Year: 1874

tied under her chin a sad, quiet face,
patient mouth with lines about it that
told of sorrow, borne with gentle firm
ness and two withered, tired hands,
crossed with restless lock. That was
all.


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


Fifty years had she lived under that
roof, farmers wife. you look at that
little plate upon the coffin lid you will
see Aged 20" there, she was only TWEEN
ty when John Phillips brought her home
bride.


A half century she had kept watch
over dairy and larder, had made butter
and cheese and looked after the inAum.
erable duties that fall to the share OF n
farmers wife. And John had never gone
from home with buttonless shirts and un-
darned socks ; had never come home to
an untidy house or scolding wife. His
trim, tidy Martha had been his pride ;
and though not a demonstrative hus band,
he had boosted sometimes of the model
housewife who kept his home in order.


But underneath her quiet exterior there
was a story that John had never dreamed
of, and would have believed impossible
j had he been told. She did not marry
her love. When she was nineteen, ro-
/ sy, happy girl, a stranger came on visit
to their village, and that Summer was
the brightest and happiest she ever knew.
Paul Gardner was the strangers 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 betrothed.


Pm come again in the SPRING" he
said. Trust me and wait for me, Mat
tie, dear"


She promised to love and wait for him
to the end of time, if need be, and with a
kiss on her quvering 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 ven
turedlnside their home.


Spring time came, and true to his
word, Paul returned he staid only II
day or two this time.


" am going away in few weeks to
Italy, to study" he said. | 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
pnt a tiny ring upon her finger, and cut II
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 he
should 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 II
newspaper, her eyes were attracted by
his name, and with white lips and dilated
eyes she read Of his marriage to another


Married Taken another bride in
stead Of coming back to marry me ! Oh
Paul, Paul, | loved and trusted yol toe
much for this"


She covered her face with her hand,
and wept bitterly. An hour afterwards
rs she sat there in the twilight, with th,
fatal newspaper on her lap, she heard 8
step ON the gravel walk, and looking, she
saw John Phillips coming up the steps
He had been to see her often before, bu
had never yet spoken Of love, and had o
course received no encouragement from
her to do 50. lie was plain, hard work
ing farmer, with no romance about him
but matter Of fact to the core. His wifi
would get few caresses or tender words
lie would be kind cnoGgh-give her plen
ty to eat and wear-but that was all
Now he seemed to have come for tn
express purpose Of asking her to be hi
wife, for he took chair and seated him
self beside her, and after the usual greet
ing, reserving scarcely moment to taxi
breath. began in his business-like way L
converse. There was no confession o
love, no pleading, no hand-clasping, n
tender glances ; he simply wanted sh
should be his wife. His manner wa
hearty enough /; there was no doubt b
really wanted her-would rather MARI,
her than any other woman he kncw-bu
that was all.


Her lips moved to tell him she did no
love him, but as she let her eyes fall from
the crimson hearted rose that swung from
the vine over the window, she caugh
sight of those few lines again.
married :" she said to herself, "Wha
can do lie doesn't ask me TO low
him. If / marry him | can be trli
wife to him and nobody will know tina
Paul has Tilted me-"


The decision was made, Her cheek
were ashy pale as she looked straight in
to his eyes and answered, Yes, will b
your wife"


Her parents were pleased that she wa
chosen by so welltodo n young man, g
it was settled, and they were married tn
same Summer. People thought she SC
bered down wonderfully more than tha
nothing was said that would lead an
one to suppose that any change had take
place.


Yes, she had sobered down. She dare
not think of Paul. There was no boI
ahead. Life was n time to he filed wit
eornothino tbat eha MIGHT NOT th;pI< ,