Iron County register., 1904-06-09
A CASE 0F OBEDIENCE.
BY ARTHUR LEWIS TUBBS.
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1T was half-past nine and Maria
l Ellen had just come in from the
Wednesday evening prayer meeting.
She stood by the door, pulling off her
red knit mittens, then used one OF
them to brush few fakes of snow
from her shoulders.
Its showing some," she said.
Mrs. Turner looked up from her sew
ing and gave her daughter a keen
glance. There was something in the
tone of Maria Ellen's voice that spoke
palmer than words to the woman in
the rocking chair.
Henry says it hasn't showed SO
early as this for some years"
The girl stopped suddenly. She had
not meant to speak that name, but it
was too late now.
Did Henry Watson come home
with you?" asked Mrs. Turner, sharply.
"Yes, mother"
That's what l thought What have
/ told you about him." -
There was no reply from Maria
Ellen, who was hanging her hat and
coat on one of the hooks behind the
door that opened into the adjoining
bedroom.
'Do you hear? Amt I told you
enough times that don't want you tc
let Henry Watson pay you any at
tention?"
''Yes, mother, but"
'There amt no butts about it
You've got to do as say. Where was
Elder Burrows? You might have rode
home in his buggy, just as like as not.
lt'I didn't want to ride in Elder Bur
rows buggy, nor have anything to dc
with him. He didn't ask me, any
way"
"You didn't give him chance, mos
likely. I amt goin' t have you throw
away such a chance as that. Yol
won't get a man like Sam Burrows
every day. He owns the finest farm il
this county, m money in the bank
You could get him just as well as not
if you want so contrary. I'd like
know what you're thinkin' of. Poor
we are! 1t makes me want t shak
you, sometimes"
Maria Ellen knew that it never di
any good to argue with her mother
but she could not refrain from makin
at least feeble defense.
"I don't care how much he's worth
mother, don't think you ought to ex
pect me to sell myself couldn't d
it."
"Sell yourself! I guess you'd b
gett'n the best of the bargain"
Mother! how can you say that
Mr.. Burrows is over so years old an
widower with two children, Will
I'm only 19. don't see how you ca
want me to sacrifice myself by marry
ing him."
"Oh, you've got Henry Watson O
the brain, that's what's the matte
Huh! It's his red cheeks and curl
black mustache, suppose. What
he got t. offer y? Eight or min
dollars a week as clerk in a gre
Gerry. You make me provoked, Mari
Ellen. I always hoped you'd hay
some sense"
That's what l want you to hav
mother, and"
There! you needn't sauce your ow
mother. When it comes t that, 1t
time t. stop. You 60 t bed"
But, mother, L"
81 said for you t go to bed. Yc
mind"
Maria Ellen took the lamp from I'll
clockshelf and went upstairs witho'
another word. She slept up there ar
her mother occupied the little room a,
Joining the sitting-room. The affe
ton which this mother and daught'
felt for each other was seldom e.
pressed in word or deed. 1t WASH
their way. In some characters, sci
timent is hidden under a practical e
terror apparently Indifferent to Il
warm throbs of love and tenderness
but there are springs Of affection
every breast, though it may requi
some rare process to reveal them, al
in Mrs. Turner's inmost heart was
love for her only child which W
shown most Of all in the ambiti'