The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-11
Corson & Mccartney,

who ye ben pastin' up, now?'' who has
been Citing stuck up today, 'ZekielE'
| and so on. Some with smiling interest.
others with simple curiosity. Even the
reticent spinster. Martha Ann Chisby.
had been known 10 ask this question Of
him when they had met unexpectedly up
on the village street.
| So on this sizzling July morning the
| Elder Jones had, not without solemn,
serious fOrethOught. you may be sure.
labOriOusly pasted up two new names
| with difficulty, too. as the gum
showed tendency 10 run. in the stit-
ling heat. 1t was accomplished at last
however. and Ezekiel Jones had stood
| back silently. TO contemplate his work.
IL was at that same moment that Mar
that Ann Chisby had stood gazing at
her reflection in the mirror. in her
Z darkened halfway.
A few stars still struggled 10 be seen
! through the dense, black cloud drifts pill
ing up in the heavens. and heat lightning
/ had been playing across the bank Of
/ threatening darkness in the west fOT
! nearly an hour. when Elder Jones could
be seen by the neighbors cautiously max
/ ing his way in his rakish old buggy. up
. the rough grass-grOwn road 20 Hill Top.
I Martha Ann. sitting again, but this time
/ in complete idleness. upon her doorstep.
| saw him. too. and intense wonder grew
. came 70 q standstiU and his master.
| after fastening the short rein 70 the
Z gatepOst turned deliberately and came
! up her garden path between the rows OF
; tall holyhocks, did Martha Ann over
/ come her Amusement ard rise hastily TO
/ her feet
The last star was hidden in blackness
and they could not see each other very
plainly now. though they stood awkward
! ~ within a few feet Of one another The
man was only conscious that there was
Z the woman his heart had hunScred for
/ through long. bitter years while the wO-
I man burned with the guilty knowledge
I that for the first time she stood rObed in
/ the very gown she had worn when they
/ two parted, Dressing herself in IL mad
/ been the natural outcome Of that day Of
/ unnatural emotion and Martha Ann felt
| she was paying dearly for her weakness.
I sudden fare OF Lightning made them
both start. and broke the strain OF the
situation somewhat.
Il 'spOse. so long as I've come. / may
I as well set down q bit suggested EZe-
/ kiel. in a voice. gruf with repressed
I feeling.
Tit looks a little mite threatenin',
/ Elder Jones. p'raps you'd best put your
I horse up and stop I'll the showers over"
/ Martha Ann replied, with a forced cheer
/ funess.
Ezekiel did as she babe him. then they
| the weather. until IL appeared that
/ threadbare subject would soon be ex-
| hausted.
Presently a roll Of thunder doomed
/ about them. a gust 0t wind swept the
porch and a few big drops Of rain fell
/ at their feet. Martha Ann rose quickly.
gathering the voIUmin0us folds Of the
precious dimity muslin. with its faded
rosebuds close about her. and went into
/ the house followed by Ezekiel. his
/ heart humping ike a trip-hdmmeT. For
| he knew his second hour had come. Yet
| dreaded 10 put il 70 the touch, 10 win
/ or lose il all
| The excitement had brought a faint
/ flush 20 Mar AIMS cheeks. and a
/ soft light 20 her eyes that rolled the
| stone of ten years back from her age.
/ and made her. in her faithful lovers
! sight. as beautiful tonight in her quaint
! muslin as in the DAYS that were dead.
| Martha had lighted the center lamp
| with such unsteady hands that Ezekiel
| had found it necessary TO aid her. Their
| fingers had met, and the contact had
| seemingly struck them dumb again, for
/ they now sat in utter silerce-Marthd
| Anne eyes on the gaudy lowered car
| pet. Ezekiels upon her.
| Suddenly a brilliant thought struck
/ the unhappy woman; she felt the need
of breaking the silence at any cost. and
| in his position of Elder II was quite the
| proper question 10 put TO him.
| ''WhOve you been pastin' up now. FL
| der jones' she asked. timidly. clasp
| ing her thin fingers nervously.
| A guilty wave Of red flooded EzekieIs
| round face. then reCeded. leaving him
| very white. He cleared his throat
| twice before essaying to speak.
| ''Wall-Marthy Ann dunno as i
/ oughter done it. butt pasted
| you and me up he said at last. in a
| deep voice
| He cIutched the sharp sides OF his
| chair hard with his powerful hands, and
/ fastened his blue ewes upon her face.
| much as drowning man would upon a
receding boat.
| Martha Ann had risen and now stood
| looking down at him with frightened, in
| dignant eyes.
FzekieTs eyes pleaded with all their
she gasped standing very straight.
EzekieTs eyes plead with all their
| might and main. 'Jes' what I said
Marthy-I kinder thought II would be a
good idee; 1--we waited long while.
Marthy"' he replied desperately.
Once they faced each other. feel
| ing of keen resentment came over Mar
tina Ann for the daring part he had
played. and yet wOman-like. she admir-
| ed him intensely for it, What il was
| that made her say what she did the
next moment. she could never after
| ward explain; the heart Of woman is
shrouded in mystery. even to herself
| Oftcntimes-
well. you kin jes' go and take EN-
| down agin." she said. then, in a low.
angry tone.
| do you mean that. Marthy?' Ezekiel
| asked. slowly. unutterable pain breaking
| through his voice.
| There was silence for a space. only the
| rain beat in great gusts against the win
| dow panss. and the wind sObbed around
| the corners of the house, mingled with the
| muttering of thunder
| Then I'll jes' go an take EN- down
/ as YOU won't have me no way. my little
/ Marthy. I'll go take EN- down agtn. said
/ Ezekiel at last huskily. turning sadly
/ away. the big tears standing in his honest
| eyes.
| He reached the door, his hand was upon
| the knob. when there came a sudden. APP
| palling burst of thunder and the whole
/ room shone with vivid light.
| Ezekiel cried a scared. faint voice.
TIc turned and was by her side in three
i strides. Martha Ann put two trembling.
/ work-hardened hands up to his face, and
/ drew II tenderly down to hers
/ Ezekiel I've been thinkin' that as
/ long as you've got EN- up-and-and
i taken all the trouble. why-weI, you
/ might as we'll leave EN- there" she said,
| softly.