The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-08-12
M0ftie HunterS
Confession.
By e. r. EKGLE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Matte had fiery temper, but tha
was her worst fault.
When she married Marsh Hunter
people opened their eyes in wonder
and said:
She'll make his life a warm busi
ness for him."
But Matte thought differently.
'Tll show them what a triumph love
will work. I'll teach them not the
vixen | SEEM" and 50 she married him
The wedding was very pleasant af
fair-something to look back to as
long as they lived Matte looked very
sweet In her white Swiss muslin and
apple blossoms Her jetty curls
trembled and shone in the brilliant
lamplight; her eyes sparkled like twin
stars, and her soft cheeks were man.
tied in softer bushes IS she leaned
trustingly on the strong arm Of the
stalwart man who was to be her guard
and guide through life.
The honeymoon was rich with the
pleasures of new-married life t. the
humble pair; but the time soon came
when the bride must leave the old
rOoftree for the untried realities of
home of her own. That was the first
sorrow-the trial Of leaving home and
mother-but it was fleeting, for in the
excitement of setting up housekeep-
Ing in the white cottage on Squire
Biackburn's farm, the little sorrow was
drowned
It was very funny, and Marsh
laughed, when just they two sat down
to the little new table and ate from
the new dishes on the new cloth the
wholesome viands prepared by Mattie's
own hands and cooked on the new
stove. Everything was new and
strangely sweet.
everything went on nicely, and Mat
tie was triumphant. But all things
earthly must change. Happiness does
not come unalloyed The weather
grew warm and the kitchen hot, and
one Of the hottest days Of the season
Matte had a distressing headache, and
tne supper must be ready at Ave
O'CLOCK. Matte tried to get it ready.
but burnt her wrist to a blister on the
stove; then she burnt the bread in the
oven. Then she looked at the clock,
ana saw 1t had stopped, and looking
OUT ~ the door she saw Marsh wash
ing his warm face and hands in the
water trough.
II supper ready?" he asked, and she
Diurted out something, and they had
!ne'4 Grst quarrel! Oh, dear me. the
1rst qearrel! How sorry 1t made the
acK ilttle' woman. But Marsh looked
'ullen, and went off to the field with
'ut kissing her.
They neverstalked that quarrel over
IMPLY because each was too proud to
ioacn the subject. After that quar-
es came often and easier. They did
ot mean to quarrel, but somehow an.
9 words would come up.
Aiter while a little boy came to
lelr household, and it seemed a
ontn or two good deal like the
e!i-remembered honeymoon; but Mat
- wretched temper would fly to
eces again. and the happiness was
oiled.
irs curious we can't get along with
= 80 much quarrelling," said Marsh,
e winter day, after he had just put I
heavy back log"
Matte felt the tears in her ewes in
moment, and her heart softened to- d,
ro Marsh. and she was about to con-
y ner faflings and ask his forgive
y, when he continued:
II Is all your hateful temper. Mat.
|; you know 1t is" ,,
0n, dear me! 1t is my wretched ;
aper-I know it is" sobbed Matte.
e marsh went out; but he needn't :
Fe said So"
4 ! wasn't SO blunt" said Marsh :,
with a sigh. as he sauntered >
ard the stable. /.
Q things went from bad to worse. !,
ue mistakes were magnified into :
!i0ie wrongs. The neighbors had =
= NIL OF gossip about the matter;
unally. one day, when Marsh was :
u Matte thought the thing over. !.
Am q wretched little nuisance"
lid, mentally; Il don't know why
q so. either; but can't help it,"
said. despairingly. her lips quiver. Z
and her eyes filling with tears ~
, great mind to take Nedd;e an1 r.