Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-07


who is crazy to cot.e here and stay.
only she hasn't got $500 to buy her
way. If she was here. with ME we'd
be perfectly happy. and you're growl,
ing because you have TO stay here"
Martha stared ut her. Your sister
wants to come here!' she asked in
credulously.
Yes. It's a nice, easy life. and
we've always had to work dreadful
hard. I'm afraid she will never have
$500 to come. though"
You d0n't know. Maybe Provi-
dence will open way for her," said
Martha Butterworth. suddenly losing
her bitterness Il know of somebody
who IS tired of it and wants to leave.
You mean you?" cried Mrs. Lloyd.
Martha nodded. IF do. your sister
can have ny membership"
"Oh. oh" cried Mrs. Lloyd delighted
ly. that is good of you. Martha But.
terworth If you don't change your
mind Hannah will spend the best
Thanksgiving she ever had!'
81 shan't change my mind" said
Martha decidedly. You can write and
tell her she can have my half of the
room on Thanksgiving day. Don't cry
about il, Mrs. Loyd-and. no. | don't
want you to thank me. It's not be
cause I'm kind hearted. for I'm not.
I'm dreadful bitter | do it gladly be-
cause want to go away from here.
Those are the words that Martha
Butterworth spoke. but even as she ut
tered them she felt Il tremor of fear for
the future. In leaving the detested home
she was throwing away the last de-
Tense between her frail body and-the
poorhouSe. for il might be that i'll the
end now.
On Thanksgiving day there was to
be a feast in the long dining room
downstairs, and the h0u$ekeener, Mrs
Green, had prepared all the good ola
fashioned viands that 20 to make up
the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
In the morning there was delicious
odor of browning turkey, and III! the
inmates Of the home gathered in the
sitting room and discussed other
Thanksgiving dinners that they had
Dartaken Of under happier and more
favorable auspices.
Even Martha Butterworth seemed to
have forgotten her sorrow, for she had
nut on her best black silk dress with
Il purple bow ut the throat, and her
brown hair was luffed prettily over
her ears fier 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 paror. where q great fire
had been kindled OH 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 Il word and sit,
ting down before it played one thing
after another until each old lady had
had her favorite piece played or her
favorte song sung. At last MartEaS
fingers strayed into Il melody that she
had not dared remember for ten years.
1t was her husband. Darius, favorite
song and one she had played for him
times without number. Now her voice
was somewhat broken. but it was still
Denetratingly sweet. and 1t plcrced
through the walls Of the home, and Il
man passing deiectedly along the side.
walk heard it, stopped short and lis
tened. ana when the sound OF the
piano died away he mounted the steps
of the home and rang the bell.
Mrs Green. tie matrOn, came into
the naror again and looked strangely.
.doubtfuIly. at Martha Butterworth:
who was still III the piano
"Somebndy wants TO see you. Mrs
Ruttcrwor!h." she said meaningly.
Some one to see me?' Martha was
SllrDrised for most Of tie cen$orious
,elativps were dead or had long since
removed to other states. and she hhd
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 tell. white haired. pale faced
man. well dressed Hnd prosperous look.
ing He looked once ut Martha anC
held out his arms Martha stared III
him with unbelicving eyes. for il was
her husband. Darius Ru.;erworth In
another instant she WAS in his arms
md Darius was telling his story.
One of tie women relatives had
Scolded Darius we'll that. day when
ruin fell upon him. and she had tod
him that the best thing he could do
waS to take himself away where he
rou!dnt do any more harm to his
wife's interests or happiness. or
course the relative WAS sorry after
ward. brt then it was too late. for
poor Darius he'd taken his worthless
mining stock and departed for the
west where for years he struggled for
1 living. wh;.c l:@ patiently Investigate
ed every ni"r un.il nj last he found
one that really hold ont 4 prospect or
uavin" div:innds to is trusting stock
holders That was the beginning Of
the fortune that Darius had piled up
from several of his 50 called worth
less cprilrHtcS." When he had re
Gained tie fortune he had lost he
went back tn his old home only to find
that his wife had disappeared after
five years. Hnd while it was known.
that she bad entered Il home some