The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-30

Mr.. Janewsy stared at it meditaitve
~. II hadn't noticed it for a long
time, F" he said.
"Who is that lady. papaG" Florrie
asked, looking at the picture as if she
saw itfor the first time.
"Why, Florrie, that was my first
wife," he answered. surprised that she
had noT known it before
WAS she my mamma, tooG"
mo, no." he replied, hastily. ''She
was Sarah Deering."
WANT she any relation to met" the
child said peristently. She was but
eight years old, and the rami6cations
OF kinshIp were yet a mystery to her.
"Of course not" her mother said,
rather sharply. Your papa was
married to her when he was very
young-long before he lived here or
knew me. thought you had heard
this before"
She turned t o her husband. "Madi
son, shall I lay this picture away"
Mr.. Janeway looked at her atten
lively. Was lt zeal for an artistic en-
semble, or was it a lurking jealousy OF
the woman who had come before9
Pack it away, if you like" he said,
turning away. 1T is shabby"
Long after his children and wife
were sleeping Mr.. Janeway sat smok
ing and thinking complacently of he
success He, Madison Janeway, had
began with nothing. and at fifty he had
won the things he had longed for at
twenty. The opening and closing of the
door attracted his attention. He looked
up.
A woman walked across the room
a plain woman, with an honest, ugly
face. and a short, thtcK figure.
who are you3" Mr. Janeway asked,
frowning at her intrusion.
"Don'G you dnow me, Maddy7' she
returned.
He was startled when she called him
Maddy-it was more than twenty
years since he had been called that.
Are you-are you-but you can't be
Sareh." he stammered. ''She has been
dead these many years"
II am Sarah" she answered. you
have changed, Maddy."
"Yes-yes. I'VE are apt to-" he
replied unessily. But you look just
che same" He said this to see if she
would account for her presence.
The living can only 9 the dead "a
they we're in life, d" she returned. You
sold the farm, didn't you9"
Mr.. Jsneway felt as if a reproach
lay in the observation. Yes, I solo
the farm" he said. Il needed the
money to put into other investments. "
81 worked hard on thai place" she
said, crossing her hands-very rough,
worn hands Il worked hard there
those years. 1 tried to save all I could,
M8ddy."
You were a good wife, Sarah" he re
piled, ''snd both of US had had our
burdens, 1 guess"
And it was my money that bought
the farm. You had nothing when
you came counting me, did you, Mad
dy9 And you said that my being
thirty years old and you being just of
age made no difference"
Yes, 1 suppose 1 said that, and I'm
sure / always tried TO be good to you,"
he said in answer TO that unspoken re
proach that seemed to lie behind her
unspoken words. Il tried to treat
you we'll"
The money that came to me Just
before l died from Uncle John must
have been a help / left it and the
farm to you, Maddy." Her dull eyes
seemed to force him to acknowledge
his debt.
Yes yes, Sarah / know that I owe
much to you. Without your help and
money I should have had a much bar
der time getting on my feet. Yet I
think 1 should have succeeded in n
case"
Mr. JaneWay could not forbear IF
ering this tribute to his self esteem
However, 1 gratefully acknowledge
your aid" he added.
You have another wife, now, Mad
dy, and children" she said, but / was
first. / believed in you, and l worked
for you-oh, SO willingly. knew that
you were different from me. I knew
that you had hopes that stupic Sarah
could never understand. l knew that
I was your companion in your work,
out not in your hopes. / knew that
we were growing further apart every
wear that we lived to0eCher knew