The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-01-20
TIRZAH'S CHIMNEY.
BY CLARA PARKER


Five years before. when solomon
Green had asked rirlah hnchcoch TO be-
come the second Mrs Green. she had
tartly refused che honor 81 amt much
81 beauty" she had told him. but 40
warmed-Oyor affection lur me- thank
you. solomon Green.
solomon had reasoned all in vain.
why. Tirzah.' De pleaded, % ain {
no ways natural FUR wimmeu 90 1--we
alone. Every moruln your chimbly is
the furst thing look at an II wasn't
10 see the smoke a comm out of TO- Ia
he scared 70 death thiuhiu' you was
robbed. or killed or sunthin.
What's the use in us keepIn mp two
houses when one would DO jest as well?'
Since that time the two had hardly
exchanged dozen words solomon had
not married. neither had Tirzah, and
now on the night before her fortieth
birthday she sat looking around her or
DERBY little home with the most desolate
feeling at her heart she had known for
years
She had heard that day that the
widowed cousin. who usually kept house
for Solomon Green, had Unexpectedly
married.
OF course this was nothing to Tirzah'
but still-here she shifted two or three
dimes. and then. without a particle Of
explanation to the astonished cat. who
had come forth demanding her allow
ance Of milk. sat down In her cane seated
rocker and burst out crying
For five minutes she cried and then
she dropped her apron anlF0oAed guilt
fly about
A thought intruded Itself upon her
which she considered in the light Of a
secret crime over and over again, de- |
spite herself, she rehearsed Solomon's |
proposal, each word as it had been /
spoken. until suddenly. like the hand /
writing upon the wall. there stood forth !
these words: Every moning your /
ohlmbly IS the first thing look at"
Had he meant IL? Did he still turn his /
eyes with the coming Of morning light /
down the little hill which lay between
them? Did her lonely chimney stiu
claim his thoughtful care?
Five minutes later the dark plot was
formed and Miss Tirzah was hurryiue
about her preparations for the night
with cheeks that burned with fires she
thought long since gone out forever.
The following morning more aston
ished creatures there could not De than
we're the kittens. cat COW, hens and
canary Of Miss Tirzah Hitchcock. Some /
hing. certainly. had gone wrong.
Six O'Clock came and the stable door
was not opened by the brisk mistress
Half-past six. and still 10 fire 10 the
litchen stove. Seven o'clock. and no
breakfast yet for the mistress and her
Indignant dependents.
Loud and angry rose the protest of
3rindle from her snug stall. while the
I'D cat and canary did their best to stir
hings up inside.
Meanwhile. hidden by the parlor cur
aims. crouched Miss Tirzah. wrapped
q huge red and green shawl. her heart
between shame and dread.
fhile her eyes watched with fevered
nxiety the house just up the hill
Oh! how pitifully foolish now looked
er deep-laid scheme when faced IN
be broad light Of day.
OF course, be had forgotten. years
go. TO watch her chimney What was it
} him now. whether she had a fire or
ot7 She would 90 this very minute and
lild It. She
Why. what was that? Some one was
oming out Of Solomon's front door
ONE one-why. II was Solomon himself.
'eeping forth as If he had just been en-
aged In stealing his own spoons and
as now making on with them to a place
hiding.
Solomon was coming down the Hill
raight toward her tiny home Coming.
is true. not as the conquerors come
In bold and martial tread but after a
mid. slinky fashion Of a man who has a
ld his last timid advances In that d. j
rtion scorned.
When IT was certain past all shadow OF
doubt that he was coming into the S
use, Tirzah. the crafty creature. be-
ok herself to the cane-seated rocker. A
lere, wrapped to the chin in the big
awl, she waited with palpitating heart -
the timid knock which at length
lnded on the door NJ
Come In" she then called feebly. at re
Itch the door was opened cautiously. IN
h by inch. until the entire figure OF b
middle-aged lover was disclosed TO al
w. "a "a
~ the sisht Of Tirzah bundled IN and
-Ey@,yASAy<N< Shyfy,n<V(VfV ~