Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-07-12
SAM STEBBIN'S COURTSHIP.

settle down, Maria" Sam Stebbins sad
suddenly, butt with an air of great con-
victlJn.
Maria looked up from the pease she
was Smelling, while a merry twinkle lie
her big blIe eyes.
"Be yew so wild and Eighty, Sam, that
yew need tew be tied tew a woman's
apron stringsI" she asked mischievously.
Sam looked a trife offended, but he
soon recovered his even tempter. He
had lived on the little homestead some
thity-fye years, was a stalwart pillar
of the church, and had led the village
'singin' school for nearly a dozen years.
1t was no wonder Maria smiled at his
expressed intention of settling down.
The idea of his marrying was not 81
strange TO her, for the simple reason that
she had often thought about it and Won
dered, in a sort of disconsolate way, how
it would affect her own position if Sam
were to bring a wife into the home.
And she had often ended these refiec-
tons with a few salt tears. for some way
Sam was very dear to her-as an adopt
ed brother, of course; but now
Sam interrupted her meditations by
saying, softly:
L ut NOlIhll L u ihdAAS NNNAN''' 49,
no apron strings, nor aprons neither:
Maria! She'd have tew be Il lady, an
learn the pianner, an there,d be ser
wants few dew the work. That's the
way tew dew when yew git married,
he finished with a flourish.
Maria dropped II handful of pods !htc
the wrong pan and gazed earnestly INTO
her adopted brothers face.
Was it possible that Sam intended to
hurt her feelings, or had he suddenly
taken leave of his senses? There was
not Il married woman in Joshuatown
that played the piano and had servants
to do her work. Sam must be raying
mad. She twired the corner of her own
Bingham apron and waited anXiously for
the next developments.
Eyes. Maria; them's my ideas Of mat
rimony. | don't want no wife of mine
soilin' her pretty fingers a fryin out
lard or-or Il shellin' peas he ended,
sternly.
Maria felt the earth Slipping from be-
meath her feet at this last explosion, but
in another moment Sam had stalked
away, and now she had time to think it
over
She had worn aprons and shelled peas
in the Stebbins kitchen for many years.
but Sam had never objected to her
labors in any way, or even noticed that
she was the possessor of fingers, so far
as she knew.
And yet it seemed that he really was
observant even to the extent of object
ing to these things, and then a flash of
anger ended her reflections.
She had it now; it was Della Brown
who had put these notions into Sans
Uranium.
Della was a stranger in the village.
with money enough to pay her board at
Widow Jones' and not have to worry
her head or lift her finger in the bitter
struggle for existence
The tears that were running now were
perhaps, the bitterest that Maria had
ever shed, for with this first touch of a
woman's jealousy there had come the
first realization of a woman's love.
Oh. how she loved him! The kind.
considerate brother she had found in the
days of her earliest orphanhoodl
Sam said nothing when he entered the
kitchen again. Maria had nearly fin
lShed the peas, and when he looked at
her she hlushed furiously She won
dered If he noticed that she had been
crying.
That night Della Brown came over to
see her-at least, that was the osten-
slble object Of the visit or course, Sam
had TO see her home" and Maria had
TO take herself severely to task to keen
from thinking that this was the real OBJ
ject of the visit
1t was late when Sam returned. but
Maria was still sitting by the kitchen
hre. Mrs. Stebbins worked hard all
day, and had retired early, so Maria
was alone when Sam came in.
did yew see her safe home. Sam?"
she asked. and in spite of herself there
was shade of anger in her voice.
Sam glanced at her sharply, and the
roguish twinkle shone in his eyes now
hnf hn
OF course" he replied, finally, and
then, with movement that was bash
fuI and yet determined, he took his chair
from the opposite side of the fireplace
and carried it around to where Maria
was sitting.
Don't yew really think that a woman
LOOKS better without an apron. Maria 2"
he questioned, rather sheepishly.
Ihey re more logged up, more-mOre
genteel aud ladylike."
Maria felt inStinctively what was com
ing, but at last she had gotten control
Of her wicked heart. so she smiled brave
ly as she answered him.
Yes, Sam. \ woman does look better
without an apron, but II she has work
TO do she must wear one, 4 suppose"
mat : jest it Sam said. gently.
Nlmmin have tew work tew muCh-at
least, the wimmin in JoShuatown do.
anyway; but Della Brown SAYS"
What does Della Brown saw. Sam -
Maria asked the question almost i,
desperation for the tears were coming
nearer and nearer. and it did no, seem
as If she could keep them back much
longer
"She says" Sam answered sIowlv
that If a man really loves woman he
won't let her work 50 harl. mn we1y
APRONS an soil her fingers. an 1 1rrea
with Della Brown" he added. With
astonishing emphasis.
Maria glanced down at her fingers in.
voluntarily. They were soft and taper;nr
naturally but the nails were stained ana
the skin did not look mt all like nelio's
She closed one hand quickly ana tried IN
void II in fold of her dress, but with
sudden movement Sam bent forward
and covered it completely with his own
'New have such pretty hands. Maria .
he said, softly. It's pity view have
few work 50 hard an stain your soft ill.,
tie fingers,
Mara did not hook up. for the teors
had reached her laSheS now. and she WAS
feeling little bit bewildered,
Dew yew know how much money
I've got. Maria?" said Sam. suddenly
WAL. II tell yew,' he went ON, with.
out allowing her 10 answer.