The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-10-18

niece. then her gaze wandered out 10
the garden and the village street be
yond
Ills wife's been dead two years
last May" she ruminated. AN Mrs
Mixers a mighty sharp woman. but
she don't get ahead OF Jane Splint,"
II was with a satisfied smile that
she opened the small gate To admit
DIR. Garde into the old-fashioned gar
den surrounding her house a few
hours later.
"Hester's gone to see little Ruth
Gilmore" she explained. but sit
right down. You look tired"
Felix Garde dropped into the quaint
garden-seat YEARLY. and. holding his
hat in his hand. let the cool breeze
play across his forehead His eyes
had a sad and somewhat tired look.
How sweet II is here" he said.
Mrs. Splint looked at him keenly.
Then she made a bold move.
Il should think you're gettin'
about tired OF Twin alone" she re-
marked
Mt n0NAOA a. nFA QuANhig .
bur she met his gaze without finch
ing
What do you mean" he asked.
What | say; you'd be happier II
you. could make up your mind to
marry again.
The man sighed.
You knew Madeline. Mrs. Splint."
he said at last and you know that
my heart died with her"
Mrs Splint gave vent to an internal
"Humph," Aloud she said nothing.
II would not be right" he said
slowly.
What would not?"
Suddenly he faced her.
Would il be right? You are q
woman; tell me. would | be justified
in marrying when there is so little
could give in return for any woman's
Companionship?'
Mrs Splint looked at him steadily.
she wished he could see what was in
her mind without her telling him.
lie sat very still for a while and
Jane Splint. being a wise woman. did
not interrupt his thoughts. At length
he rose and put his hat firmly on his
head
Il think ! will 20 and bring Hester
home" he said
When Hester Maxwell entered her
&cnt's sittingroom an hour later
there was a glorified look in her eyes
which lent a strange beauty TO her
face.
Aunt Jane" she said quietly. Il an
engaged to be married TO DR. Garde."
For the lands sake" Mrs. Splint's
knitting dropped in her lap and sew
era stitches slipped. She had not ex-
pecred this SO soon.
say you are glad. aunt"
Indeed l am" that lady replied
truthfully. while she gently stroked
her niece's soft hair
The engagement was a short one.
II She missed anything in his manner
during their engagement or the early
months Of their married life, no one.
not even the doctor himself. ever
knew IT, And SO the weeks slipped
away anu NALhfl AAtn AEAA
Il was late in December Hester
sat alone in her small neat sitting
room with some soft. white stun on
her lap. but she was not sewing. She
was thinking OF her husband. and OF
the fact that. though she had been his
wife nearly half year. she had never
yet heard the words OF love from his
lips which should have been uttered
before he asked her to share his life.
She rose with an unconscious sigh
and went TO the front door. for some
one had turned in at the gate. and
though she tried 10 greet her visitor
cordially. Nettie Mixter's presence
just al that time grated on her
Come right in and lay of your
things" she said
Nettie stepped into the warm sit
tingroom. where a large stove gave
out a genial glow. her small eyes TAX
ing in the details OF the room with a
quick. envious glance.
My. but you're gettin' quite fixed
mp she remarked tartly.
AA'EAtA AAtN a tAAAt hNoAfA NAf
stove for her visitor, and resumed her
own seat by the window.
You're gettin ready for summer
pretty early. amt your Nettie said
presently. That a lawn waist?"
No" The color rushed into Hes
ters face.
I'm most forgettin' what ! come
for her visitor resumed; mamma
wants TO know il the doctor could
step round and see her tomorrow:
she's got that pain under her shoulder
again"
I'm sorry TO hear that; I'll tell
him" Hester said
oh, say. Miss Hunter was In to
see US yesterday. and most died
hearin' her tell nav about Mrs.
splint's tellin' her what a time she
had gettin' the doctor up to the
scratch"
Hester gave her a puzzled look The
small. dark eyes encountered hers
with a vindictive CLEAN.
a.