The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-12-30
HIS SECOND WIFE.
A NEW YEAR STORY.

A NEW YEAR STORY.
''There don't seem any way for Inc
md Jake to get along" continued the
complaining voice of Mary Ann Bur-
'on. You know when we got married
father lowed to give me something to
start on, but crops was bad that year,
and Jake never liked my saying any
thing about 1t since. I've done just
as Jake said these ten years, and now
things are getting so bad that he had to
give in and consent. SO / came over
to see father!D
"Well, what did he say?" her COM
panion asked brusquely.
Just what he said when we was
married. Crops is bad and he can't
see his way to helping us this year;
that lawsuit mighty nigh broke him
up, he says. He lows to give me my
share next spring if he amt in the
poorhouse himself by that time. l sup
pose father does have n powerful hard
time, like the rest of us. But next
spring won't do Jake any good; he'll
have fretted himself into the grave by
then" The weak, uncertain voice sank
into n sob of distress. The woman OPP
poste her sat bolt upright in an I'M
compromising chair. There was a look
on her face of genuine sympathy,
mingled with Indignation.
MARY Ann" she said, don't you
know that your father is the stingiest
man in seven states?" She brought
this out as if from forced conviction.
She was angry for having to say
plainly what she had reluctantly ad.
mitted to herself not long ago.
Mary Ann stopped sobbng from
pure establishment. you don't mean
to say he was lying to me?" she asked.
mo, he didn't think he was lying to
you. He thinks he's getting poorer.
You've heard OF misers? Well, John
Anderson is on the way to become a
miser. l believe he lays awake at
night tormenting himself about the
poorhouse He's laying up money in
the bank all the time"
"But what's he going to do with itY
Mary Ann asked in bewilderment.
do with it? Why, give 1t to you and
the children, and to them he cares for,
to be sure. He can't bear to part with
a cent until IL comes his time to die,
and sometimes folks get mighty tired
waiting. I'll tell you what, Mary Ann,
I'd hate to see anything of that kind
happen to your father, as good as he
ls."
But 1t won't" protested Mary Ann.
"Me and Jake wouldn't want him to
die for all the money in the world"
Mary Ann sobbed again. Things
are getting mighty hard. Little Susie
amt got no shoes to wear to school
and frosty mornings are coming on.
Jake don't sleep at night for thinking
about it. We've had sickness, as you
know. / told father all that and he
said 1t was hard"
Eyes, and that's all he'll do. Here"
she said, untying knot in the corner
Of her handkerchief, Take this mon
ey and get Susie some shoes, and I'll
find way into your fathers con-
science and bank account or my name
amt Mirandy Bowen. About tomor-
row I'll be coming over" She went
to the door with her visitor and added:
"If l was you, Mary Ann, l wouldn't
tell Jake what your father said, but
I'd kind o. get round it some way till
| come"
She had come to the home of John
Anderson before his wife died; had
stayed with that good woman through
her long illness, and seen Mary Ann
married. Then she had remained to
keep house. Now, ten years later, she
was still there, and was regarded as
the hostess by the visiting country
neighbors, to whom the fact of her be-
Ing 'hired help was no detriment.
She stood with her elbow on the
mantel, the freight from the hearth
lending an additional glow of color to
the bright dress. The dark wood be-
hind brought her out in stronger relief,
and she was far from unlovely. 1t
looked like one of Rubens' bright in
teriors, only Mirandy was unconscious
Of that, and she grew momentarily I'M
certain. The color shot into her face
derson came In and looked at her-the
central figure in his especial Rubens-
surprised and pleased.
"Why, Mirandy," he said, II reckon
You've fixed up to be kissed" He
rubbed his hands and chuckled over
his own gallantry. He was fine
looking man, hale and hearty, with a
strong tendency to humor. Mirandy
looked at him, finding It hard to resist
him.
''No," she answered. with touch OF
soquetry, mo man kisses me until the
preacher makes us better acquainted"
~ say, Mirandy, what's to hinder
our going over to the preacher to-mor-
row and getting married2. We can
tell Mary Ann the next time she
comes, and It ain't anybody else's bus.
iness.'' .
She gave hysterIcal laugh and