The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-05-31
Martina sessions smneu ureamn,.

B
OF course YOU will see that the prop
erty is divided half and half Martha =
pleaded her sister.
Martha shook her head slowly.
NO." She said. 1t is mine. | have
never had anything before. l am going
10 keep what is mine"
Her sister sprans 10 her feet blazing
with wrath and inercdulity at the turn of
the worm.
Il shall contest the will" She screamed.
Her husband pushed her into n seat.
sit down. Sarah" he said in n mar-
nihcent voice. "and let me talk with this
viper we have nurscd in our hosoms. his
beneficiary of our bounty. who forgets
the little children who have played about
her knee and all the years she has i.yed
upon our generosity"
But Martha interrupted him and arose.
L IN afraid | haven't time to listen. :"
she said. Il know what you will suggest.
You will kindly offer To invest NV money
for me. You will speak TO me about send
ing the boys through college and the girls
TO a seminary. When have any of Won.
young or cid, come To the room where |
sat alone. wondering what had done 10
be put aside like an unloved dog? When
have You spoken to me. except TO ask mo
TO do some favor for YOU? What stand
ing have you given me in the community ?
How have you allowed me to 20 clothed :
What esteem do you suppose people have
for me? Many do not know me from n
servant-me, Martha Sessions. No, |
haven't time 10 listen. I've too much 10
think about" She started toward the
door and then turned and held ont her
hand.
Il Il take all my words back" she said,
IF only some one will say-say he is sor-
ry-that am going"
No one spoke Her sister turned her
back Violently. Her bother-in-law wore
face of stone. The four boys. big and
little, feigncd to be occupied with other
things, and the girls stared and made
no reply. but at the last second David.
the youngest boy, who was s years Old.
ran to her and caught her hand.
Cant | come to see You sometimes
after You 20 away, Aunt Martha?" he
said. There were tears in his eyes. The
lonely woman snatched him to her hun.
grily for Il moment.
Il think he has lifted my curse from
your roof" she said and went out. The
Nitherspoons were still incrcdulous. But
when they heard the front door slam they
ran to the window to look out. Sure
enough Aunt Martha was walking down
the path bravely, but with her handker-
chef Mt her eyes. One of the girls was
sent up to her aunt's room, but il was
found that of her poor belongings none
had been taken from its place. Nor did
she ever send for them
The town was all agog over the activity
of Martha Sessions, the hciress. Within
"A hours she had purchased village
lot, much heautitied by trees which had
years before been planted about the site
of house since burned. She contract
ed for the building of tiny home and
herself directed the plans. She appeared
dressed in simple but fine garments. and
she wore an air of amiable distinction.
1t was the same air she had always had.
except that her liberated spirit looked
out of her eyes. People enjoyed the ro-
nance of it all, and they enjoyed Miss
Martha, whom they discovered to be
singularly well informed woman and n
lady of excellent taste. She was invited
TO tea at the most exclusive houses in
town. She moved at last in the society
to which she had been born. People of
fered to assist her in the buying of pic
lures and china and linen.
And at the end of three months she
was settled in her own home. She sat be.
fore her own fire. looked about at book
lined walls. smiled at the pictures for
which she had always longed and bv
touching the little bell at her hand could
summon her white capped maid. who was
IaI1 f,I 1
with happy eyes at her own gold band.
ed china and have the pleasure once a
week of polishing her dainty silver and
glass. She was full of domestic enthu-
siasm and rs important rs child with
a new toy. She had her charities. ard
she was already recognized as an ardent
member of the church.
Moreover, there came the hour of the
perfect climaX-shc had the rector to tea
1t was wonderful occasion. Mrs. Deli
van, the widow, was there, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Wynant-he was the PRINCIPAL of
the high school-and young Caroline Ar
mold the artist, and the Rev. Mr.. Ellison
of course. at Martha's right hand. What
an hour. How the gold bands on the
china shone! How the glass sparkled,
How snowy was the linen. How deli
cate We're the pinks,
But what were these glores to Miss
Martha herself in her gray silk gown
with the honiton lace and the garnet
brooch, with her gray hair crmped and
her hands decorated with two modest
diamonds? What n lady. What a mi :
tress of fine occasion! Really it was a
great hour. But it may be that the thing
which made her happiest, even happier
than the presence of the Rev Mr.. Eli
son. was the fact that close beside her. in
his Sunday best, with smile of content
ment on his face, sat David Witherspoon,
dividing his delighted glances between lis
surprisingly beautiful aunt and the
ounce preserves.-Chicago Tribune.