Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-29
JOHN MARsT0N's
HOUSEKEEPER.
BY c. v. MAITLAND.
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Dare take this place." said Mar
karet Lester to herself, as she paced
up and down her small top room.
with the morning newspaper crushed
in her hands.
She glanced, with care in the low
ing brown eyes, upon the little twin
sisters who had been her charge for
seven years, since her parents and
theirs had died.
Pacing up and down the floor, Mar
garet went over in her mind all those
long seven years, in which she had
worked for them with willing hands,
yet had only been able, after all, to
just keep the gaunt wolf from the
door. And now how could she do
even that?
The fine needlework and embroid-
cry which had barred him out these
seven years, she could do no more of,
for her sight was failing-the doctor
said of c"erwork.
She Id advertised in vain for a
situation as governess; she had ad-
vertised and applied for all sorts OF
places. And never an answer had
come to her until the one in that
mornings newspaper.
She smoothed it out again, and read
for the third time:
of A. B., who has been advertising
in this paper, has not found situa,
tion as housekeeper, she may 90 sc
by calling between five and eight
o'clock at Washington place"
She dropped the paper, and was
leaning on the. dressing table, look
ing into the mrror-looking there
searchingly, wistfully: and presently
she drew out her comb, and SHOOK
the soft brown mass of hair low or
her cheeks. And then she sighed
half sorry, half relieved, and pushed
1t back again.
mo, no! the nine long years have
done their work." she said, half
mirror. There's nothing left Of III
Madge Lester he once knew. The
gold and the curl are gone from the
hair, the merriment and careless
laughter from the eyes, the color ant
the roundness from the checks
What nonsense to have feared tina
twenty-six could be like seventeen
Besides. I've grown SO much since h
and last met-nine years ago. Lii
tie Madge Lester has gone forever
and in her stead, tall A. B.-let m
see-Anne Brown; yes, that will do.
All the time she was thinking thu
her busy hands smoothing down TIL
hair about her face, arranging it
close bonds to the temples. anc pu
tin git away behind her ears-a pre-
ty, classic style enough. but or
upon which only an elder perso
would venture. 1t makes the pa
face look older, and less like. as Ma
garet knows, the young Madge lie
ter in the floating cloud of sum
hair.
But when she takes down her Ii;
she is dissatisfied. She stant
thoughtful for a moment, then turl
doluS W II CuS5A, II VII MAiSI
draws a close Grape bonnet and We
and puts them on, with tender, Iii
gerlng touch, for they We're once h
mothers.
She has dragged something ell!
out in the folds of the Grape vel
Only pair of spectacles-some rel
which her mother kept. Margaret
abuot to put them back when su
den thought strikes her. She goes
the mirror, and puts them on instea
And Bessy looks up from her dc
upon the hearthrug, and claps h
small hands.
Look, Lulu-look! Sister Margie
grown so old!"
Margaret stcops down to the tv
little ones and kisses them. Yes, 81
ter Margie has grown old, has p
away all her sweet youth for them.
Then she hurries down. and ont
doors. She has slipped her spectacl,
into her pocket, on leaving ner ROOF
and she walks on without them in I'll
gathering dusk. She has no need
them. but she puts them on again, {
though they blind her little as
height and number of steps, when 81
sees. looking up in the dim light, TIL
this is Washington place, and 81
must mount to the front door.
What name?" she is asked, WHIT
she tells the old servant that 81
would see her master.
Annie Brown she says, and the
she hesitates little, rememberir
the widows cap in her Grape bonnie
the servant leads her across the hs
into the library.
Left alone, Margaret draws hea
breath as she glances around her.
Is nine long years since she was
this library last--since the ball VIII,
John Marston had asked her he
under his mothers roof, in this sal
library, to be his wife; and she h;
been piqued and angry with him
some trif1e. and she had scorned a
houted him. and the next day he hi
gone abroad. Then her fathers ia
ure had come upon him with 81
den crash, and in little while t
Testers were lost to all their circle
acquaintances-so lost that this W
the first time Margaret had cross
the old familiar threshold.
A portrait catches her CLAN
across the room, and she rises soft
to look at 1t.
1t is John Marston! Older than 81
knew him, nine long years ago; al
yet, she says to herself, those yea
have dealt with him far more gent