The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-28

be In it-well. perhaps Dy lnankssNinR'
Martha made no reply. Her head
sronned over her knitting. Presently sne
rot up ana poked the fire. keeping fast
hold of the big black cat that lay purring
in her lap; then resumed her work, which
abe did mechanically, not requiring much
light, save when she dropped stitch.
'say, Marthy You never lei, ssa dui,.e d,S
YOU, nowf You might as we'll own It, be-
cause there's no need of misunderstand-
ings at our time Of life. You're sot on
living here, as long as you live anywhere
''John, what made you build now
house. anyway Wasn't this ono large
enough for us twoP You amt thinking
of getting married again, are yey'
''what put that idea into your head,
Marthyy'
II don't know anything about that. but
tho idea came near two months ago, ana
it has come TO stay, seems though, lor
can't get rid of It, T"
NssWelI. now. (" said John Mills settling
himself down more firmly into his chair
"I'll tell you Jest how it Is. Iou'l allow
that I've been widower good respecta-
bic len xth of time. Fourteen years ago
sally went away and left me. i set a
good deal of store by Sally, and and she
was one of the best wives Co me for ten
years But amt 50 very old, Marthy-
only 81. T"
"Well, 20 on. John, for mercy's sake:
you needn't stop TO tell mo your age,
knew 10 before you did. She must he
proud crittur II this house amt good
enough for her. was looking at it this
afternoon, as l came along up the road
from Maria Saunders and thinking how
kind o. picturesque II was. with the set
ting sun shining on the big chimneys,
ana long slanting roof all covered with
woodbine And then the old trees In the
orchard, all red with fruit, and the nice
.,.1 q fhn "A Il
tell YOU, it's enough sight pretter than
your place across the road, with the house
so straight and stately. You haven't got
n brick oven, either. Just think OF
this oven, OF the bread 10 has baked, ana
the rye and ipjun puddings, Dot tn men
tion the beans and the turkeys and ducks
and chickens"
'"who's taking up the time now. Mar
tbys"
"Tbat's so, John; won't say any
more.
"'welI. it's Maria Saunders-you always
liked her. didn't your
"For the lands sake / don't know
why didn't think of her. She's been un-
common obliging TO me lately. giving me
some Of her best eggs to make custards
with, cause the whites whip up so crisp
and frothy. Yes, / suppose i liked her
we'll enough; 1t might have been worse.
Her heart smote her the next moment;
the last clause did not sound kind, ana
10 had slipped out without deliberate In
teption on her part But her brother
Was not sensitive person.
He had, however, expected sopetbing
direct opposition to his plans, and this
extremely mild protest slid OIL the sur
face OF his mental consciousness without
stirring fibre. Martha Mills was four
wears 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 churchyard. The SHOWS of
God fell softly all that night and next
morning no one could have found her
Sesting place.
Martha had fondly hoped that her
3rother would not marry again. but hav-
ing by nature philosophical spirit she
accepted the Inevitable with serenity and
reverent optimism. If she bad read her
Browning she would most likely have
taken for her chief motto:
God s In His Heaven,
Ais righu with the world.
"Marthy." said John Mills, one even
Ing II always wondered you nevor mnr-
ried Milo Senrle. / thought one spell you
was engaged to him, sure "
ITO tell the truth John, l was, almost
but somehow, you kind o. picked on him
and made sport of him, so / bogah 10
think he wasn't worth having after nll. -
You'd ought to have had mind Of
your own: why, bless your heart, ! never
meant anything, only just To plague you
little. He WAS about the likel!est follow
In town. They say he's made pile OF
money out West and is coming back To
spend his days here. You didn't know
II, did you. Martl.yg"
"Yes said Martha, with little
tre,ror III her voice Maria Saunders =
told me yesterday. He's going to marry
Nancy Neal.
.'What. that weazoned old maid?
don't believe any such thing.
~ guess It's so, )" answered Martha. in
yned tone; Nancy told her her
self.
Ill house was not finished at Thanks
giving time, but the second weak in De-
comher found the brother ara ster In
their new abode and very nearly set
tiod. " for Martha had worked night and
day 10 get everything in order, SO that her
brother and Maria Saunders could be
married on Christmas day at noon. She
was 20 live with the couple. Maria IN
sisted upon IL. She liked Martha aud
knew she could have pretty much her own
wWv without any trouble
The day before Christmas was mild and
sunny Martha had made up her mind
10 have one good visit all by Eerself III the
old house The sitting room had net Leon
tcuci,cd: IL was the only room tl at looked
III At DDiEc. AlNtT rtt NtNt III,
mnde n good fire In the large, old lre-
place, and seated herself with her knit
ting. How pleasant anu cnscy IL seemed,
anu how she dreaded more ana more 90
leave it. II don't sec now my mind is
ever going TO fit into tboso large high
rooms so thnt it will work clear as IL has
done here. / shall be all confused ana
floundored l know shall and thov'l
say I'm cranky and disappointed about
Johns getting married again.
How quantity the blue spiral flames
curied 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 got used to stoves
but III try hard " sho added. with en-
phasis starting up as tho door opened. A
tall. rather stout man walked in
"Yon did not hear my knock. l fancy.
Miss Mills"
mo. heard no knock; my room and
wore visiting together, and l was busy
thinking"
"Yes. ] know; you are not 10 live hero
any more, / understand-but don't you
know me. MartbaP
You are Milo Searles heard You
corpin0 hack AZ