The Meeker herald., 1897-08-21

wind ever stop moaning through the
trees! Dear me. what crazy looking
old clock! Why don't you change 1t
on for something modern? Tea? No,
l don't care for tea. I'd a deal rather
have glass OF beer Beer always sets
me up when l feel faint. Or p'raps you
might put just drop of gin or spirits
in the tea?"
Mrs. Merrydew grew sick at heart
she leaned up against the wall and
closed her eyes.
is this my only sons wife," she
asked herself This coarse. untidy,
half-educated creature? oh. what have
done to be punished like this? Sans
wife! In all the pictures of her that
1 painted to myself there was never
one like this. No. never!"
And the picture of her boys blighted
life, her own desolate future rose
darkly up before her minds eye with
sickening distinctness.
Il cant be resigned to thls!" she
uttered aloud.
Sans wife eyed her with lazy in
difference mingled with rising dislike
and prejudice.
"Humph!' said she. ~ don't see how
you're going to help yourself mother
in-law. What's done can't be undone
Sans sick of his bargain, and you're
sick of yourn, but ! amt tired of
minet' with sinister chuckle. 1T
may be dull and stupid here. but it's
peg higher up than waiting in a tif-
teen-centN restaurant, anyhow
"Where's> Sam" Mrs. Merrydew
asked abruptly.
Amt he hece?" said the young wife.
opening her chjna-blue eyes. Why,
he came yesterday"
Sam"
"Yes. Sam. Sampson Farley Parkins.
Esquire" with an insolence which was
heightened by a defiant toss of the
head, ''if YOU want the full name and
all particulars, old lady!"
There's some mistake" said Mrs.
Merrydew, with sudden sensation of
grateful relief at her heart My sons
name is not Sampson Farley Parkins.
although believe there is young man
of that name living al the grist mill,
four miles up the road. My son is
called Samuel ATerrydew"
Good gracious!" cried the bride,
starting to her feet in scrambIing,
terrified sort Of way. and making a
vague clutch at the shabby bonnet.
Then I've made mistake and come
to the wrong place. They told me it
was red house, back of four big will
lows!"
Yes" said Mrs Merrydew, cit is a
red house behind four large willow
trees, but there" (with conscious pride)
'.the likeness ends. Parkins' Mill
House is not by any means such
place as this!'
AT the same moment an open wagon,
well besplashed with liquid mud, clat-
tered up to the door. and shrill voice
was heard crying out:
"Evenin. Mis- Merrydew! Seen any
thing of a young oman in blue gown
and red shawl. hereabouts? I've some
how missed my wife at the depot, and
- ssi1r.--ssere she is now! How on
earth come you here, Louisa Jeannetta?
You might ha' knew I'd a-come ar,er
you. If you could ha' waited a spei.*
And Mr. Sampson Farley Parkins a
-long-linbed Yankee, in a blue checked
shirt ald a suit of pepper-and- salt
cloth, Helped his wife into the vacant
seat of the muddy wagon and ratified
away. lsaving Mrs. Merrydew standing
staring on the door step
Il an resigned now!" said that ma
tron aloud. apparently addressing her.
self to the crows and the crckets.
Good and O. liberty, it was Just ex-
actly lite bad dream!"
But Nrs. Merrydew had hardly r..
turned TO the cozy sitting room again,
when a second sound of wheels broke |
upon tie fragrant stiffness of the Oc- /,
tober e5ening. the door was flung open
and cheerful voice exclaimed;
"Hov dye do, mother dear? Here's |
my wife! Give her kiss, for she is
prepared to love you dearly"
And a sweet, child-like young face I
framed in by smooth bands of shining
hair, vas lifted to hers. while n soft |
voice whispered;
DER mother, do try and like me a I
little. for Sans salio."
my dear" said the old woman, wish |
tears n her eyes, do you think you
can get along in this old-fashioned |
place With only me for companion"
And Sans wife answered: "Oh, |
mothe' 1t is so beautiful and quaint |
and qtiet here, and during all those
years hat taught in the city. have
so longed for home-a real home, like /
this!"
Hit,y Johnson looked in the next
morning, "just for minute" again. as
she trudged by.
Feel any more resigned. Mrs. Mer- |
rydew?" she asked. in voice of care
fully stunned sympathy. "Of course. |
it's irefful trial. but"
Mrs Merrydew smiled broadly.
Resigned" said she. Il never was
SO resigned in my life, Lily is a gem
of th' purest water. Sam is the luck
lest elbow in the world, and well. |
l couldn't have suited myself better il
I'd bpked all creation over for a