The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-11-26
Selnt Misrellan}J.
THE OLD HOME.

"You'vc got your new house most
done, haven't you, john" asked Mar
tha Mills to her brother rs they sat to-
gethcr in the twilight.
"Ycs, Marthy, | guess we shall be
in it-well, perhaps by Thanksgiving"
Martha made no reply. Her head
dropped over her knitting. Presently
she got up and pokod the fire, keeping
fast hold of the big black cat that lay
purring in her Jap, then resumed her
work. which she did mechanically, not
requiring much light save when she
dropped Il stitch:
Say, Marthy, You never felt quite
right about my building Il new house,
did YOU. now? You mi ght as we'll own
it, because there's no need of miSunder
standings at our time of life. You're
sot on living here as long a you live
anywhere
"John, what made you build new
house anyway? Wasn't this one large
enough for us two? You ain t thinking
of getting married again, are You"
"What put that idea into your head,
Marthy?"
Il don't know anything about that
| but the idea came near two months
ago, and it has come to stay, seems,
though, for | can't get rid Of it.
"Well, now," said john Mills, set
tling himself down more firmly into
his chair, Ill tell you just how it is.
| You II 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 ]
amt so very old, Marthy-only -"
"Well. 90 on, John, for mercy sake.
You needn't stop to tell me your age;
| knew it before YOU did. She must
be Il proud crittur if this house ain t
good enough for her. was looking
at it this afternoon, rs came along up
the road from Maria Saunders and
thinking how kind Of picturesque it
was, with the ting sun shining on
the big chmnryS and lony. slantin1
roof all covered with wn,lhinc And
then the old trees in he orchard. al
red with fruit, and the nic.', ample barn
and the corntield behind. I'll tell YOU
its enough sight prcttirr than vonl
place across the road. with the houSl
so strai yht and stately. You haven II
got brick oven. either Just thinl
of this oven, of the bread it has bake,
and the rye and injun puddings, not t'
mention the beans and the turkeys an'
ducks and chickens"
"Who'S takin" up the tim now
Marthy?"
cha; : -. John. won't say An,
more"
"Well, its Maria Saunders. Inr
always liked her. didn't yon!
"For the lands sake. | don't know
why didn't think of her. Shes hrrl
uncommon obli1ing To me lately. civ
ing me some of her best cggS to ma,
cuStardS with. cause the whites viii
up 50 crisp and lrothy. Yes, | SUI
pose liked her well enough: it migh
have been worse" Her heart smot
her the next moment. The last claus
did not sound kind, and it had Slippc
ont without deliberate intention o
her part. But her brother was not
sensitive person
He had, moreover, expected some
thing of direct opposition to his plans
and this extremely mild protest slit
off the surface of his mental ronscio,l,
ness without stirrin" n fibre. Marth
Mills was four wears older than he
brother She had lived with him sine
the dark winter day when TIE mech