Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-11-27
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. a 7'hs, 4sqivine story) I
By ANNA DEMiNG CRAY
G~dta~.s.tr ,~'-vs-Fy, ..-...llrE
(Copyright.)

shading + eyes wiz aar hand watc
ing her fa, er-ir law and little son d..
appear over the. field.
81 wish had made f2;her put some
grape-leaves in his hos. she said;
"he minds the heat so, and it's sure to
be hot by noon. If ii is, | hope
Marthy will keep them to dinner"
She was a slim, girl blocking wom-
an, and her cheeks were pink and
dimpled. Her ripples Of brown hair
were drawn down behind her ears,
into tight knot, with qIaker-like pre-
cision. but escaped into little curls in
spite Of her
The prettiness of Mats wife was an
established fact, and one for which
she had felt very sorry. ever since
she overheard Mats sister saying,
'scOrnfully, soon after the wedding:
NAT always seemed well balanced, as
most men--which isn't sayin' much.
He stayed single bachelor till he
was 40 and then got took in by pair
OF laughing eyes and baby dimple.
Him near 40, and she %! An to think
of him marryin' Annett Durand! No;
can't say there was anything against
her father, only he never did nothin'
but paint pictures. He came here to
Strangville widOwer, with this chile.
She was ten then. That's all any.
body knew about him. In Strangville,
you have to have a grandfather to be
anybody"
Until recently, Annett had not
thought that she possessed any of
her artist fathers talent, but she
knew that his love for all beautiful
things was hers. Secretly, unknown
to her husband. she took lessons until
her work was pronounced by critics
TO be even better than her fathers.
She had never repeated Martha's
words 10 her husband. fer she was too
loyal and knew Nat too we'll for that.
Her 'wOman's instinct told her that
Jealousy of her rlace in Mats affec-
. ton was at the bottom of it, more
than any Ill will to herself-for Mar
tina was Mats twin-Sister. Annett felt
keenly the injustice of the dislike, and
resented the thought that she had
been married merely for her pretty
face. She made mp her mind then and
there-and her will was quite equal
to Martha's Own-that she would win
the affection and respect of her hus-
bands family In spite of themselves.
She had grown TO love Mats eccentric,
handsome old father; he was so much
like her husband. and this alone
would have made him dear to her;
but. with Martha, it was quite a diff
ferent matter.
The young wife wondered some.
times how this hard, scolding woman
could be Nathaniel's twin sister. For
to protect and defend those weaker
than himself was as natural as to
breathe to Nathaniel Strang.
This had been the foundation of his
love for Annett, perhaps. He had
seen her lonely and sad after her ia.
theirs death, and his pity had been
reused. Almost before he knew 1t
himself, she had become the one
woman in the world to him.
He had never been a man of many
words. 81 know that | ain not half
good enough for you, Annett," he
had said, nor young enough neither;
but love you, and I'll try every day
live to make you glad you married
me-"
Not a very sentimental wooing per.
haps; but Annett, looking into his
honest eyes, was satisfied, and tried
'bravely to enjoy the rose of love that
was hers, and not feel the thorn.
Since little Nat had come, Martha
had seemed more friendly, for a child
Is great point of sympathy often,
between even those who do not like
each other.
Martha was honestly very fond of
the boy, who was now almost three
years old.
Annett had made her husbands
home 80 attractive and inviting place
that Mats father had long ago grown
to think that there was nobody like
his daughter-in-law.
In truth she had made herself al.
most invaluable to him, since his
trouble" came.
Three years before, a travelling doc.
tor had visited Strangville-a uuack
would perhaps be a better term
whose name was Bromwell. He held
each evening concert and a dime
museum performance, consisting of
mind'readlng, sleight OF hand, and
reading the future.
The last evening of the doctors
stay in the village, Mr.. Strang had
been giving his opinion rather too
freely, as to the Reading of the Flu.
ture; In fact, he had ridiculed the
whole thing.
The doctor finally became angry
and offered to tell Mr.. Strang an nm.
pleasant fact In his own near future
The old man only threw back his
head, and laughed the more.
We'll, sir" cried the irate doctor
you'll know it soon enough, | guess
but you may have 1t to think on
awhile. On the 22d day of next Sen.
b TENDER, at IL o'clock, you will lose
your voice. and never speak another