Year: 1874

THE STORY OF A DISAPPOINTED LIFE


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


Who, looking at the sleeping form,
would think of love and romance, of a
heart only just healed of a wound re-
ceived long. long years ago.


Fifty years she had lived under that
roof, farmers wife. IF you look on
that little plate on her coffin lid, you
will see Aged 70.s there, she was only
twenty when John Phillips brought
her home bride.


A half century she had kept watch
over dairy and larder, had made but
ter and cheese, aud looked after
the innumerable duties that fall to
the share of a farmers wife. And
John had never gone with buttonless
shirts or undarned socks; had never
come home to an untidy house and
scolding wife. His trim tidy Martha
had been his pride and though not a
demonstrative husband, he had boast
ed sometimes Of the model housewife
who kept his. home 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 her love. When she was
nineteen, a rosy, happy girl, stranger
came on visit to their village, and
that summer was the brightest and
happinest she ever knew. Paul Gard
ener was the strangers name; he was
an artist, and fellin love with the sim
pie village girl and won her heart; and
when he went away in the autumn they
were both betrothed.


iii come again 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 kiss on her quivering lips
he went away.


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


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


Il am going away in few weeks to
Italy, to study he said. Il 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 tiny ring upon her finger; and
and cut a little curly tress from
her brown hair, and telling her
always to 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 herself
so that she might be worthy of her
lover, when hesshould come back to
make her his wife.


1t must be about time for him to
start she said to herself one day.


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


Married Taken another bride in
stead of comming back to marry me
Oh, Paul, Paul / loved and trusted
you too much for this


She covered her face with her hands
and wept bitterly. An hour Afterwards,
as she sat there in the twilight with
the fatal newspaper on her lap, she
heard step on the gravel walk, and
looking she saw John Phillips coming
up the steps.


He had been to see her often before,
but had never yet spoken of love, and
had of course received no encourage
ment to do so. He was a plain, hard
working farmer, with no romance
about him, but matter of fact to the
core. His wife would get few caresses
or tender words. He would be kind
enough-give her plenty to eat and
wear-but this was all.


Now he seemed to have come for the
express purpose of asking her to be
his wife, for he took chair and seat
ed himself beside her and after the usu-
ual greeting. reserving scarcely mo-
ment to take breath, began in his
business like way, to converse. -
There was no confession of love, no
pleading, no hand -clasping. no tender
glances he simply wanted her; would
she be his wife2 His manner was
hearty enough; there was no doubt he
really wanted her-would rather mar
~ her than any other woman he knew
but that was all.


Her lips moved to tell him she did
not love him; but as she let her eyes
fall from the crimson-hearted rose
that swung from the vine over the
window, she caught sight of those few
lines again.


Married she said to herself.
What can l do! He dosen't'ask me to
love him. If l marry him | can be a
true wife to him and nobody will know
that Paul has Tilted me.


The decision was made. Her cheeks
were ashy pale as she looked straight
into his eyes and answered, Yes, l
will be your wife.


Her parents were pleased that she
was chosen by SO well-to-do a young
man. so it was settled, and they mar
ried the sa me summer. People thought
she sobered down wonderfully; more
than that nothing was said that would
lead any one to suppose that any change
had taken place.


Yes, she had sobered down. She
dared not think of Paul. There was
no hope ahead. Life was time to be
filled with something, that she might
not think of herself. John was al
ways kind, bufshe got so wearied Of
his talk of stock and crops, and said to
herself. I must work harder, plan and
fuss and hustle about as other women
do. so that 1 may forget and grow like
John.


Two wears went swiftly by. A baby