The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-07-27
RISING SUM- CECIL COUNTY, MD. FRIDAY,

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happy was the change from total un-
certainty to even this sum assured.
/ hoped to see her make herself lit
tie more comfortable and treat herself
to a new gown. But when l sailed she
came to see me off in the same over
brushed little outfit Of rusty black that
she had worn the day first saw her.
A number of people visited me at the
dock that day, and it has been a bitter
ly intruding thought since that did
not give Miss Fanny all the attention
that God knows was in my heart for
her, and 1t does not soften that ref1ec-
ton, but brings the keener pang, to re-
member that she was too much abb
sorbed and delighted by my momen-
tary social Importance to have any
thought of herself.
She went about giving my acquaint-
ances disjointed bits of my history,
personal and ancestral, and telling
them, with tears in her eyes, how
brave l was living here in New York,
away from everything I'd been used
to and starting off now all alone on
this voyage, though was naturally of
the most shrinking and feminine dis
position. Dear Miss Fanny!
did very little letter writing during
the eight months l was gone. heard
from Miss Fanny only once, but she
was one of those who had urged that
spend none of my precious time read
ing,or writing letters, so was not sur
prised at her silence.
When l came back, went to the
business woman's boarding house"
the day after landing to look her up.
Amy had just returned from q four
months absence herself-this was in
September-and could give me no news
Of her.
The square was dusty and deserted.
The house as went in seemed pecul-
iarly desolate In its orderly gloom. The
servant was new one. She had never
heard of Mrs. Overman, and an indef-
mite dread began to gather around me.
sent for Mrs. Martin.
She came in colorless, sad dignity
and stood silently before me.
"Tell me-" I said.
"She died in this house three months
ago"
She sat down.
II am sorry you were not here. It
was beautiful, easy death. She was
not sick. We just found her lying on
her bed one day with a letter in her
hand, dead"
In the midst of all the formless
thoughts and feelings crowding upon
me was pierced by foolish grief
that my little woman should die on
one of those prisonlike cots, SO strange
and unhomely to her.
'"The letter." Mrs. Martin went stead
lily on after moments silence, II had
buried with her, but kept copy of
1t. This is it."
I half hesitated.
II don't think you need mind reading
It," she said.
1t was very brief. In half a dozen
lines Anthony Stottman acknowledged
the receipt of final payment Of $50
as wiping out the principal and inter-
est of a debt of $1,000 left unpaid in
the settling up of Judge Marchbanks'
estate.
All. it was brief, but to what years
of pinching and struggle and high and
tender purpose that awkward paper
testified! | saw all those years in a
heart bursting moments glance. 1t
was love as much as honor that had
sustained little Fanny Marchbanks
through that long task, so little in it.
self, so titanic for her. No stain must
rest on the great name her father left
behind him. Through more years than
| had lived every hour must have been
colored to her by this heroic resolution.
1t had become her reason for living.
When she had accomplished this end,