The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1911-11-30
Even Martha Butterworth seemed to

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. cnd her
brown hair was funed prettily over
her ears Her cheeHs were flushed.
and she actually laughed several times
during the meal. aid size felt Letter
for il.
After the long dinner WAS over the
cd ladies gathered in the stiff Sp!3n-
dor Of the rarlor, wher" Il 'Sreat fire
had been kindled on the hearth. and
they told stories and jokes. and there
were much laughter and funnnk.ng
Then Mrs Green asked Martha But.
terworth 70 pia? Something for them
To everyboiy'S surprise Martha vert
10 the piano without word and sit
ting down before il played one thing
after another until each old lady had
had her favorife piece played or her
favOrite song sung. At last Marth.. :
fingers strHycd into a melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years.
II WIS her husband Darius. favorit"
song and one she had played for him
times without number Now her voice
wits somewhat broken bur it was still
reaetrl t!ngl? sweet. and IL pierced
through the walls uf The home. and
man passing Gejected!y along. the side:
walk heard Il. stopped short and lis
tered. and when the sound Of the
piano died away he mounted the steps
of the hume and rang the beI,.
Mrs Green. the matron. came into
the parlor again and looked strangely.
doubtfuily. IL Martha Butterworth.
who was still al the piano.
Somebody wants to see you. Mrs,
Butterw0rth." 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 it low.
A man was waiting In the dining
room-a tall white haired. pale faced
man. well dressed and prosperous look
ing He locked once at Martha and
held out his arms Martha stared at
him with unheiieving eyes. for il was
ter husband. Darius Butterworth. In
another instant she was In his arms
and Darius was telling his story.
One Of the women relatives had
scolded Darius well that day when
ruin fell upon tim. and she had told
him that the beat thing he could do
was 10 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 1t was too late. for
DOOR 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
D1NlTp QlNIupuGS ~ It's II uStiLS SboSh
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 be had lost he
went back to bis old home only to find
that his wife had disappeared after
FIVE years. and while It was known
that she had entered home some
where she had taken no one into her
confidence Darius had been wander
Ing GiSconsolately through the street
that Thanksgiving night when he had
recognized his wife's voice singing.
and believe that | didn't have Il
thing to be thankful for said Martha
re-. orsefully
"ThiS'n he the hcHniest ThankSCv-
ing my sister Hannah ever had.