Year: 1874

She was dead. An old woman,
with silvery hair brushed smoothly
away from her wrinkled forehead,
and snowy cap tied under her chin;
a sad quiet face, patient mouth with
lines about it that told of sorrow
born of gentle firmness; and two
withered, tired hands, crossed with q
restless look. That was all.


Who, loo king at the sleeping form,
would think of love and romance,
of a heart only just healed of a
wound received long,long years ago?


Fifty years she had liTed under
that roof, farmers wife. If you
look on that little plate on the coffin
lid, you will see Gagged 70'' there.
She was only twenty when John
Phillips brought her home a bride.


A half century she had kept watch
over dairy and larder, had made but
ter and cheese, and looked after the
innumerable duties that fall to the
share OF the farmers wife. And
John had never gone with button
less shirts or undarned socks; had
never come home to an untidy
house ana scolding wife. His trim,
tidy Martha had been his pride; and
though not a demonstratiVe hus-
band. he had boasted sometimes of
the model housewife who kept his
house in order.


But underneath her quiet exterior
there was a story that John never
dreamed of, and would have believed
impossible had he been told. She
did not marry for love. When she
was nineteen, q rosy happy girl, a
stranger came on 3 visit to her vii
lage, and that summer was the
brightest and happiest she had ever
known. Paul Gardner was the stran-
gers name; he was an artist,and fell
in love with the simple village girl
and won her heart; and when he
went away in the autumn they were
both betrothed.


III come back in the spring." he
said. Trust me and wait for me,
Matte, dear"


She promised to love and wait
for him till the end of time, If need
be; and with a kiss on her quiVening
lips he went away.


Matte Gray did not tell her faith
er and mother of her love, for they
had no liking for London folks, and
had treated Paul none too hospita-
bly, when he ventured inside their
home.


Spring time came, and true to his
word Paul returned; he stayed only
a day or two this time.


q am going away in few weeks
to Italy to study" he said, II shall
be gone two years, and then shall
come and claim you for my bride.


They renewed their VOWS and
parted with tears and tender loving
words; he put a tiny ring upon her
finger; and cut little curly tress
from her brown hair, aud telling her
to always be true and wait for him,
he went away.


The months went by, and Matte
was trying to make the time seem
short by studying to improve her
self SO that she might be worthy OF
her lover when he should come back
to make her his wife.


at must be about time for him to
start" she said to herself one day


And by and by as she gazed over
a newspaper, her eyes were attracted
by his name, with white lips and di
lated eyes she read of his marriage
TO another.


Married! Taken another bride
instead of coming back to marry me
Oh, Paul, Paul! loved and trust
ed you too much for this"


She covered her face with hel
beautiful hands and wept bitterly
An hour afterwards as she sat there
in the twilight with the fatal news
paper in her lap, she heard step or
the gravel walk, and looking she saw
John Phillips coming up the steps


He had been to see her often be
fore but had never yet spoken o.
love, and had of course received nc
encouragement to do so. He was 6
plain, hard working farmer, with nc
romance about him, but matter-of
fact to the core. His wife would ge'
few caresses or tender words. HI
would be kind enough-give he
plenty to cat and wear-but that wa
all.


Now he seemed to have come 70,
the express purpose Of asking he
to be his wife, for he took a chai
and seated himself beside her, anC
after the usual greeting, reservinl
scarcely moment to take breath
began in his business like way, tt
converse. There was no confession
of love, no pleading, no hand clasp
ling, no tender glanees; he simpl,
wanted her; would she be lis wife
His manner was hearty enough
there was no doubt he really wante'
would rather marry her than an,
other woman he knew but that wa
all.


Her lips moved to tell him tina
she didn't love him; but as che lie
her eve fall from the crimson hear
ed rose that swung from the vim
over the window, she caught sigh


of those few lines again.


"Married!" she said to hersel


What can I do? He does not as
Ime to love him. If l marry him


can be true wife to him and nobod


will know that Paul has Tilted me.


The decision was made. HI


cheeks were hazy pale as she locke


straight into his eyes and answered


Yes, 1 will be your wife"


Her parents were pleased that 81


was chosen by so well-to-do your


man, SO it was settled, and they we
married the same summer, Poop