The Washington weekly post., 1900-06-05

And you never married" Borland was
going On. "YCu were a pretty girl You
must have had Offers
s,raighter and straighter she sat
But ] always said he pursued, that
you were cut cut for Eice little old maid.
Marcy end / both used to say that"
Years had passed. Marcy was in her
grave. but before Miss Martha came the
picture or Marcy and her first husband
discussing the fate OF the young cousin
SO -Uthless!y treated by both Of them. She
felt reyengeful for the first time In her
life. Was she 10 be powerless In revenge
as she had been In her injury?
Just then clear young voice broke the
silence.
B0riand started.
Who is that" he asked, sharply.
Miss Martha saw the effect of the voice
an him, and she had never before thought
how like her mothers was Helena's voice.
M0re-Helena was the picture Of her
mother
Come here. dear" she called.
Helena burst in like bit of the outside
sunshine. When she saw the strange
man there. she stepped back.
1T is one OF the boat people" Miss
Martha said. carelessly. "He came 10 see
ne about something"
BOrland was staring at the girl. His
hands clasped the arms OF the chair he
was In.
can I see you a minute, aunty"
Helena said. Gordon wanted me to say
something 10 you"
Miss Martha rose and went out into the
little entry with her.
Gordon wanted me to say" Helena
said, that We should consult YOU about
the plans for the new house. What mag
niiicent teeth that man in there has!
Why, aunty, how bright your eyes are,
How pretty you lOokr' She leaned over
and kissed Miss Martha. That's ALI"
she said. IL always come at once to tell
YOU anything. Gordon says you're our
father confessor. | do hope We shall have
fine day tomorrow, though Gordon
says there's a storm on the way. See you
tomorrow If not to-day again." and she
was gone
When Miss Martha got back to the par
lcr once more, Borland had not changed
his position
] suppose you heard every word" she
said, in sprightly way "She is soon
u marry Gordon Maxwell, YOU know. She
regards me quite as her mother. She calls
me- aunt as you heard. She remarked
upon your fine teeth. Ii was your teeth
that made me see something familiar In
you when you stood looking in at the
window before | knew who you were. /
dont think many people ever had such
teeth as yours"
She had become very cheerful.
Boriand rose heavily
fou are the cruelest woman" he said
in the world"
He went toward the door. In another
minute he would be gone.
Can't | offer you any refreshmentsq"
she asked.
lie PAID no attention. but went on.
DAN
II frightened her, that she used that
once familiar name.
He looked at her.
i don't see why you should go like
this she stammered. Il don't see how
| have been cruel"
1T is so hard for you 10 be CRUEL" he
said quietly; lit has always been so easy
for me-"
She could have cried out.
Are you the sorrier for having seen
Helena%' she temporized
l am glad OF it," he answered.
Gould l have told her you were any,
thing but one of the boat hands? Could
! have told her you were her mother
first husband?'
The possibility that there was some
thing you had to tell is what brought me
here" he said.
He was in the hall
rs there nothing You have to tell me?"
he asked. Nothing at aIl?"
No" she answered, nothing"
He came back and threw himself INTO
the chair before the table His hat fell To
the floor; he let his head rest on his rude
Scared hantis that were clasped together
on the table.
Miss Martha moved softly about the
room, arranging and rearranging the
things Ii was good for him TO suffer.
When she got TO the rose Jar. she noise
lessly raised the lid She told herself She
did this every day
His suffering must be intense She re
membered him when his father used 10
give him money which he wasted She
remembered when he gambled and he'd
10 Marcy and neglected her until she had
10 leave him.
She folded up her sewing, being care
ful 10 stick the needle so that ii would
not come unthreaded.
She went out into the kitchen and got
a glass of milk and a few of the cakes
she had baked for the picnic. When she
came back To the parlor, Borland was as
she had left him.
Il thought" she said, you might like
a glass OF milk"
tie raised his head
THAT was very kind" he said.
When she pressed the cakes on him. he
took one and laid il beside the glass on
the table.
Il think I'll be going" he said. Il only
had an hour off. I'm glad l cama.".
I'm glad 10 hear YOU say So" Miss
Martha returned. grimly. Il suppose |
shall see you again some time. The world
is a small place, and We go in 4 circle"
Yes" he replied stupidly Then he
faced her. Il am glad you did as you
did" he said, and not let her know |
vas her-motheT's first husband i am
glad you did IS you did I've done WrUng
ia many ways in nay time, but / think We
pay full price for good deal OF what We
do in this world. That's sentiment, | sup
pose. and l don't look very sentimental,
do I?'' He looked huhgrily into her eyes
is there anything you have % tell ne
anything"
She shook her head. He laughed well,
rCOd-byr' he said. ''GoOd-byl' He went
lingeringly from the house. as though he
hoped there might be q word from her 10
uetain him. But the word was not spOk-
en, and ae passed out into the sun His
hands were clasped behind him, his eyes
directed toward the TecEmseh.
Miss Martha SEATED herself in the chair
hr had occupied. She sat there a long
lime As in 4 dream she ate her dinner.
Alter that she seWed, but Testlessly. She
hoped Helena would not cone again; she
hoped Mr. Mast would stay away; il Mas
almost as though she resented their POS
sible coming Toward night she told her
SELF that the morrow would q wearyng
day and that she would do better 10 uke
more than the usual amount of rest. SO
she went uP II n-. room. She paused al
the window 20 look out. She saw the red
light Of the TeCumseh.
Was there anything | had TO Tell tim7
Marcy aud lac used TO talk me Over-
She sat down al the window. She rested