The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-27
The / Coming
Molly Peevy,
BY WILL N. HARDEN.
Copyright 1896 by Bachelor johnson and Bschellen

I
ly troubled to mind Matt Digby's re-
proaches. She hitched the tray and
napkin under her arm.
Il couldn't help it, she sighed. 1.-The
sight of them little things a-standing
the road nearly broke my heart
You went over and put 'em to bed,
I'll be bound" went on Matt, tenta-
lively.
They was afraid to go into the house
by themselves" replied Mary Ann look
ing down and shaking her damp skirt.
II set by them until they went to sleep,
and II he had come home anyways out
of sorts I'd agone over again. l didn't
undress."
\ 1T is a pity about that promise he
made to their mother continued
Matt; for he really ought to marry
somebody"
Mary AIMS pretty lips twitched. and
she wiped them with her shapely hand.
She nodded. but that was all the answer
she made. There was an awkward
pause, then she caught up her skirt.
Il must go in and help sister about
her ironing" she said; "and / reckon
you got your own work to do" She
turned and. treading the weeds beneath
her, made her way across the yard to
her cottage.
woman about fifteen years her sem
ior was in the sitting room. bending
over an ironing board. which rested on
the backs of two chairs, near window.
AS Mary Ann entered she went to the
fireplace and took up fresh iron. She
busted the ashes from 1t with her
apron, and tested its heat with a damp
finger.
WAS they out of bed?" she asked,
sympathetically.
Yes and asserting by the window
a-watching the road to town. Little
Joe had been a-crying. He dried his
eyes. and tried to make out that they
hadn't been up long. and heard them
jump out of bed before daylight"
The elder woman sighed. She went
to her board and rubbed her iron on q
folded newspaper till it began to
scorch.
II don't know what's to be done,
Mary Ann" she ighed. but this can't
go on. have been thinking. In one
way it looks like you ought to marry
Joel. He's the only man you ever want
GU, you the llTSt one lie ever
took a-liking to. If it just wasn't for
that promise to u dead woman"
Il haint no idea of trying to make
him break it," interrupted Mary Ann,
despondently. She put the tray in the
cupboard ana came out and stood. be-
fore her sister. her hands at her shape
ly waist. It's just them poor children
I'm a-thinking about now. Seems to
me if they was just provided for the
balance wouldn't matter. reckon he's
made IA night of it, and will be along
some time today"
Not till dark" opnrd Mrs. Batson,
sprinkling the garment on the board
with water from bowl. Hes always
that ashamed to let you see him after
one of his tantruins that he waits for
the shelter of darkness to pass the
house"
The two women had the children over
to dinner that day. Matt Digby saw
Mary Ann go through the weeds fo-
them. She brought back the little yell
lowhaired girl in her arms. and led the
boy by the hand. Matt went out in her
back yard to her beehive. near Mary
AIMS fence. She vented Mary Ann to
know that she had observed the pro-
ceedings. She would have made some
pertinent remark IL she could have
caught Mary AIMS eye. but she could
not do so. Little Joe was talking and
Mary Ann was looking down at hin.
and holding the little girls mead close
to her face.
AS The afternoon began to wane, the
two sisters concluded that the little
ones would be apt to spend the night
with them, but happening to go out on
her porch. just as the sun was going
down behind the mountain. Mary Ann
saw familiar form coming up the road.
1t was Joel HoltZclaw. Her heart rose
in her throat, and she fell to trembling