The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-27


and il he had come home any ways out
of sorts I'd a-gone over again. didnt
undress."
ut is a pity about that promise he
made 10 their mother" continued
Matt; "for he really ought to marry
somebody"
Mary AIMS pretty lips twitched, and
she wiped them with her shapeiy hand.
She nodded, but that was all the answer
she mnde. There was an awkward
pause, then she caught up her skirt.
81 must go in and help sister abouther
ironing" she said; land l reckon you
got our own work to do" She turned
and, treading the weeds beneath her,
made her way across the yard TO her
cottage.
A woman about fifteen years her SEN
Tor was in the sitting-room, bending
over an ironing-board, which rested on
the backs of two chairs near q window.
AS Mary Ann entered she ven TO the
fireplace and took up a fresh iron. She
busted the ashes from it with her
apron, and tested its hcat with a damp
finger.
'Was they out Of bed?" she asked,
alphabetically.
"Yos, 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
A. - 1901 onJ ,,hhaI Lnr ,rnn -n N
folded newspaper till 1t began to
scorch.
II don't know what's TO be done,
Mary Ann" she sighed, ''but this can't
go on. / nave been thinking. In one
way it looks like you ought to marry
Joel. He's the only man you ever want
ed, and you are the first one he ever took
d liking to. If it just wasn't for that
promise TO a dead woman"
81 hain't no idea of trying to make
him break it," interrupted Mary Ann,
despondently. She put the tray in the
cupboard and 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. Ireckon he's
made a night of it, and will be along
some time to-day"
sprinkling the garment on the board
with water from n bowl. Hes always
that ashamed to let you see him after
one Of his tantrums that he waits for
the shelter of darkness to pass tho
house."
The two women had the children over
to dinner that day. Matt Digby saw
Mary Anu go through the weeds for
them. She hroaght back the little vel
boy by the hand. Matt went out in her
back yard to her beehive, near Mary
AIMS fence. She wanted Mary Ann to
know that she had observed the pro.
ceedings. SIC would have made some
pertinent remark If she could have
caugho Mary AIMS eye, but she could
not do SO. Little Joe was talking and
Mary Ann was looking down Mt him
and holding the little girls head 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 u was going
down behind the mountain, Mary Ann
saw a familiar form coming up the road.
1t was Joel Holtzclaw. Her heart rose
in her throat, and she fell to trembling
with excitement. She did not look up
as he drew near, fearing to notice
something in his walk that would in
dictate hat he was still under the in.
fluence of drink. She did not look tc-
wards him till she heard his voice mt the
bars.
II wish you would step down here.
Mary Ann" he called out. IL want to
see you"
She nodded md went down toward
him. AS he stood there awaiting her,
his hat off in Difference to her, and his
long hair brushed back from his brow,
she was glad that her house cut him of
from Matt Digby's view. Her heart
throbbei painfully as she thought that
It would be only another embarrassing
confession of weakness and shame for
the neglect of his children. But to her
surprise, ms she drew near him his
glance met hers frankly and steadily.
and there were about him none of the
signs of dissoluteness which her sight
had grown keen to detect.
"HowGy do?" he said. "Have you
teen looking after them children
ngain?'
She nodded, unable to speak for a
moment.
Il lowed you would" he added, and
she found her voice in the silence that
followed his words.
They are in there now, JOEL" she
said. They've had their supper ard
look sleepy. l was just thinking they
might as well stay with us, but IL you
want 'em, now you are at home"
I'D hate 10 d~isaDnoinf 'eino Ia