Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-06-30

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The room grew dim as the flame died
down. Miss Maria arose with sigh
and went out into the kitchen to pre-
pare her supper.
Meanwhile, at her tea table, Mrs
Antrim was giving her husband an ac-
count of her call. ITS so provoking.
Those candlesticks are just lost in her
mean little house. And they would
make that room perfect. 1 have never
seen any candlesticlks to compare with
them. They used to say that old Mrs.
Henshaw's grandmother brought them
over in the Maytiower.
"Wel, her grandmother did live in
Plymouth. The family was always
very proud of them. I should think
Maria would be glad to sell them now
that she is so poor. But she always
was queer"
81 wonder if that nephew of hers is
out Of the penitentiary, yet" said Mr..
Antrim.
"IIe was sentenced to three years.
Poor Maria, she has had a hard life;
that boy that she had brought up from
baby turned out so badly, and then
losing nearly all of her property! She
can't have more than couple of hun
dred dollars a year left. l don't see
how she lives! wonder how she man
ages!"
Frequently that winter did Miss
Maria wonder about the same thing.
Times were hard, and she found it
difficult to procure the sewing with
which for several years she had eked
out her slender income. Often, as her
glance fell on the candlesticks, did the
temptation to accept Mrs. Antrim's
offer assail her. But she would set
her lips firmly, and thinll, mo, never"
One evening in March she had just
cleared away her supper table and was
resting before her sitting-room fire. 1t
was later than her usual hour for that
meal, fer she had been finishing some
sewing, the first she had had in several
weeks.
A faint and hesitating knock came to
the door. Miss Maria arose and opened
it. 1t was dark and rainy. She could
see no one.
"Who is there?" she asked, sharply.
A figure moved into the light stream
ing from the door. Miss Maria repeat
ed her question.
ITS me-Aunt Maria," said a husky
voice, and the figure came nearer. Miss
Maria retreated a step.
You. Martin! What do you want?"
she demanded, sternly.
I've no place 10 go. 1 just got out
last week, and I've been tramping ever
since"
"And you dare come here?"
Pm tired out-Tm hungry"
And you come to me! You have the
assurance TO come TO mel" Miss
Maria's voice grew harder with each
word that she uttered.
Just let me stay tonight, Aunt
Maria, /"
Don't call me that" she interrupted,
fiercely.
you are nothing to me, go!"
Let me stay tonight, justto-night!
I'm hungry, and it's so wet!"
"Go!" repeated Miss Maria, roughly,
closing the door. A sudden and violent
gust of wind dashed up against it. She
opened il again. The figure was moving
away.
Martini" she called. you may stay
tonight Come in," moving back from
the door that he might enter.
He was youth of some 20 years, thin,
haggard, his hair unkept, and his
clothes disordered and weather worn.
He took off his battered old hat, and
stood trembling before Miss Maria's
awful gaze.
You're a fine sight" she said, slow
ly and contemptuously, as her eyes
scanned him from head TO foot.
The water was dripping off from his
wet clothes and formed little pools on
her spotless floor. She stood few
moments regarding the wretched fig
ure, then moved quickly over to the
| fire.
"Sit down and dry yourself" she
commanded, pushing a chair in front
Of the flame.
The young fellow obeyed, shivering
lie bent over the blazing logs while
Miss Maria went out into the kitchen.
She stirred up the fire in the stove.
1t was almost out, but revived sufti-
GENTLY to heat some tea left from sup
per. She poured out cup and carried
it to her unexpected and most unwel-
come guest.
Drink i'll" she said, curly. He
drank it eagerly, and second cup
which Miss Maria brought him with
some slices of bread and butter.
"Now," she said, when he could eat
no more, you can stay here tonight.
Then what?" She was sitting opposite
him, stern and unbending.
The food and warmth had given him
courage, and he met her glance without
snruKng. Ills expression was not bad,
only weak.
''The warden was always good to me,
and when 1 was coming away he gave
me letter TO his brother in New York
that he said would help me TO get work,
and TO make new start"
He took letter from his breast peck
ct and handed it to his aunt.
Miss Maria's face relaxed a little
after reading it, and her voice was
degree less frigid, as she said: "And
you are going to New York;"
81 started trying to earn enough
money to take me there, but I've
tramped and tramped, and could only
find a few odd jobs here and there. |
didn't intend to come through the town
here at ALL did not want to meet any
one that knew me. l stayed all day
in that old cottage on the Ferris place
1 intended TO skirt alC&g by the river
road as soon as it was dark, but it
*ained so hard and haven't had any
thing to eat since yesterday morning
so came here"
There was a silence, broken only by