The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-07-29

Y,
lated Mrs. Moore.
DO you mean she's keeping COM
pany?" asked Martha. peering shrewd-
ly into the poor woman's face.
"Yes." and for the first time in her
life Mrs. Peabody had told lie.
81 don't believe it," cried the girl
rudely.
"Marthy!" said her mother, reprov-
ingly.
well, it's awful queer nobody'S
heard anything about it!
Mrs. Peabody returned no answer.
She fingered the veil absently for few
minutes, then rose and walked slowly
to the door. We'll, goodnight, | guess
I'd better be goin',' said she. and
stepped out bareheaded into the dark
ness. Martha ran after her and laid
a restraining hand on her arm. You'll
catch your death of cold, Mis- Pea
body, Don't mind what | said. Come
back and get your things on, and pail
drive you home"
81 don't see what took her So" said
the girl after they had helped her, un-
resisting into the wagon, and gone
back to the house.
"Oh, | guess it was the heat O. the
room after walking so fast, returned
her mother placidiy, ''but you did
speak up mighty loud and sassy to her,
Marthy, and mebbe that turned her
head"
Poor Louise Peabody leaned back In
the wagon beside Mr.. Moore in silent
despair. Above the certainty that Har-
| ry had deserted her own dear daughter,
above her belief in Martha's perfidy,
| loomed the lie in all it's hideousness.
| Mr.. Moore's jokes in regard to the ap-
| preaching nuptials, and his information
| that Harry Summers had bought out
| his unclns grocery business and would
settle down near them, fell upon un-
needing ears. She reused at last to the
consciousness that he was helping her
out of the wagon, and. after a nasty
goodnight, with burning cheeks and
heart like lead Mrs. Peabody entered
her home.
AS the weeks passed by it was sur
| prising to see how wen Fanny bore W
under Martha's engagement In spite
of the extra work of the spring term
she was blooming, and fairly cheerful
She never mentioned Harry, nor die
he come to the house; but as the days
| lengthened she would often go OF
alone for a ramble in the pine woods
for an hour or two after school, com
ing back laden with violets, ferns ane
specimens of wild flowers. which she
said were for her class in botany
School closed on the 10th OF June
and the 18th was the day set for Mar
tha's wedding. Mrs. Peabody had no
intended to go, but Fanny insisted up
on it. 1T will look so queer If neither
OF us go, ma" she urged, and a.
school only closed yesterday | don
feel like it. One Of the boys can drlV'
you over. and you must wear my mus
} lin with the lavender stripes. 1t fit
) you all right, and you'll look flne II
it." So the poor mother allowed her
self to be persuaded and donned tn
dainty muslin, but a cold east Wln'
having arisen, she threw her Old placi
silk mantilla over her shoulders 10
the drive.
} AS Mrs. Peabody entered the hous
her last visit there came viyldly be
lfore her mind; and, forgetting to la
aside her wrap, she hurried nerVousl
. into the parlor. The folding doors DC
tween the parlor and sitting room wer
thrown wide open, and both room
[ were profusely decorated with Jun
, roses and branches of the fragrant sy
ringa. A number of the guests ma
2 already arrived, and cheerful puZ
e of conversation greeted her ears as sn
sank timidly upon the sofa beside tn
minister's wife All Of the women Wer
] in their best with their hats on; an
Fanny had dressed her mothers nal
! carefully, fastening cluster OF SWee
English yiolets on the left side, Du
I had been. obliged to tie on her wlnte
/ bonnet as the shape OF the summer on
seemed likely to crush them. 1T won
e make any difference, ma, sne ha
q said. 'for you'll take it off as soon q
|. Won GET in and no one will notice 1T.
: In her nervous haste, however, poe
e Mrs Peabody had forgotten all aDot
e II. and so sat silent and shabby IN her OF
e black mantilla, and unreasonable neae
e gear among the fresh, pretty tolie'
e around her. Fortunately her neare'
neighbor was the ministers wife, WI
]. spoke kindly to her and tried to dra
t her into conversations Before Ion
the minister himself arrived, and
9 husb fell over the assembly as /
walked slowly in and took the ses
prepared for him between the 1oldln
/ doors.
The clock struck four and all eyt
a / were turned expsctantly toward I