Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-11-21

work hard VII you help ne Mary
\ delicate pink coiored ter cheek
Mrs skinner what Will she sayE
ITS none Of her business Say yes.
Mary IN my you ANYTHING YOU like.
She raised her head i little proudly
"Of course | will AS, You 10 more tuan
my one else she began. but he
broke in gladly:
.'Whi n means that you will come
Thank you. Mary
All the way home job Tanner was
contrasting the coy little house he had
lust left with his own spacious but
lonely abode Meanwhile Mrs. Clemens
was assuring herself that she was re-
Carded 10y her late caller only In the
light of a capable servant
She went to her field IT labor early
on the Monday morning before Thanks
giving. Sail was a warm adnirer OF
Mrs Clemens and helped in her usual
careless fashion. All things for which
Mary asked we're provided. even to a
box OF cut flowers from a neighboring
city.
Thanksgiving morning dawned, gray
and overcast About s O'Clock Job en-
tered the house from the barn.
Miss Clemens. she said for you to
come in the dinin' room and see how
things looked" was Sally's greeting
When he opened the door he stood
speechless The old room was trans
formed into a bower Of beauty. The
bav window was filed with evergreens
and adorned with yellow chrysanthe
NUNS and silver leaved begonias from
Mary's home The quaint old mahog
any sideboard was filed with choice
bits of china and silver. quiverine
molds Of amber jelly. massive sill
yer cake basket filled with slices Of
rich dark fruit cake and bowl of
scarlet carnations The long table was
spread with fine linen and ornamented
with smilax and roses. On low vine
draped stand between the side win
dows was pyramid Of apples. oranges
and bananas
1T all looks good enough to eat
And SO do you" he went on. noting
her well fitting brown bingham dress.
white apron and pink ribbon at her
throat. 'Mary. you make my home a
paradise Stay here as my wife"
She grew very pale. Twice she es'
saved to speak. but the words died on
her lips. 1t was not until he came
nearer that she found her voice.
mo. no You ask me because you
are sorry for me and your home Is lone
~. | cannot be your wife ON these
terms"
II do not see why you cannot.
will be good to you. Mary"
She smiled. although her lips quiz
cred piteOusly. Il know you would.
Job There is something else"
mot another man?"
"Oh no Please don't ask any more"
~ have right to know. You must
tell me why you cannot be my wife"
There was grave dignity In his
voice that she could not gainsay. She
must tell him the truth
Because | love you. Job Tanner
Nay. do not interrupt me You would
indeed bp good to me. but know too
well the result of union where the
love Ia all ON one side. and 40 ! viii,
not he your wife Now. not word
more on the subject. have outraged
my sense Of wOlEanly pride. but you
made me speak" And before he could
| recover from his establishment she had
taken refuge in the kitchen
The guests hogan to arrive in a short
ume job had no opportunity for an
other word with Mrs Clemens. One
| fact was plain to him Mary had re
fused him.
Dinner over. there was an hour Of 90
parted When Job re-entered the house
after seeing the last load drive of. be
found Sally washing the dishes.
where is Mrs Clemens. Sally?" he
asked.
Sally paused. dshcloth in one hand
and half washed plate In the other
Where. indeed?" He recognized the
tone as one that marked the height OF
Sally's displeasure "She's gone home
dr1v or by that sister of yourn
Hump. Id jest like to give Abigail
Skinner piece Of my mind. l come
right near dOin' it, but Miss Clemens
the lamb she begged ME to keep still.
A little skillful questioning put Jot
In possession of the facts. Mrs. Skin
ner had entered the kitchen and plain
) ~ expressed to Mrs. Clemens the sur
prise and Indignation Of the famil,
concerning the widows presence.
"Saih as now they were all sayin' a.
bow she was a.throwin' " herself a
yOui mead" Sally went N. "MarN
Clemens wouldn't marry you nohow
II she would you'd be bigger foo
than You All now not to take her"
JOB did not tarry for any NOR,
words Pulling his hat we'll down owe
his eyes. he opened the door aud set OF
toward the Clemens cottage.
Upon reaching the home of Mrs
Clemens he walked In without knock
ing. The amp was lighted. and Mar
was in the sitting room She spran
up. hastily wiping her eyes.
lv