The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-02-03
A SPINSTER'S SECRET


Little Miss Sophie was an old maid, which
means that she had passed IS without either
a serious courtsnip, an offer Of marriage
or the least indication that she would ever
experience either. Once, indeed. when she
was quite a child-only 24-taere had BEEN
a young man, a very pious, -well-mannered
young clergyman, who-but that seemed
like a dream 10 Miss Sophie nov. She might
have doubted whether be ever lived # he
had not given her that little old Book OF
Common Prayer and the faded daguerreo-
type Of himself in that little folding caee
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 go to work Aunt Sophie
had been hard put TO it to make ends meet
IN the little household. Size had sewed and
mended, MIXED her own COW, tended her
own chickens, cooked, secured and saved
TO keep Matte and the boy, Harry, deeently
at school. she mad even found time 10 do
some plain sewing for the neighbors, and II
was agreed on all sides that Aunt Sophie
hadn't "a lazy bone in ner body" Mattie's
wages as a machine girl in the button fac
tory helped wonderfully in this small house
hold, but il made the old maids heart bleed
TO see her set of for the shop every morn
ing, and poor Harry, who was 10, looked
very cisconsolate, lettering away to school
without MS sister.
Mr.. Kingsland, the button manufacturer,
had been very kind to Miss Sophie and 10
Matte In fact, he had made a place" for
the child, and had gone out Of MS way TO
advance her IN the works, with a CORE
spending increase Of pay But be was a
practical business man for all that, and the
hours were long, the work hard and the
wages not over much. In little towns like
Bellevlse everybody knows everybody, and
Mr. kingsland had special reasons for know
ing Aunt Sophie. Her brother Rad worked
in the fsc-0ry, and II seemed quite fair and
natural that be should be kind 10 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 He vas forever asking her
advice about the treatment OF the girls at
work In MS factory, and Sunday seldom
passed without a visit, long or short, from
Mr.. Kingsland.
He was pleased to take tea with them
once OF twice, and be showed such an IN
terest IN -ner children, = such a fztherly re-
gard for Matte. such an amused friendship
for little Harry, such a frank and generous
desire 10 be kind 10 everyone, that little Miss
Sophie came 10 regard him as something less
than a wealthy patron, something more than
a mere acquaintance. There was no nom
sense about him, and his presence IN the
house, though a cause Of restraint at first
for both Matte and her brother, came 10
seem 50 natural that the cheerful little
housekesPer always laid MS plate for Sunday
supper, and the girl and her brother always
Iz.--r- =. - II
est when they kneE be was coming.
Sometimes wnen the esildren were not
present ne would sit in the veranda with
Miss Sophie and tell her old stories of bis
past life-plsin, unvarnished tales Of his
struggles for an education and a hving-an
unromantie story full Of the grim realities Of
a poor boys hopes and disappointments.
He had never married. He had been too
busy with the harsher affairs of life.
4 don't know that anyone would have
me, he would laugh. I'm 90 years old, a
plain old bear; now, dOn'tyO think 50, 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 be was gone. a lonesome giant trudg-
ing away to his furnished room in the hotel,
she would SIT alone for hours af -er the chill
dren we're gone 10 bed and wonder If his
visits, if his confidential manner and talk,
If MS extraordinary interest in her and the
little ones meant anything" And if 500
Suppose" she would say, looking into
her little mirror at her own round. cheerful.
wholesome face, suppose he should Whats
ask you 10 marry him What would you
sayt"
And she would smile a 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 pOncering such a denouement for this
persistent friendship OF q man whom every
body admired and respected. It vas 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 fsncied that he
would make a gentle, eOnsiderAte, safe
husband for any woman, and
Hes ike a father to the children al
ready" she caught herself saying one night.
And after that she thought Of Kingsland in
a new ligat- What al advantage it would
be for Matte and Harry to have a guardian,
a protector, a father ike thats Matte,
poor child, was not fitted for such lard work.
Ink NEENANAA-A-Cs ANA . tuAs OF even AOE q
boy, were so small IN the small town. Then
they were srcl pretty, imaginative, anna
bic children. She, Aunt Sophie, had already
determined to devote her life 10 them. Why
not complete her devotion to them BY mar
rylng kingsland"3
Her reflections always came back to that.
At last one night he called a little later
than usual. while Matte and Harry were at
the concert. Miss Sophie noticed that be
was dressed up" and she felt the fever OF
curiosity and fear come into her plump
cheeks aud bright eyes She Lad let him
into the little parlor. and was about to light
the lamp, but he stopped her with:
Don't mind the light. Miss Sopaie. lust
want 10 say q few things. l 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 vent on, speak
ing rapidly anu very plainly. Il am thinking
Of getting married, Miss Sophie. That is,
within the next year or so. Meanwhile l
want to do something for you-the children.
Id like to send Matte TO some good school.
No, no! She needn't know anything about it.
And Harry-I want Harry TO keep on at