The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-01
nARY ELLEN.


Mary Ellen looked over the tops OF her
glasses as II deliberately summing up the
merits and demerits of her visitor Her
faded, rather pretty face, outlined by
crimped dark hair, gave no sign Of agita-
tion.
"It's been 10 years, hasn't its" she said.
pondering.
Fifteen years." he assented, with
plaintive emphasis.
He was thin man, with a large. bulg-
ing forehead and a face tapering almost To
point at the chin. He pulled at his
scanty brown mustache and looked at her
as II waiting for an answer. His rather
womanly hand was really pitiful in Its
boniness.
"You ought not TO have wasted l5 ycnrs
on me-" she said, with faint, fearful
smile.
He shifted his feet on the floor in pro-
test
Fifteen years is good long time"
she meditated. Seems like It oughtn't
Just to go for nothing"
She took off her glasses and touched the
corners OF her eyes with her handkerchief
"Well. she said meekly, 81 can get on
with most nybody and make myself sat
ished with most anything. II you are so
set on II as all that, reckon this time
Ill have to say yes"
He looked at her for moment ms II
dazed. His face shone as he caught her
hands In his. md his chin trembled
"Mary Elleni' he said.
She looked at him with tho same tear
full smile. "It certainly does sound fun
ny, Mr.. Haskins, TO hear You call me
Mary Ellen without any Miss. It's
mighty hard for settled people like Us TO
change in their ways"
"You have always been Mary Ellen to
me-" he answered rapurously. mo mat
ter what have called you. And now I've
got you, he said, an exultant smile dawn
ing on his face.
Getting married Is mighty risky
thing" she remarked. "But IL we'll learn
20 have patience and do our duty | reok-
on we can manage TO get along together.
"Yes, reckon we can," he said hap
PLY.
"You certainly did hold on," she con-
tinued, with the air of one reviewing a
game at which she had been beaten.
'Yes, and was going to keep on hold
ing on. l hadn't any notion of giving up,
and got you" he replied.
She removed her glasses and elaborately
wiped her eyes. III certainly does seem
strange" she murmured. lit seems TO
me, she continued, with mournful
Ike trees That old sweet gum out yon-
der ain't bit moro rooted TO this place
than am. | never did know how people
could get mp and leave the place where
they we're born and raised, but it's well
every body don't feel like do or there'd be
mighty little marrying done The Todds
amt that way near as much as the Watts
es. get 10 from mas people. It's right
bad 10 be as setin your ways as the Wattses
are. Now Couidn't any more call you
anything but Mir. Haskins than could
fly, unless it came home 10 me that 1t was
Iuy duty TO change don't think per-
sons got any right 10 think Of their own
feelings when duty comes up It's GO
ing to be uphill work with me getting In
10 your ways, bat l hopo l amt SO bent on
pleasing myself as some people And you
certainly do deserve something for the
time you have waited" She looked a:
him with the ar of real martyr
He arose at.d stood irrcsolute for awhile
In silence, his face full Of something akin
to misery ard remorse.
What's your hurryS" she asked.
II reckon IL Is time for me- To go. Good
night, Miss Mary Ellen" no said
$50 you've taken up the miss againy
she said not without shade Of ooqvetry
visible In her quiet face. u wasn't find
ing fault with plain Mary Ellen.
MIR Haskins sat staring into the fire in
bis own room, with an air Of the most pro-
found thought. lie was obviously torn by
conflicting emotions. The next afternoon
saw him waiting upon the porch of Mary
Ellen's home. small frame house, gray
from want Of paint, but pleasant with
grass and trees, Ii wns an old landmark
of Brownsville, Of which quaint Virginia
village the Todd family bad for many gen
erations been respected citizens.
Mary Ellen herself opened the door. II
saw you coming" she said, land l
thought might us well save any body else
the trouble OF coming TO the door, as you
were my company"
He shcok hands with her In an odd
constrained way, md followed her in
without word.
"Its getting TO feel like spring, she
began. I'm sec the crocuses peeping up
In the grass pretty soon, 1 reckon. The
yards full of them
you've got "a mighty nice yard here, "
he said, affecting To glance carelessly from
the window. Il don't wonder you hate
to leave IL. ="
She gave faint sigh.
"You didn't think about leaving here
and breaking up and all that, when you
y
She shook her head with gentle pathos
He sighed deeply, and his brow furrowed.
Getting married is "a mighty risky thing.
he broke out and It's uprooting ! don't
know but what ] was Too strong Ghout
urging IT, IL really Lin't - SCI cn 10
II it comes TO that. | don't know wl,tner
twas fair TO beg you into It, You Just do
what you want TO do, without minding
me in the lenst."
She sat illaly Ia her chair for awhile
In silence "4hings g9e N,fy well Us tA.,y
are" she said coiuly. "l'm not mgkin
any complaint.
"No, but you'd better think 1t over
Miss Mary Ellen. III iUt you OF In n min.
ute. IL don't make biz OF difference
about your promise Don't you thinE
you'd rather stay US you arey
She mCditatud over his words awhile
without speaking. I'm not eouerally
given to breaking my premises" She sand
N