Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-11-11

10 say Bucn Cn1ngb. i've got sister
who IL crazy to come here and stay.
only she hasn't got $500 to buy her
way. IL she was here with me we'd
be perfectly happy, and you're growl-
Ing because you have to stay here"
Martha stared at her. your sister
wants to come herer she asked in
credulously.
Eyes. It's a nice, easy life. and
we've always had to work dreadful
hard. I'm afraid she win never have
$500 to come, though"
"You don't know. Maybe Provi-'
dence will open way for her." said
Martha Butterworth, suddenly losing
her bitterness. II know OF somebody
who is tired of 1t and wants to leave"
"You mean your" cried Mrs. Lloyd.
Martha nodded. "If do, your sister
can have my membership"
"Oh, OH" cried Mrs. Lloyd delighted
ly, that is good Of you. Martha But
terworth. If you don't change your
mind Hannah viii spend the best
Thanksgiving she ever hadv'
~ shan't change my mind" said
Martha decidedly. "You can write and
tell her she can have my half OF the
room on Thanksgiving day. Don't cry
about 1t, Mrs. Loyd-and, no. l don't
want you to thank me- It's not be-
cause I'm kind hearted, for I'm not.
I'm dreadful bitter. do it gladly be-
cause want to go away from here"
/ Those are the words that Martha
Butterworth spoke, but even as she ut
tered them she felt a tremor OF fear for
the future. In leaving the detested home
she was throwing away the last de-
Tense between her frail body and--the
poorhouse. for 1t might be that in the
end now.
On Thanksgiving day there was to
be feast In the long dining room
downstairs, and the housekeeper, Mrs.
Green, had prepared all the good old
fashioned viands that go to make up
the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
In the morning there was a delicious
odor of browning turkey. and all the
inmates Of the home gathered In the
sitting room and discussed other
Thanksgiving dinners that they had
partaken of under happier and more
favorable auspices.
Even Martha Butterworth seemed to
have forgotten her sorrow, for she had
put on her best black silk dress with
a purple bow at the throat and her
brown hair was huffed prettily over
her ears. Her cheeks were flushed,
and she actually laughed several times
during the meal, and she felt better
for it,
After the long dinner was over the
old ladies gathered In the stiff splen-
dor of the parlor. where great fire
had been kindled on the hearth. and
they told stories and jokes, and there
were much laughter and funmaking.
Then Mrs. Green asked Martha But
terworth to play something for them.
To everybody's surprise Martha went
to the piano without word and sit
ting down before It played one thing
after another until each old lady had
had her favorite piece played or her
favorite song sung. At last Martha's
fingers strayed into melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years.
It was her husband, Darius, favorite
song and one she had played for him
times without number. Now her voice
was somewhat broken. but 1t was still
penetratingly sweet, and IL pierced
through the walls of the home, and q
man passing dejectedly along the side
walk heard it. stopped short aud lis
tened, and when the sound of the
plano died away he mounted the steps
Of the home and rang the bell.
Mrs. Green, the matron. came into
the parlor again and looked strangely.
doubtfully, at Martha Butterworth.
who was still at the piano.
Somebody wants to see you, Mrs.
Butterworth," she said meaningly.
Some one to see me-" Martha was
surprised for most Of the censorious
relatives were dead or had long since |
removed to other states. and she had |
few friends. She walked down the
long room. her small figure erect. and |
her head held with the proud poise |
that marked her in spite of all the |
grief that should have laid 1t low.
A man was waiting in the dining |
room-a tall, white haired. pale faced |
man. we'll dressed and prosperous look |
ing. He looked once Mt Martha and |
held out his arms. Martha stared at |
him with unbelieving eyes, for II was |
her husband. Darius Butterworth. In l
another instant she was in his arms 4
and Darius was telling his story.
One of the women relatives had |
scolded Darius well that day when
ruin fell upon him. and she had told
him that the best thing he could do
was to take himself away where he
couldn't do any more harm to his |
wife's interests or happiness. or
course the relative was sorry after
ward. but then It was too late, for
poor Darius had taken his worthless
mining stock and departed for the
west, where for years he struggled for
a living. while he patiently investigat-
ed every mine until at last he found
one that really held out prospect OF
paying dividends to its trusting stock
holders. That was the beginning OF
the fortune that Darius had piled up
from several of his so called worth
less certificates" When he had re-
gained the fortune he had lost he
went back to his old home only to find
that his wife had disappeared after
ave years, and while 1t was known
that she had entered home some
where she had taken no one into her
Darius had been wander
ing disconsolately through the street
that Thanksgiving night when he had