The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-12-30

blush, then shut her teeth together and
drew hard breath. "There amt
anything to hinder that know of ex-
cepting the settlements. They always
take lot of arguing among the law
yers; so reckon you'd better say next
week, and I'll go and stay with Mary
Ann till it's all fixed
'SettlementsY he stammered.
"What's them?" All his sordidness
came out. Mirandy felt no hesitation
now; her coquetry fell away from her
like an outdoor garment by the house
fire. Afterward he would have time
to think of her charms; now he needed
hard facts, without embellishments.
why, haven't you never read any
from the only novel she had
ever read. one of English life
In which n long-delayed mar
riage hung through whole year
of weekly paper ON this one
question. She remembered thinking
at the time that 1t was a queer thing
to talk to young people about-children
that might come-but here the case
was different. There was Mary Ann.
She went on to explain: settlements
is money and property Il man gives
his wife, so IL he gets to specializing,
that much is safe for her and the chill
dren."
She did not propose TO be more ex-
plleit, but stood tall, straight and de-
fiant by the mantel. He could only
protest; why, Mlrandy, you'll be pro-
vided for when I tiie.''
eYes, and every time 1 want five
cents, and don't care about asking you
for it, may wish you were dead, so
wouldn't lave to. / don't suppose you
intend to pay me wages, same as now,
and let me take the most of 1t out of
the privileges of being Mrs. Ander-
son."
He shook his head doubtfully. II
don't know, AIlrandy, about the set
Elements"
ooh, yes" she said, confidently,
you'll fix that all right. I'll tell the
folks we're engaged; and, John Ander-
son, do you know, II a man goes back
ON a promise Of this sort woman
never raises her head again"
He sat long by the fire in utter be.
wilderment. and at last. because the
idea was so new to him that he could
see nothing deeper in 1t, concluded
that 1t was nothing more than caprice
When woman gets fool notion In
her head you might just as well wait
until 1t wears itself out or give in az
once" he thought. He resolved to
wait.
WheE Mirandy came down to gel
breakfast the next morning she sang o
little hymn. But 1t was pathetic TO see
under her assumed cheerfulness the
tender way in which she regarded the
familiar breakfast cups. Some late fall
morning glories blew in at the oper
window across the table, and the odoI
of ripening apples came in from the
orchard. When would she come back
to 1t all? Perhaps never. She recog.
nized the impossibillty of coming back
to live there in the old order of things
after what had happened. 1t made
her still more uncertain to see John
Anderson's cheerful, confident manner
as he brought the wagon around to
the door.
You'll be back In day or so,
reckon, Mirandy, and will be ready to
go and get married." he yentured.
9TH take longer than you think to
get the papers fixed. L thought we'd
better stop and get Granny Simpson to
go over and keep house until you're
ready for me-" she answered.
ooh, pshaw, now, Mirandy; there
amt any need Of that. I'll just drop
work at any time and come for you.
You can just tell Jake you are ready
to come home. He'll be picking ap-
pies in the south orchard for quite
spell"
Thus they talked for two long miles,
til he set her down at the farmhouse
gate. Then he gave her a pocket.
book, saying: That's to get weddin
fixln's. Spend as much as you like
The blood rushed to her face mt the
offer Of the bride, but after moment
she said quietly: "Thank you; / reck.
on it'll be used" He drove away leay.
ing her much astonlshed by his fit OF
generosity.
wedding fixln's for me-" she said
cOntemptuously. II need them aboui
as much as wagon does five wheels
But I reckon Mary Ann can find use
for 1t. Ill make her believe her IA
Their sent 1t and me too. / wonder
which will prove the greatest bless
lngT' With that she walked into the
house and asked where she should
hang her hat and shawl, to the great
delight of Mary Ann, who looked upon
her intention to pay a visit of indefi
mite length as nothing less than mir
acle.
While affairs at the farmhouse were
at their worst, work became scarce al
Mary AIMS, and Mirandy at last faced
day when there was nothing to do
What would become of her? Every.
thing would go smoothly for a while
now, until the need OF money was felt
again. She had no doubt she could