The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-08-17
THE OLD HOME.

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dropped over her knitting. Presently
she got mp and poked the fire, keeping
fast hold of the big black cat that lay
purring in her lap, then resumed her
work, which she did mechanically, not
requiring much light save when she
dropped a stitch.
Say, Marthy, you never felt quite
right about my building a new house,
did you, now? You might as well own
it, because there's no need Of misunder-
standings at our time of life. You're
sot ON living here as long as you live
anywhere. "
John, what made you build new
house anyway? Wasn't this one large
enough for us two? You amt thinking
of getting married again, are youG''
"What put that idea into your head,
MarthyP'
I don't know anything about that,
but the idea came near two months
ago, and it has come to stay, seems,
though, for l can't get rid of it. -
well, now," said John Mills, set
ting himself down more firmly into
his chair, ''I'll tell you jest how 1t is.
You'll allow that I've been widower
good respectable length of time.
Fourteen years ago Sally went away
and left me. I'd set good deal of store
by Sally, and she was one Of the best
wives to me for ten years. But ain I
so very old, Marthy-only 52
Well, 60 ON, John, for mercy's sake.
You needn't stop to tell me your age;
knew it before you did. She must be a
proud crittur If this house amt good
enough for her. was looking at it this
afternoon, as came along up the road
from Maria Saunders and thinking how
kind of picturesque 1t was, with the
setting sun shining on the big Chin
neys and long, slanting roof all covered
with woodbine. And then the old trees
in the orchard, all red with fruit, and
the nice, ample barn and the oornfeld
behind. | tell you, it's enough sight
prettier than your place across the road,
with the house SO straight and stately.
You haven't got a brick oven, either.
just think of this oven, of the bread it
has baked and the rye and injun pud-
dings, not to mention the beans and the
turkeys and ducks and chickens. y
who's taking up the time now,
Marthyf"
That's SO, John. won't say any
more.
well, it's Maria Saunders. You al
ways liked her, didn't your
'For the lands sakel don't know
why didn't think Of her. She's been
uncommon obliging to me lately, CIV
ing me some Of her best eggs to make
custards with, cause the whites whip
up so crisp and frothy. Yes, 1 suppose
liked her well enough; it might have
been worse. Her heart smote her the
next moment. The last clause did not
sound kind, and it had slipped out with
out deliberate intention on her part.
But her brother was not sensitive per-
son.
He had, moreover, expected something
of direct opposition to his plans, and
this extremely mild protest slid off the
surface of his mental consciousness
without stirring fiber. Martha Mills
was four years Older than her brother.
She had lived with him since the dark
winter day when the meek, quiet figure
that had moved about the house, an
angel of good will and good works, had
been laid in the village churohyard.
The SHOWS of God fell softly all that
night, and next morning no one could
have found her resting place.
Martha had fondly hoped that her
brother would not marry again, but,
having by nature philosophical spirit,
she accepted the inevitable with sereni-
ty and a reverent optimism If she had
read her Browning, she would most
likely have taken for her chief motto:
Gods in his heaven
Ais right with the world.
"Marthy, said John Mills one even
ing, 81 always wondered you never
married Milo Searle / thought one
spell you was engaged to him sure +"
ITO tell the truth, John. was al
most, but somehow You kind o. picked
on him and made sport of him. So
began to think perhaps he wasn't worth
having after all. :"
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your own. Why, bless your heart, l
never meant anything, only just to
plague you little. He was about the
likeliest fellow in town. They say he's
made quite pile of money out west
and is coming back to spend his days
here. You didn't know it, did you,
Marthy?
Eyes, said Martha, with little ire
NOR in her voice. Maria Saunders told
me yesterday. He's going to marry
Nancy Neal"
What, that weakened old maid? /
don't believe any such thing"
II guess it's SO, /" answered Martha In
a resigned tone. Nancy told her her
self. "
giving time, but the second week IN
December found the brother and sister
in their new abode and very nearly
''settled, !" for Martha had worked night
and day to get everything in order so
that her brother and Maria Saunders
could be married on Christmas day at
noon. She was to live with the couple.
Maria insisted upon it. She liked Mar
tina and knew she could have pretty
much her own way without any trouble.
The day before Christmas was mild
and sunny. Martha had made up her
mind to have one good visit all by her
self in the old house. The sitting room
had not been touched. 1t was the only
room that looked like home. After din
ner she went in, made good fire in the
large, old fireplace and seated herself
with her knitting. How pleasant and
cozy it seemed and how she dreaded
more and more to leave 1t. II don't see
how my mind is ever going to fit into
those large high rooms so that it will
work clear as it has done here. l shall
be all confused and fioundered, know
shall, and they'd say I'm cranky and
disappointed about Johns getting mar
ried again.
How quantity the blue spiral flames
curled and danced in and out Of the
logs, making fantastic figures on the
oak beams that formed the ceiling
"I'm afraid I shall never get used to
stoves, but I'll try hard" she added,
with emphasis, starting up as the door
opened. A tall, rather stout man
walked in.
"You did not hear my knock, fancy,
Miss Mills. -
"No, heard no knock. Ny room and
Iwere visiting together, and was busy
thinking
Eyes, know; you are not to live
here any more, understand-but don't
you know me. Mar thar