The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-02-11

"a very odd woman"
"Not at all; Jane is sensible crea-
ture. Why doesn't she like me?"
she doesn't object to you personal
w."
"Then she dislilles me theoretically"
IF you mean it's-it's because she
didn't know you before we were mar
ried, and because she doesn't know
your maiden name--may be you're
right"
Would that weigh with woman
like Jane?"
BLESS you, yes. Why we've lived here
nearly a hundred years, and we've al
ways married decent wenches, all OF
EN- well known III these parts, and
suppose she thinks"
Il suppose she thinks you've not mar
ried decent wench?
"Why, lass, they've only got to look
at you to see you're something better
than the others. No disrespect to
| them"
Joseph, have you ever-any-doubt
--yourself?"
me? No, no; never" and he left
the churn and went towards her.
go back!" she cried, warningly; and
he obeyed.
Joseph, when you first met met
is not so very long ago, only few
weeks-I was poor, friendless and
homeless"
He nodded.
Il had always imagined that men be-
haved well to lonely, helpless women. l
was wrong, Joseph. You are a man
apart-a superior being"
Joseph blushed with pride and pleas
ure.
"In fact, you are real, true man.
Now, you know life--at least you
know something of the woodland as
you chose to behave in an extraordi-
nary Quixotic way"
did II"
sand marry me. Tell mellow do
you find me after ten weeks acquaint-
ance?"
Perfect. You are good, hard
working woman. You learn more in a
day than the lasses about here could
learn in six months. You manage well.
You don't chatter, you don't rove, you
don't fool, and-you love me-"
She bent over and kissed him again.
II believe l do. Now will tell you
how l came to be in destitute con-
dition at the station that night"
at doesn't matter if you'd rather
not"
81 will not, if you stop churning."
He went on turning. She wiped care
fully into the intricacies of the compli-
Gated cow-head pattern.
II didn't like my life. 1t was diff
ferent to this-very different; and !
didn't like what the future had in store
for me. 1t would have been all gayety,
all uselessness. had schemes by which
10 benefit mankind, and | thought I'd
begin with women. left my home
my people would only miss me from
one point of view; they would not
grieve for me. wanted very much to
do some really good work, but miscal-
culated everything; my strength, my
knowledge, my money. 1t was all a
miserable failure. l still want to work,
but want to do it to please myself
and my surroundings. Mankind goes
right out of my calculations hereafter;
what l saw of 1t hurt me, robbed me,
insulted me and landed me in the stu
alton from which you extracted me.
DC you, can you, understand"
"No, no; / don't understand, but !
believe you. Do surroundings mean
me-this house-this life? Can you
put up with it?"
"Oh, yes!" she whispered, leaning her
check against his. Il want peace. /
want to be taken care of. l wasn't
made 70 regenerate mankind, or revolu-
tionize the world. 1t didn't take me
long to find that out. It's only 10 weeks
to-day since left my home"
SIN afraid I'm interrupting, said
a loud voice, and a large woman
bounced in. "Heslop, I want to talk
to you about the calves"
"Wife, this is Mrs. Norton-our near
est neighbor."
The girl bowed and came forward.
The woman did not look at her, but
rushed immediately into prices. She
was evidently in an uncomfortable
frame of mind, and, though she point
eddy excluded Heslop's wife from the
conversation, she was not satisfied with
her performance. She presently went
off with Heslop to inspect something
in another part of the farm.
This must not go on. Joseph is un'
comfortable. l must manage to clear
up matters soon. Ireally wish it wasn't
necessary. shan't be half so happy,
and she begant to sing.
Jane came in for some milk.
"You don't seem to mind, ma'am."
Jane couldn't for the life of her help
calling her "ma'am," and that made her
hate her.
l. "Mind what, Jane?"
"Why, that Mrs. Norton won't speak
to you"
"Oh! but I do mind, because-be
cause of Joseph"
do you mean to say you care fol