To Maddy there came no definite idea of the future during the two days

that white, rigid form lay in the darkened cottage; but when, at last,

the deep grave made for Grandma Markham was occupied, and the lounge

in the little front room was empty--when the Aikenside carriage, which

had been sent down for the use of the mourners, had been driven away,

taking both Guy and Mrs. Noah--when the neighbors, too, had gone,

leaving only herself and the little hired girl sitting by the evening

fire, with the grandfather and the imbecile Uncle Joseph--then it was

that she first began to fed the pressure of the burden--began to ask

herself if she could live thus always, or at least for many years--as

Advertisement..

long as either of the two helpless men were spared. Maddy was young,

and the world as she had seen it was very bright and fair, brighter

far than a life of laborious toil, and for a while the idea that the

latter alternative must be accepted made her dizzy and faint.

As if divining her thoughts, poor old grandpa, in his prayers that

night, asked in trembling tones, which showed how much he felt what he

was saying, that God would guide his darling in all she did, and give

her wisdom to make the proper decision; that if it were best she might

be happy there with them, but if not, "Oh, Father, Father!" he sobbed,

"help me and Joseph to bear it." He could pray no more aloud, and the

gray head remained bowed down upon his chair, while Uncle Joseph, in

his peculiar way, took up the theme, begging like a very child that

Maddy might be inclined to stay--that no young men with curling hair,

a diamond cross, and smell of musk, might be permitted to come near

her with enticing looks, but that she might stay as she was and die an

old maid forever! This was the subject of Uncle Joseph's prayer, a

prayer which set the little hired girl to tittering, and would have

wrung a smile from Maddy herself had she not felt all the strange

petition implied.

With waywardness natural to people in his condition, Uncle Joseph that

night turned to Maddy for the little services his sister had formerly

rendered, and which, since her illness, Grandpa Markham had done, and

would willingly do still. But Joseph refused to let him. Maddy must

untie his cravat, unbutton his vest, and take off his shoes, while,

after he was in bed, Maddy must sit by his side, holding his hand

until he fell away to sleep. And Maddy did it cheerfully, soothing him

into quiet, and keeping back her own choking sorrow for the sake of

comforting him. Then, when this task was done she sought her

grandfather, still sitting before the kitchen fire and evidently

waiting for her. The little hired girl had retired, and thus there was

no barrier to free conversation between them.




Most Popular