The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-28
PART III.

IN few minutes Mary Ann came
out bringing two chairs with her. She
would not invite him into her house,
but she would sit there with him in
spite of all that Matt Digby might put
into circulation about her. Matts
house, ON the left. was dark. Joel was
happy over the thought that she had
gone to bed, and that she could not
have heard him open the gate and as
cend the steps. But Mary Ann knew
that If Matt was alive she was sitting
ut the open window. 30 yards from the
porch. strainng her eyes and ears to
see and hear all she could. However,
Mary Ann soon forgot Matt Digby.
There was something tense and manly
in Holtzcaw's face that absorbed her.
He waited until she had seated herself
before. he sat down, then he placed
his chair near to hers.
"Tve come to the conclusion some
things got to be done. and that quick.
Mary Ann" he began. nervously strok-
ing his beard. This way of going
on don't seem to me to he right. l
amt good enough for such pretty girl
as you are-that could git the best
husband in the country. but I'd be
better more steady man If had you.
] believe that if Sarah could look down
from where she is. she'd want you to
he a comfort to me and mother 10
her children. When she made me make
that promise she was Just peevish and
Jealous, because Matt Digby had said
so much to her about me accounting
of you. I've always thought If she'd
just a-been in her right mind at her
DEATH she'd a-released me-"
Mary Ann started. She spread out
her skirt carefully and then smoothed
her apron over it. She glanced at him
Shyly, and then looked cautiously
through the darkness at Matt Digbys
window before venturing upon d reply.
why Joel" she said, suddenly, II
never did hear all about it, because
Il didn't want to seem Interested but
somehow | got the idea that-that she
asked it ON her deathbed."
mo such thing" he answered quick
". 1T was fully three months fore
she died, when she was starting off
for d visit to Aunt Molly Peevy, over in
Fannin' county. ON the way home
she had a stroke of paralysis. and did
not know thing till she died two days
later"
Mary Ann moved uneasily, and her
chair creaked She felt that she was
leading him on to talk of such things,
and she wanted to change the subject.
Little Joe tells me :hat Mrs Peevy
is coming to see you tomorrow
That's what she wrote the other
day. Shell get here about eleven
O'Clock in the morning"
She'll be hungry" replied Mary Ann,
land she won't be in no fix to set right
in and cook dinner for you AMI the chill
dren II you'll let me. I'll have you all
come over and eat with us. | reckon
nobody won't talk about it with Mrs.
Peevy on hand"
..'Thatll be just the thing!" he cried.
"It'll be right sore of a welcome. Aunt
Molly always did think Il lot of you
folks"
The conversation paused. She saw
from his face that he was coming back
to the subject uppermOst in his mind
and she would have stopped him If she
could have resisted the temptation tC
hear what he had to say. 1t seemed
so much like the time when he used
to come to see her in the years before
There. in the semidarkness. he did
not seem to have changed greatly
True, his hair was slightly gray. but
his eyes and his voice We're the same
and he, still loved her.
IN tell you what. Mary Ann" he
went on, tenderly. "1've made up my
mind that ! just can't do another year
without you. am able To keep straight
and decent when I've got something
Il.