The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-27

With her Huiltings. jelly-making, fruit
aiming. or anything else that two
voman can do better than one. but she
vOuld never help her to marry joel
1oltZclaw.
She told herself that any woman Of
dary AIMS age, who had as good q
ome as Mary Ann had. and was pretty
nough Ito get the best that was GO
ng.' would be a fool to burden her.
elf with another woman's children ana
shiftless man. who had his spree al
most AS regularly as Saturday came
round
Matt had good grounds for believing
hat the marriage would never take
lace, although Joel and siary Ann
lad been lovers for many years. and
ad only been prevented from marry
ng ten years before by old man Hardi-
mans strong objection to Joel The
ruth was that Holtzclaws late wife.
tho was Jealous. irascible woman,
ull of imaginary ills and wrongs. had
xacted a promise from Joel no. to
marry again In case she died.
Everyb body in the Cove" k.,ev; tnI-
few believed that Joel would he JUS
flied I'm breaking the promise since it
eemed that nothing but wife and
iome comforts would keep him from
hinking once week. and since his
hildren We've 50 badly in need of 6:
nother's care. But the majority were
opposed to it: and now and then, when
he gossip was loudest. some one would
openly declare that if Holtzclaw ever
married. he should he "churched."
One morning from the window of
her cottage Matt saw Mary Ann leave
he back door of her house with a tray
N which there was something covered
With napkin. and make her way
through the tall. dewy ragweeds to
toels cottage.
"Ah!" exclaimed Matt She's going
feed them children. I'll bet my bot
ON dollar he didn't get home last night.
les on another bender and she'll have
hem over in her entry room tonight.
ure as preaching"
Matt huriredly lifted her coffee -ket-
le from the Goals so that it would not
,oil over in her absence, forked a piece
" bacon from a hot frying pan into a
,ate and went out among the sassafras
bushes near Joel's fence. Here she
't'oo iot SCN
''Pll bet she's dressing the imps!" she
aid. impatiently. IF had thought of
hat l could a-tinished my coffee and
,acon.''
The next minute Mary Ann came out
IF Joel's house, the empty tray under
Ter arm. Seeing Matt there in the
ilantlng rays of the sun. gazing at her
~ critically. she flushed. She paused on
he steps for an instant and wound q
stray lock of her rich brown hair about
he knot behind her head. and then
stepped down into the rank weeds.
He didn't come home last night ."
'aid Matt. breaking sassafras twig
ind chewing the end of It,
Mary Ann drew her damp skirt from
he clinging briars and climbed over
he rail fence. Matt could not help ad-
hitting to herself that Mary Ann was
graceful in movement. She was so we'll
,ormed, too, and the fresh morning air
lad given her such a wonderful color.
mo. he didn't" Mary Ann replied
rs she got down OH the other side, near
20 the questioner. Then she sighed
I have just been over to give little Joe
and Fanny a bite to eat
You needn't tell me what you went
or" sneered Matt. with hard, unfor-
giving stare. you are making a fool
Of yourself. I'll bet my life you didn't
tlose your eyes all last night a-listen-
ing for him to pass"
A look of weary resignation came in