The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-14
MAID MATTE.


s@Q@c0g@s9!@I I0g@c9S0J0G@S@
became source Of irritation to the
delicate old maid who had not the key
to ~, and poor Miss Priscila's office
OF mediator was not always a sinecure.
But they seldom quarreled outright for
Matte rarely forgot that Miss Miriam
had been kept in the dark" and, be-
sides, she had a tactful way with her.
scenes like the following were Of fire.
quent occurrence. however.
Mattie's bright face would look
around the sitting room door OF a morn
ing. "Oh, Miss Miriam. If you're not
too busy would you mind plucking a
few young peas? | must finish the
washing, but j would like 10 take them
TO the market today. They're scarce" +"
Miss Miriam would continue TO nibble
the end of her quill pen rehectively.
lShe Is seated at her desk: it is Miss
Miriam's belief that she has the poetic
gift. and her time is much occupied i'm
it's exercse).
It's such a lovely morning" saws
Matte. persuasively.
Dear. dear! IL you only knew what
e means To be disturbed at such mo-
ments. But sou have no tact. no con-
sideration; you will never learn, Mat
tie!l cries the lady, pettishly.
I'm so sorry ma'am. but the peas
VIII SO soon be past their best, and"
- iiils=fnsss,T indeed. lAHa=what or my
Ideas? II l do not pluck them when
they are ripe, they wither also"
But think Of the price they'll fetchi'
cries the mad, her mind upon the
peas.
THE price! Thank goodness. | have
never put my gift TO base uses-and
never VIII Matte. IL grieves me 10
axfnI H.
not think i can Ibssibly afford time
Tor the peas this morning"
Dear Miss Miriam. not II i tell you
| want the money to buy a chicken
for Miss Priscilla? She enjoyed the last
so much. assure you. it's not for my
self this time"
That alters the case entirely. Ger
tainly, certainly. we must get chicken
Tor Priscilla Then the good lady sets
her cap straight and takes her way
contentedly TO the sunny garden.
lt was during the first winter-a Sc
we're one, as luck would have it--that
Matte had her hardest struggle To
keep the wolf from the door. She had
not yet started the little poultry farm
which yielded her a roierable income
later on. The garden was empty. save
FOR The small household supply OF win
ter potatoes. FRUITS. flowers and vege-
tables were no longer avails BILE and the
sailings and catches OF the fishing feet
were most irregular. In spite OF the
girls efforts 10 earn enough by her
needle. the pinch OF want was felt i'm
the little home. IL was Miss Priscills's
painful anxiety on account of her sister
and Matte that rousei the latter to her
utmost endeavor. She bethought her Of
aplan and straightway entered into a
compact with a cousin OF hers young
rfsherman, Who had shown himself Very
friendly toward her of late. He was 10
lend her his cobbe OF a night to go "a
fishing in the firth on her own account,
and he would have a percentage on her
winnings. She made the stipulations
that he was not TO speak OF the trans
action TO anyone. and that he would
row the boat To the water gate of her
garden when she wanted IL.
The plan worked well. and Matte
spent a long hour on the cold. dark wa
ters after her old ladies were safely
disposed of for the night.
Meanwhile. il had dawned upon the
heavy burt calculating brain of Peter
Small. Matties cousin. that the girl
would make a desirable wife: she was
so active and so well-gathered, If re-
port spoke truly.
Peter was not an ill-favorei fellow,
and Matte, being one OF those who are
keenly sensitive ITO kindness. felt most
kindly disposed toward him. She was
so free from self-1nterest herself that
1t was the last thing she suspected in
others.
Before long Peter spoke of marriage.
The girl received his proposal encour-
agingly. but told him she was not free
to marry so long as the old ladies lived.
The young mans amazement was fol-
lowed by something like contempt. Still
he did not believe that this was any
thing more than a whim
AS the weeks passed, however, and
his persuasions were of no avail to
move Matte rom her resolve. he be-
came very angry in secret. He did not
quarrel with her outright because of
his exaggerated notion of her monetary
value.
He cudgeled his brains for some way
OF bringing her to reason. as he
phrased IT, and at last he hit upon "A
scheme II was one only likely to oc-
cur to selfish and unscrupulous man.
but that was OF no consequence TO Pc
ter.
One night. on the plea OF helping Mat
tie with the lines. Peter stepped aboard
the oobble and rowed her out To her
fishing ground. Anchoring the boat Sc
curely, he seated himself on a thwart
within reach of the painter.
Matte had tried TO dissaude him
from accompanying her. and she was
surprised he should ignore her wish.
Still. sne was not altogether displeased
TO have his company.
Ii was one OF those nights I'm which
the dim starlight seems to intensity
the darkness Of land and sea. The heav-
ing waves moaned sullenly as the wind
from the east swept across them in
stHiging gusts.
But for Peters companionship. Mat
tie would have felt the solitude "eerie."
Yet they had little TO say 10 each other.
They worked with a viii Fish were
plentiful, and i'm a couple OF hours they
had caught as many as Matte wanted
We'll be weighing anchor. now" she
said
Not quite yet. lass" quoth Peter is
drytone. II came out here tonight
meaning TO get your promise 10 marry
me fortnight from now. and Wen up
up anchor only when you've given It."
"You'll row me ashore at once. Peter,
or I'm never forgive YOU" cried Mat
tie, amazed and indignant.
"I'ii row you ashore as soon as you
give me yoIr WOrd-nOt till then" said