Middletown transcript., 1897-05-15

LIZ H0ooo BOOd sOhS ACo0s Satu ~
myself, Mary Anus widow, and Pm
a widow, and We can both Of US live
together. Pm going 60 set her down
to three square meals day. II l don't
she'll go broodin9 around in her gar
den all day long among roots and
things, and In all kinds of sloppy
weather, and she'll think scorcheG-
up herring and emp of cold tea good
enough FOR her. hope you're listen
ing to every word | say, Mary AMI"
''I'mnot going back Sabilla, . came
weakly FROM the upper window.
swell, then, II stay here Till you do.
I guess I'm as smart at holding out as
you. You needn't be afraid I'll break
your door in. The front steps are good
enough for me. I'll just set here and
stare at them lilac bushes"
She sat down perspiring and conf
dent. A small and half scared face
appeared an instant overhead, then
disappeared. Presently the small body
to which it belonged tiptoed across the
empty chamber and downstairs into
the empty kitchen. The door was
sorfly opened, there was a furry Of
skirts, and the old woman was hurry
ing along the path that led down to
her back gate and the meadows beyond.
Once in the fields she began running,
little futtering figure, all gray and
childlike out in the warm spring sun.
At last she stopped, pauting, She
could see one chimney Of her house
through the tall stemmed trees; mass
of swaying. white further down pro-
claimed her lilac bushes, She went on
again, her breath coming in gasps.
Past the meadows and beyond the lare
that lay, winding strip of red-col-
ored earth just in sight, the church
steeple thrust up out Of the April
boughs.
Once more Mrs. Holt looked back.
She had .left,the houses behind her now;
stretch Of solitary land lay before.
She reached the fence that divided it
from Church Lane. The graves drew
closer and closer. Soon she was
among them and at tie church door.
It was half open; she made a. sudden
plunge into the dim, cool, darkraftered
place and sank down upon one Of the
cushioned seats. This was sanctuary,
indeed. Outside lay Josiah in his last
slumber. The recollection of this
made her feel safer still. God and the
dead would take care of her. She set
tied herself more comfortably in the
dusk, aud leaned her head against the
carved back of the pew. She seemed
to be in an upper chamber, barred
away from the fret and noise of the
the outer life, The shadows and fur.
n1ture began melt together and and fade fade
away; she sighed once or twice; her
lids dropped; she was fast asleep. It
was was long past noon which she
woke. The windows were blazing
scarlet and gold. She sat there In
world of light. Down the luminous
aisle sounded a cautious foot. Old
Mr.. Barton was coming toward her.
"She's gone. Mis- Holt," he whis-
pered.
She stared at him, the sleep not yet
out of her eyes.
"Was she real madP" she whispered
back to him.
He nodded.
Mrs. Holt rose up and moved for
ward. Bareheaded, quiyering little,
her hair falling loosened and gray
about her shoulders, she stood before
him.
''I-I wasn't afraid of her,n she
said, in the same tone; "I-I was
afraid of myself.''
He waited until they both got out of
church, and then broke forth, garru.
lously:
ST saw Mis- Trench coming this
morning, and / saw you leave the
house; and watched, and you come
here. Mis- Trench sat and sat, and at
last she saw me round there, and she
told me to tell you she was too proud
to burst In your door, tho she felt's If
she ought, and carry you of anyhow;
and she was going home, and she
guessed she'd never come back any
more.n
tShe didn't-she didn't cut down
them lilac bushes, did sheP" quaked
Mrs. Holt. He shook his head. "Sa-
billa'll keep her word,n said she.
tWell, III have to do all the visiting. y
A few feet away a mass of dogtooth |
violets was blossoming. A light leap
ed up in her eyes. She pointed to-
ward them. "Just lookl' slfe said, al |
most reverently.
nThey are pretty,n said Mr.. Barton,
Liza used to think good deal of
them Too. She's been gone a year,
tt And Insiahis been gone last six
months..'
The two old. people gazed at each |
other with sudden sense Of Ikindship. |
I'VE won't be long after them,''
said he: .sand think folks might let
us live in peace. I'm glad Mis- Trench
is going to leave you alone. She says
she'll send you every stick Of your fur
niture tomorrow
They went away together the two
children. The wind was making a
certain soft but distinct sonnd all |
about them. Somewhere, perhaps IN
heaven, thrush was singing. The
Independent. -
Ny Neighbor told Ne
About Hood SarsaparilIa and advised nae
to try it-This is the kind of advertising /
AL