The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-05-27

that the loyal woman mad ever dealt
him. James did not speak, and aft
err a moment she continued: "Yes,
every year. No matter where she
happened to be living, my birthday
handkerchief has arrived on time.
They have come from many coun-
tries, Mr.. Lambert-Italy, England,
Germany, even South Africa, if
you'll believe it! Beautiful pieces OF
linen, all of them: but never an
address so / could write and thank
her. Note that, please. It was as
If she felt you would not like me to
write, sir-that if you wished her
to hear news of us all you would
write yourself. That's loyalty, isn't
it? That's little Miss Moral But last
year :"
Martha paused so long that James
Lambert stirred uneasily, and she
said: "Maybe you noticed that I'd
been crying a bit when you came
in, sir? 1t was about Miss Nora.
Something tells me that i'll luck has
befallen her and hers. 1t was year
ago that I began to worry. My
handkerchief came. Mr.. Lambert,
but it was not a new one. 1t was
one of half dozen Mrs. Ned gave
her one Christmas, and that I'd adj
mired. / remembered distinctly the
butterflies embroidered in all four
corners. 1t had been nicely laun-
dered; but could not help wonder
ing if Miss Nora was, maybe, too
poor to buy one: and then / de
cided she might have been where
she could not shop, so had sent one
of her own. I tried to put the mat
ter out of my mind, and now, you
see, l wish that / had not"
Martha lifted Nora's birthday re-
membrance that had arrived that
day, shook out its delicate folds
and spread it across her lap.
"Do you see, Mr.. Lambert. this
is another that she had saved, be-
cause it was so handsome, I sup
pose. There near the center is
tiny place which has been mended.
And that's not all, sir. 1t is quite
yellow from being laid away-dis-
colored. She had no time even to
bleach it! That is why I was crying
little, Mr.. Lambert. Don't you
see, Miss Nora would never have
sent old Martha a mended hand
kerchief if she could have bought
new one. And not to launder it!
She may be sick, Mr.. Lambert. I
feel in my bones that things are
wrong with her; while I, who would
give my life for the poor lamb, and
you, the only father she ever knew,
are warm and comfortable, sur
rounded with every luxury"
There was silence before the old
woman continued, her voice trem-
bling: THAT is not right, Mr.. Lam
bert. It is not Christian. Do not
tell me that / am forgetting my
place to say so. know it. I have
been your servant for more than
half my life, sir; but / have been
your friend as well; and you, the
good Lords knows, have been a
friend to me. There is no man in
the world that I admire as / adj
mire you, sir; but that does not
blind me to your faults. Why should
it? ! have seen you show forgive
ness that was almost heavenly; but
you can be stubborn-too stubborn
for your own good or the good of
those that love you.
II do not know what passed be-
tween you and Miss Nora before she
went away. / do not know what Bit
ter things you may both have said.
I do not want to know. But we
are getting old, Mr.. Lambert, you
and L; and old age is a lonely
time, a sad time, unless one can
look back over the years and say:
I have done my best If you will
remember, all Miss Nora asked was
to marry the man she loved; and
Therel" broke off Martha in con-
fusion, 81 did not intend to preach
a sermon, to you Of all people! But
these things have lain heavy on
my heart for years, Mr.. Lambert,
and / had to speak. If ] have Of