The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-04-17
FARMvILLE, VA, FRIDAY, APRIL II, 1908
4 SPINSTER'S SECRET
BY JOHN IT. RAFTERY.

BY JOHN II. RAFTERY.
Little Miss Sophie was an old maid, which
means that she had passed 35 without either
q serious courtship, an offer OF marriage
or the least indication that she would ever
experience either. Once, indeed, when she
was quite chid-only 24-ihere had been
a young man, a very pious, well-mannered
Toung clergyman, who-dut that seemed
like dream TO Miss Sophie now. She might
have doubted whether he ever lived II he
had not given her that little old Book OF
Common Prayer and the faded daguerreo-
type of himself in that little folding case
IN the corner Of the what not.
For four years now Miss Sophie had been
-mothering" the two children Of her dead
sister Until Matte grew old enough and
strong enough to 20 to work Aunt Sophie
had been hard put to it TO make ends meet
h the little household. She had sewed aud
mended, MIXED her own COW, tended her
own chickens, cooked, secured and saved
20 keep Matte and the boy, Harry, decently
at school. She had even found time TO do
some plain sewing for the neighbors, and II
was agreed on all sides that Aunt Sophie
hadn't "a lazy bone in her body Mattie's
wages as machine girl" in the button fac
tory helped wonderfully in this small house
hold. but il made the old maid heart bleed
to see her set off for the shop every morn
ing. and poor Harry, who was 10, looked
very disconsolate, lettering away TO school
without his sister.
Mr.. Kingsland, the button manufacturer,
had been very kind to Miss Sophie and to
Matte. In fact, he had made place Tor
the child, and had gone out OF his way to
advance her in the works, with a corre-
spending increase OF pay. But he was a
practical business man for all that, and the
hours we're long, the work hard and the
wages not over much. In little towns ike
Belleville everybody knows everybody, and
Mr.. Kingsland had special reasons for know
ing Aunt Sophie. Her brother had worked
in the factory, and it seemed quite fair and
natural that he should be kind to the or
phans. But this kind Of interest hardly ex-
planned his first visit TO the old maids
house, nor the repeated attentions which he
showed them. lie was forever asking her
advice about the treatment OF the girls at
work in his factory, and Sunday seldom
passed without a visit, long or short from
Mr. Kingsland.
He was pleased to take tea with them
once or twice, and he showed such an IN
terest in "her children" such iatherly re-
gard for Matte, such an amused friendship
for little Harry, such a frank and generous
desire 70 be kind to everyone, that little Miss
Sophie came TO regard him as something less
than a wealthy patron, something more than
mere acquaintance. There was no non
sense about him, and his presence in the
house, though a cause Of restraint at first |
for both Matte and her brother, came to
seem so natural that the cheerful little
housekeeper always laid his plate for Sunday
supper. and the girl and her brother always
dressed in their finest and smiled their sweet
est when they knew he was coming.
Sometimes when the children were not
present he would sit in the veranda with
Miss Sophie and tell her old stories Of his
past lfe-plain, unvarnished tales Of his
struggles for an education and a living-an
unromantic story full Of the grim realities OF
poor boys hopes and disappointments.
He had never married. He had been too
busy with the harsher affairs Of life.
Il don't know that anyone would have
me-" he would laugh. I'm 90 years old,
plain old bear; now, don't you think so, Miss
Sophie"
And she would reply with some trite old
sophistry, as Handsome Is as handsome
does" or Never too late to mend But
when he was gone, a lonesome giant trudg-
ing away to his furnished room in the hotel,
she would sit alone for hours after the chill
dren we're gone to bed and wonder if his
visits. il his confidential manner and talk,
II his extraordinary interest in her and the
little ones meant anything And if so!
Suppose" she would say, looking into
her little mirror at her own round, cheerful,
wholesome face, suppose be should What!
Ask you to marry him. What would you
sayY
And she would smile little doubtfully, as
she shook her head, and, putting out the
light. lay down to think it all over. There
was nothing particularly romantic about
Miss Sophie. She was a demure, modest lit
tie soul, but, being a woman, she could not
avoid pondering such a denouement for this
persistent friendship Of man whom every
body admired and respected. Ii was in such
terms that she thought OF him. He was no
hero in her eyes, for the little old maid didn't
go in" for heroes. She fancied that he
would make a gentle, considerate, safe
husband for any woman, and
Hes like a father to the children al
ready" she caught herself saying one night
And after that she thought Of kingsand in
new light. What an advantage it would
be for Matte and Harry to have guardian,
a protector, father like thaty Matte,
poor child, was not fitted for such hard work.
The opportunities for a girl, or even for a
boy. were so small in the small town. Then
they were such pretty, imaginative, anna
bic children. She, Aunt Sophie, had already
determined to devote her life to them. Why
not complete her devotion to them by mar
rying Kingsland"!
Her reflections always came back to that
At last one night he called little later
than usual, while Matte and Harry were at
the concert. Miss Sophie noticed that he
was dressed ~" and she felt the fever Of
curiosity and fear come into her plump
cheeks and bright eyes She had let him
into the little parlor, and was about to light
the lamp, but he stopped her with:
Don't mind the light, Miss Sophie. | just
want to say a few things. ] feel more col
lected, easier, in the dark
The scared little spinster wondered If she
might faint, but sat down in the far corner
with a queer little sigh. He went on, speak
ing rapidly and very plainly: Il am thinking
of getting married, Miss Sophie That is,
within the next year or so. Meanwhile |
want to do something for you-the children.
I'd like to send Matte to some good school.
No. no. She needn't know anything about it.
And Harry want Harry to keep on at
school and take a course Of manual training.
1t can be a secret between us-between you
and me. VIII you agree to help me do this,
Soph-Mss Sophie!'
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Kingsland. 1t is kind, so
kind Of you, but, but how are We to repay-it
will cost so much"