The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-05-27
SYLVESTER sAMLLEY.


SYLVESTER sAMLLEY.
Trouble began for Amaranth Brooke
when she decided to buy back the
ramshackle old family homestead
with the few hundred dollars that had
been left to her by distant relative.
But there were her brothers. wife
and children to provide a home for,
and when Amaranth made up her
mind she cared very little whether
people approved of her plans or not.
She did care, however, what Syl-
vester Smalley would think of the
matter, for since she was engaged to
him, it would be only right to tell
him what she meant to do.
Amaranth had been looking over
her prospective purchase, and was on
her way home, when he overlook her
and at once broached the subject.
"No use to throw your money away
on that old rubbishy place" he told
her. "You can't raise a crop there,
an / wouldn't take it as a gift.
An your money, with what I've got
would build us nice, snug house on
that forty acres father gave me, an
help to stock the farm besides. Then
we could be married and go right to
housekeeping. Will you, Anna
ranth?"
They were lettering slowly home
ward, and had paused at the old stile
where scarlet-towered trumpet vine
showered its gorgeous trophies at their
feet.
"Say yes r. urged Sylvester.
Amaranth felt her determination
weakening.
"But-but there's brother Reuben S
wife and the children p she faltered.
"They are quite destitute, and have
no one to look to but me" !"
"Let Reub's wife look out for her.
SELF" he returned gruf1y. "I dare
say there's orphan 'sylums in the
city where the young uns would be
took care Of"
Amaranth's eyes flashed scornfully
at him as she drew herself up with
offended dignity.
Brother Reuben's children shall
never go to the asylum while live T"
she declared indignantly.
After few more words their troth
was broken. Sylvester stalked mood
lily on his way, while Amatanth, with
pang of sore disappointment at her
heart, turned toward the gray stone
farmhouse, where she earned small
stipend over her board by doing the
housework for family of six.
The broken engagement offered
fresh food for gossip among the Brooke
and Stubblefeld kith and kin but
Amaranth was not to be turned from
her course by their outspoken cen
sures and criticims.
The old homestead wasbought and
paid for. To be sure the soil was
rocky and sterile and the dwelling in
need of repairs.
The orchard trees what was left
of them-were gnarled and bent, and
the fences and outbuildings in a sad
state of dilapidation.
It was really scarcely worth the
small sum asked for it, but Amaranth
had determined to buy it, and buy il
she did.
An ancient COW and half decrepii
pony were included in the sale.
AND after the house had been treat
ed to few repairs and thorough
cleaning, brother Reuben's family
were released from their uncongenial
quarters in the city and comfortably
installed therein.
Mrs Reuben-a meek little woman
with no more idea of supporting her
self than a canary bird might have
was yet good housekeeper and will
ingly undertook the management ol
of domestic affairs, while Amarantf
gave her attention to the raising O
poultry and garden vegetables. And
the children grew as round as butter.
balls, romping under the gnar
ly old apple trees or playing hide-an
SEX among the tall sunfowers and
hollyhocks that nodded in the door
yard.
| Later on, Amaranth earned few
dollars each week by the sale of he
produce at the little village of Piney
vile Centre, which was scarcely
stones throw from her back pasture
But with all her industry and econo
my, she found it hard matter to pro
vide for herself and the helpless one
depending on her. and there were time
when she really feared the wolf wa
already at her door.
| Sylvester Smalley took particula
pleasure in driving past the house
with Nancy Maria Stubble6eld, t
whom he had transferred his atten
tions, seated beside him in his sprinI
buggy.
j But no one offered a helping hand
| and Amaranth was beginning to fee
a tremor of despair, when something
happened which no one-certainl
/ not Amaranth-had ever dreame
would come to pass.