOMELY LOVE STORY.

"My! exclaimed old Mrs. Barry, as
with tho the freedom OF ono privileged
she wakcd without knocking into the
bright and cosy kitchen OF Misa Mora
Minturn, whatever docs smoll so good
Seems" with another snia, "as II 1t
might DO chill sauce"
Miss Minturn, in trim gown OF dark
Ditto print, protected by a great bib
apron Of Turkey red calico, nodded and
smiled, rs she placed chair for her un.
curemontous visitor.
As rule people in Tattleton were
averseto exercising tholr lungs for tns
benefit Of Mrs. Barry. 1t was alnos,
impossible 10 make her hear. aud II you
succeeded in doing 40, you were more
than liable to DO misunderstood.
"Air you goln' to eat oil that yourself
this winter?" demanded the nc " conner
with her blinking eyes fixed on the big
granite kettle two-thirds filled with the
punGent, crimson, appotizing mixture.
Miss Miniurn felt that q nod and
veracity would now be at variance. Sc
she turned toward her Questioner and
called out loud and clear:
mo. Most OF it is for a person who
has such an attack OF rheumatism she
could not pick :he tomatoes and onions
and peppers and put them up herself"
Mrs. Barry continued to look n. he,
blankly and inquiringly. Mora Minturn
went close up to her.
.tport ~ tho aan,a " nha 4
close to :he car OF her guest. lis for
Mary Ann Cotter. who lives in the Hol-
low"
~ should think his holp could do thu,
much cookin' for hin" declared the
old lady. "He keeps enough: of EN-.
aius wondered, Mora-ssein' as how
the talk ha, kind o got round to it
whatfor was the reason you and Marion
Potter OF the Hall didn't 81. married
years ago, seem you was sparkin' SO
long"
Mora smiled as she noticed how the
old woman had COMPOUNDED the two
names, which. until this moment, had
never struck her as being familiar.
81 said Mary Ann Cotter, OF tho Hol.
low, Mrs. Barry" she shouted.
The old woman flung up her hands
with a gesture OF irritation.
"Tm little hard O. heariu' I allow,
but amt SO deaf that amt heerd what
you said. Some O that there good.
smelhn' chilli sauce is ior Marion Potter
Of the hall. Now, you see."
Miss Minturn smiled as she went
back to the stove md dshed her net |. 20
Of whols spices out OF the thick, red
compound. 1t was useless to impress
the truth-to attempt to impress it,
rather-on convinced Mrs. Barry. But
she made her cup OF tea and brough!
out some snowy tea cakes for her delec-
tation. and listened patiently and with
apparent intere,t to her babble. until
her prosy soul took 1t into her head TO
depart, and hobbled of. down the
white, winding road.
A serious look came into Mora Min.
turns face as she went on sealing up
her chill sauce in tho little wide
mouthed jars sho had saved for the
purpose.
Marion Potter! So people had not
forgotten about'hcr engagement to him
twelve years ago What was tho fool.
ish triHe about which they had quar-.
relied? And she had sont him back his
ring with iew bitter words expressive
Of her satisfaction at having discovered
her mistake in time.
She had boon wrong-all wrong. She
had had other suitors after that, to 10
sure, but she had fouad hersalt com.
pairing them to Marion Potter. invaria.
bly, to ttirir detrimen,, and had diecour.
aged all such attentions. And now that
her mother was dead, aud tho boys
we're COMO and married, and sho lived
alone in tho cosy little homestead with
only tho orphan nephew she was bring.
ing up, she found it lonely at times-
very lonely.
Walking across tho kitchen, sho re.
garded her reflection in the little walnut
bound mirror that hung near tho win.
dow. The face that looked back at her
wasfrcsh, unwrinkled and pink.cheeked,
despite her thirty.si1 years. Her sim
ple, active, kindly life had kept her
youthful in mind and body. But Hho
sighed ns sho turned away.
At that hour, Marion Potter, stalwart,
brown bearded. gallant OF bearing. was
riding his hugo black horse slowly home.
ward through the mellow sunset light.
Many maiden had sen. him shy glances
OF admiration; many who would have
boon honored by his homage, sinco those
old days when no was known 40 tho
lovor OF Mora Minturn. But he was not
man to give his heart twice nor to do n
woman tho injustice OF offering her moro
affection. So surrounded by his books
and dogs no lived out his own life a. his
beautiful homo on tho hill.
"IIolo! Look ou.!" ho cried, sud.
denly refining up. "By .Goorge! but l
nearly rodo over you'll!
Tho old woman coming toward him.
who had 80 unexpectedly darted for
ward almost under his horses hoofs,
lifted complacont countonnnco.
framed in by m nntiquatod poke bon.
net, as sho demanded:
Don't you want to hiro my sister
Jans's Eliza, Mr.. Pottor?'
"No" roarod Marion Potter. who was
awnro that sho was littlo doafor than
tho proverbial post. "Why should /?
| have three servants now"
Mrs. Barry compromised, Tor aho
went on poraistently:
"But James Eliza can cook, Mr.. Pot.
tor. An II you tako hor you wouldn't
have to DO havin' your chilli aauce mado
by Mora Minturn."
MIR. Potter gavo n start.
"Eh? Steady, Kate! What arc you
talking about, Mrs. Barry"
Mrs. Barry did not hear him, Sho
mumblod on. however,, and no list.