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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1887)
WILLAMETTE FARMEJR: SALEM, OREGON, MARCH 4, L887 Current .fera.tir.. TUB QUESTION AN8WBRED. Brightly w,n tha moon Inclining O'er her honey suckled dor; Sweet ws night Id illver shining i Yet sho yearned for something mote. Perfumoi were her senses steoptog In a faint yet subtle tide ; Yet sho coldly, half resenting, Listened lUt'esi to hit tale. Though a night such peaco possess'og Should all captlousuoM disarm, Yet sho found hersolf confessing Naturo noinuhow failed to chsrm. Did the moon smile down too brisliMy? Love bird weary with his thrill T Ilosoi oonso the air S3 slightly ? What ohl what was lacking still ! As she pondored thus in sadness, Stole her Lover from tho door, Clasped her to his heart la gladness Then the night lacked nothing more I Martha Atkins's Marriage. "I don't bco why you enn't givo your consont, 'Taint my fault that I'm a widower. Sicknoss will tnko off tho bos', of folks ; I don't euro what cam's tnken of 'cm, I did for Lutlicry nil nny hus band could 'ft done, I don't caro who you cull up for nn uxamplo, nnd it's allors boon n saying among us, and 'Ob utnong a good mnny, that I know, that a man that's good to his first wifo may bo depended on by his second, nnd I ain't n brnggin' wliou I say it's so with mo. I llko your Marthy, and elm likns mo, and your wifo nin't agin mo, as you bo, nnd I don't know why you bo! Thcru ain't anythin' you can throw ngin mo, but Unit, that I'm a widower. All I enn say is, that ain't a crimo. Thoro's boon a great many in my fix, nnd will bo ngin, nnd " "If you can boo a spot whon you fool as if you wanted to dror your bronth a minit, I'll tako (lint timo to nnswor ye." "Well. I'm waiting'," said Mothuon Hoe, a widoworof somo year and a half's standing, who had boon wooing Martha Atkins for tho past throo months, ard now desirod to bring tho scigo to a closo. Mr. lloo and Ciiin L. Atkins woro standing braced up against tho wood homo door, arguing tho matter. "Well," Baid Mr. Atkins, "taln't your boing n widower. It wouldn't mnko nny difToronco to mo if you'd had 18 wives." "I vtiml" gasped Mothuon, nghast nt tho idea. " 'twould mako a sight of tlif feronco to 1110. I shouldn't presumed to think of mnrryin'ngainl" " Twoiildn't with mo," ropoatcd Mr. Atkins, "becauso I should consider you in tho light of n sondn-law just as much in that emu nu I do now. I don't want yon. Thnt's enough." "Marthy don't frel so," sheepishly ob served Mr. Hoc. "Look a' hero," responded tho other, "whou I sot up housekeeping I made up my mind thcro wnsn't goin' to bo but ono will nnd ono wny to my house, nnd that way wiw goin' to bo initio, mid 1'vo lived up to it. My childron havo hnd to hood my say-so, nnd thoy know it, too." "Mr. Atkinn," remonstrated Mothuon, "snail principles ns that makes n hnrd lifo for all coueernod. My wifo nnd I, now, bed things in common, nnd hed our nny about ovorything.as it como up, nnd sometimes I hod my wny, and some times sho hud hers ; but it isn't right to rulo complete, liko that." "All I want," said tho other, waving his arguments contemptuously aside, "is that you should quit coming here. Martha hits wasted enough timo on you now. Now, you remember what I say. flood-day to you." "l wan t tmuKiir oi gum jest now,' suggested Mr. Itoo. "Oil ye, you was, nnd so I say good day to ye!" nnd turning on his hoot, tho farmer betook himsolf into tho bauk kitchon, leaving tho discomfited suitor still ut his post. Aftor listening to his wlshed-for father-in-law's rotroating foot stops, hosnld to himself: "I didn't s'poso he'd bo so hn'sh. I didn't know bo wa so unchristian. Twouldn't do, I s'poso, to venter in ugin. Mnko trouble for tho women-folks, likely. Well, " and ho disconsolately took himself off, while Martha looked aftor him through tho Hints of the blind. "I oxpect as liko as not your father has been real up and down with him," sighed Mrs. Atkins, ns she looked over her daughter's shoulders. " Twould n boon better, It ho hadn't spoko up bo sudden." "Woll," said Mnrtho, 'ho didn't want to wait any longer. Ho wanted I should git ready, como fall," alluding, as directly aa sho could bring hersolf to, to tho dato of her marringo. "Yea, I know, and I'd no notion your father was so sot agin him. He hadn't said anything to rue, or I should told ye." Their consultation was bio'ien by tho entrance of the head of tho house, who coming in observed : I want you should throw on your bonnet, nnd como and rnko nrter, eoVt I can git that roweii, this afternoon. You needn't look after that man, yonder," pointing to tho vnn isliing form of Mr. Hoe," he nin't com ing buck ngin." Martha did ns sho was bid, without n word, yot sho boliovod her suitor would intiirn. HIhi wns quito right. Tho next Wednesday nftcrnoon, just as Martha nnd her mother hnd "done tho dishes," a hesitating knock was heard at t'.io bnck-door, nnd on its being opened, thcro etood Mr. Hoc, who inquired if "Mr. Atkins was to home," nnd on boing answered "no," came in. "How nro yen, Martha? I don't know, Mis' Atkins, but you'ro surprised to soo mo, coming round to tho back-door, but bo nnd I had somo words tho oilier day about my coming hero, nnd ho war real arbitrary with mo. Now I don't liko to havo any ful!in out with folks, nnd yet I didn't fall in with his wishes about comin' hero, and so I thought it would bo plcasnntcr if I called whon ho wan't to homo. I sco ulm, or rather I hoard ho'd ben scon on t'io 'Holler road'" "Ho's gonoup toColo-aino to salt tho cri'tors," explained Mrs. Atkins. "Ho's got quito n lot of critters to paster, and ho goes up odd times to bco to 'em." "Raisin' stock is good business, Mis' Atkins," ho said npprccintingly, "when a man undc -lands it. I thought somo of it once my If, years airo." Hero tho mother intorruptcd with, "I oxpect ho'll bo back boforo very long. Ho went along in tho morning, and ho drovo tho Major, and tho Major's smart." "Well, I'll say what I hov to say, nnd go. I wish I know why ho hns got his back up so." "Father don't liko many folks any way," Martha murmured apologetically. Hero Mrs. Atkins feignod an errand, and loft tho room. Left nlono Mr. Itoc, after hovering by tho oiicu door, n little, boldly crossed tho room to where Martha sat. "I nm concerned to hov woko up so much 'itinlcnsantnces about mo." ho said, "and I wanted to soo you nlono, n-id sco if wo couldn't fix things in bo. r shape. I don't beliovo you foci ns your father doeo, Mat thy!" "No, I don't," Mnrtha bashfully ad mitted, "Whntcan I do to smooth your father down? I s'poso you know what passed between us?" "No, ho didn't Bay anything." "Well, ho was real up and down ; said ho wouldn't hov mo at all, nnd ordorcd mn off; but, Marthy, you and mo w'll havo to havo our say-so, and you mil mo is old enough to know our own minds. I'm gittin' on, and you ain't a young gal any moro,you know, Marthy, and wo can't bo hot down, as if wo was childron, and yit I can't keep comin', if it's goin' to bo so unpleasant, nnd I don't sco what wo aro goin' to do. It would bo rcdiculous for us to bo mentin' in tho woods, and behind tho barn, as if wo was young things." Martha, who had had no romance in lifo, folt ns Jf sho could hnvo onjoyod such meetings, but snld nothing. "Can't vou porsuado your father, don't you think?" "Oh, I daresn't," said Martha, shrink ing into herself at tho idea. "Well, then, can't you and your mother fix something, I wish I know what your father wnntod, nnywny. I'vo got means, nnd" "Ho don't want anybody. Ho just 1'011't want mo to lcavo homo over," said poor Marthn, taking out her handker chief. Just as Mr. Itoo was about endeavor ing to ofTor boiuo consolation, tho rat tle of wheels wns hoard, nnd Mnrthn sprang up. "Thoro's father! Ohl got away! If ho should find you hero hod drive you out in tho roughest way." "Well, I don't want to git into a quar rel. Perhaps I'd better bo goin'. Good hyp, Martha. I'll sco you whon I can," and slinking hor hand, ho loft, and hur ried out of tiio back door, as Mr. Atkins drovo into tho bam, too lato to eny any thing. Therefore ho reserved his ndmo ultious for his wifo and daughtor. Coming in, process of lime, into tho house, ho surveyed his wifo in silonco n moment, then "I boo you'vo boon lmv in' a call. Ilnin't I said I wouldn't have that man haugiii' round tho Iioubo? Don't yo know 1 ordered him awayr "You didn't say anything to mo," vonturod his wifo, "And ho vn didn't know mv will nnd pleasure. Now this is goin' to bo stop ped. I won t have .Manny marryin'. J want hor to homo. II you go on on you needn't think cournein' that iral, you'd over hov nny ono provided to fill her place. Hut you won t da'st to do that." "I caro moro for Marthy's happiness than anythin' else," said Mrs. Atkins, with sudden boldness. "And ho's n good man. 1'vo hnd my life, such as it's boon, and I want to havo Mnrthy have a good time, if sho can." Marthn soon found tho persecution mom than sho could bear, and taking tho liired man into her confidence, sent n noto to her suitor, begging him for her sake, to stay away. Mr. Itoo cuuio no more, but througa tho snmo kind medium arranged a mooting at her aunt's, who lived midway bolwoon her hoiiM) aud his, and Marthn, stealing out when her father was hi tho Hold, walked over, nnd onco thorn wm porsuaded, in compiMiy with hor aunt, to rido ovor for tho purpose of inspecting Mr. Koo's house It was a story and a half house, neatly paintod. nnd tho house furnish ings woro to all tho party, not only suf ficient but lavish. Proudly led through tho rooms by tho owner of the house both women duly admired tho parlor, with its hair-oloth sot, laco curtains and ingrain carpot, Tho Bitting-rooru, with a quito now rag-carpot, "ono my wifo wovo and mado hersolf not two years before sho died." A thorough inspection of the houso now being finished, and the housekeeper desired to get ten, Mr. Roe begun to plead his causo. "Now, Marthy, you soo what I havo to oflbr you. You'vo boon 'round nnd scon it nil; nnd nil thcro is, as far ns I'm con cerrod, is for you to fix tho day." As Mnrthy, said nothing, and lookod dis tressed, ho turned to the aunt again. "I didn't tnko you to my shop but you krow nboiit my buslnoss. Your hus band has traded with mo foryoars." "I don't need porsnadin," laughed Airs. mate. "AniY'ho continued, "I go tho shop regular ana mako it my business to tond to my business, nnd not be lion huwin' 'round tho house, moddlin' with tho womon folks. I hain't no desiro to bo undor foot all tho time, noithor. Men folks lies tho'r places, samo as women, and hotter stick to 'om." "I wish to goodnossallmon folks did." ejaculated Mrs. State. will only say so I'll fall in with any idea sho mny hov nbout it. What bo wo waitin' for, Miss Slato?" "Nothln' as I know of, if Marthy would pluck up a littlo spirit," assented Mrs. Slate. 'What bo wo, Marthy?" "I don't know," said poor Martha, "bat I hain't novor stood out against father, I don't daro to." "Woll," said Mrs. Slato, "wo must bo gcttia homo. Ma thy has nil tho ml'':in' to c'o, nnd !io father will bo in a regular stow'f sho ain't on timo." Dnr'ng tho t'mo nccunicd in getting tho team roady Mrs. Slato j,avo hor niece good advico about tho dancer of dolny, and reminded hor the man wasn't inclined to bo put on with patienco, and suggested that, tired of wniting, ho might console himsolf with his houso kcopcr. Martha's faith was not to bo bI uken by thoughts of tho houBckcopcr, no matter now capable, ami alio only smiled nt hor nunt's forebodings. As thoy drovo townrd Mrs. Slnto's Mr. Roo called nttontlon to his horso. "Thnt's n good, frco crcaturo, Mis' Slate. T bo ight him since I saw Marthy. I wanted my wifo Bhould havo n horso sho could drivo herself," with n glanco and Binllo at Martha, who said, "I don't know how to drivo. I novor tried." "Thon tnko hold now nnd try," ho snld, nnd hnnded tho reins to Martha, and praised hor driving, though indocd tho steady old horso conductod himself, and needed no guidance. Arrived nt Mrs. Slnto's, Mnrtha wns not allowed to got out. Mr. Roo pro posed to tnko her "a pioco fnrthor" to wnrd homo. 'Ho novor will," snld Mnrthn. "Ho novcr gnvo up nnything ho fixed his mind on." "Then it will bo as onsy to bronk nwny ono timo ns nnothor." "If it wasn't for mothor." snld Mnr tha, "I don't fcol as I could lenvo hor to get on nlono." "Woll, I fcol for your mothor. but I don't sco ns things will bo nny smoother ono timo than itnothcr. Thoro I can't tako you nny farther, that turn in tho road will fotch us in viow of tho houso." As ho spoko ho cot down from tho bug gy nnd helped Mnrtha out, nnd as ho took her linnu, nt parting, lolt n small round nnrcol in it. "I hain't mado you n present of nny kind, Mnrthy, for nil I think of you. I'vo been so upsot, seems so, but I bco that whon I was in Lanos boro, and I thought maybo you'd liko it." Martha thanked him shyly, nnd turn ed away, nor dared to look at hor gift until tho sound of his wheels had died nwny. Then sho undid tho pnper. It wns a lookot, n largo ono, of an oval shnpo, with an ornamont on ono sido of n branch of black onnmol, supporting wnxon borries. Martha was very much pleased. "I oxpect thoso nro pearls," sho said to herself, and carofully, roll ed it up in its tissuo papers and put it in her pocket, nnd thon hnstonod homo, relieved to find that sho had not yet been missed by her father. Aftor this tho timo dragged woarily along. Martha neithor saw nor board of Mr. Roe. Sho did not doubt him, but elio realized that ho meant what ho said. Her mothor urged Martha to lenvo her, but her consolonco would not let her, and hor fear of itninodiato vongcaiico nt tho hands ot hor futhcr also doterred her. Cain Atkins would hnvo felt flat tered had ho guessed at tho nbsoluto fear his daughter limlol mm. As Christmas approached Mrs. Slato announced n great departure; sho woo to givo n Christinas dinner, n thing un heard of in tho annals of the family of tho neighborhood. Martha longed to go ; tho uncertainty weighed upon hor, and sho thought that oaco at hor aunt's she could see Mr. Itoo, but her father promptly crushed all such hopes. "If sister Slnto is n mind to waste her menus, nnd Slnto is fool enough to lot her,gettin' up dinners on such heathon ish days," said Mr. Atkins, sho may, but I and inino shan't countenance 'om. "Thoro nin't nothin' heathenish nbout Christmas dry," Baid Mrs. Atkins, "tho Bible fixed it." "Well, who keeps it! Nobody except Episcopals, whoso minister goes 'louud his pulpit, liko n walking show, with his wife's whito gown on. I shan't do it. You needn't to nsk, you ain't goin'." Mrs. Slnto canio in person to urge her wishes; all to no nvail. After a fruitless discussion with her brother, sho was lain to leave discomfited, assuring him with great heat that ho was "as arbitrary as tho Grand Turk." Tho day before Christmas Mr. Atkins announced that he had changed his mind about keeping Christmas, and having enjoyed tho springing hopes of wife and daughter, extinguished them again by unfolding his plan, which was to have a "slotcring of hogs. Six ot 'em waiting. I'll got 'nm killed early in the morning and cut up, Bo's't you and Marthy can try out the lard in tho after noon, and that'll keep your minds occu pied. You won't want anything else to think of." Ho was as good as his word. Marthn was wakened iu tho gray of tho morn ing by tho shrieks of tho poor oroaturos, aud her father .spent tho morning, plcasatly to himself, preparing his wifo's and daughter's tasks for tho aftorioon ; but, whilo staggering townrd tho houso with a load of mcut, ho slipped on an icy stone, and foil hoavily, nnd lay thoro until the hired man en mo to raiso him, when, for tho first timo in Ills lifo, he fainted. Drought in tho houso ami laid upon his bed, thcro was n running to and fro, and tho'xamphiro" bottlo wns produced. Tho old man declared himsolf to bo dy ing, and demanded n doctor, though Amos, who had somo skill In such mat ters, through a long attondunco on cat tle, rcasurod Mrs. Atkins. "H'mph, ho hain't hurt none, not to speak of, Mis' Atkins. That kind," with n contemptous jerk of bis head toward tho bedroom, from whenco could bo heard the mingled groans nnd railings of Mr. Atkins, "n!lus glv' out thoy'ro dyln', if nnything nils 'em. Ho'll bo nil right in n. dny or two. 'Twon't do no hurt to hnvo a doctor, s'pow. I vum if I wns yon nnd Mnrthy. I'd tnko the chanco, andclcar out and lenvo him." As Amos spoko Mrs. Atkins started hastily, put down what sho wns doing, called Martha from tho bodroom, desir ed Amos to got his team ready and Mar tha to como up stairs. Unco thoro sho pulled out un old trunk, tho only ono tho houso contained, nnd began putting into it Martha's posossions, In frnntio hnste. "What nro you doing, Mother Atkins? Aro you crazy?" said Martha, who really feared sho know not what. "Never mind," roplicd her mother, hurriedly folding up ono garment after another, and cramming them into tho trunk. "Put on your best clothes, quick, Amos will bo ready pretty soon, your'ro goin' to your Aunt Slate's." "I can't, what nro you thinking of? Fathor hurt, and you to do everything!" "Mnrthy, do you menn to marry thnt mnn or not?" demanded Mrc, Atkins, pausing a moment in her hurried prepar ations. "Yes, I know." Well, if you over do, you'll havo to marry him to day, your father is on his back and can't, ovortnko you, and Amos will holp you off. Ho put it in my head. I don't like girls running away to get marriod, but when thoy hnvo such fathers' ns you have, thoro nin't no other wny. You can sny your mother did It. Don't wnsto your timo tnlkin. I'll help you with your dress." Marthy, quito dazed, oboyed hor moth er, protesting nil tho time. "It nin't right, what will you do? Oh think, how ho will I won't do itl I can't lcavo you 1" "fllnrtny, uo you want to break my heart? do you?" "I can stand anything, but sccin' you unhappy. You know what ho is, and ho's standin' ready, and waitin' for you, but ho nin't comin to you, an thoro ain't no other way. Amos can rido along to Mr. Koo's place, and ho'll git tho min ister ready, and your father won't know nnything about it. Now," and lifting tho trunk nt ono end nnd Marthn taking tho othor, thoy carried it softly down stairs between thorn, and out of tho door. Amos, driving tip at tho niomont, tho trunk wns pn. into tho sloigh, nnd Mnrtha was helped in and tho robes tucked around her, almost boforo she know it. "Amos," snid Mrs. Atkins, "you soo what I'm doing, hut 1'vo hed to." Amos gave n comprehensive grin, but snid nothing. Tho tear rnn down Martha's checks, but her mother re strained her footings until sho should bo alone. "Now, Marthy, don't you frit; you'll koep Christmas aftor all, nnd don't you think of mo. Amos, you sco if ho's to Mrs. Slnto's, and if ho ain't, rido over to his house, tain t much out of tho wny; nnd yon can hurry, so as not. to keep him wniting for tho doctor," hopelossly mixing hor pronouns, in hor hurry nnd agitation. "Tnlut right," said Mnrthn, "Icavinir you this wny." "Mnrthy," said her mother, "this is tho first happy Christmas I'vo had since I was n child. Good-by, nnd hurry what you can, Amos. Good-by I" nnd she stood looking after them until they woro out of sight, then turned bauk, too glad to heed tho gibes and complaints of her irritable husband. To flay thnt Mr. Atkins was in n rnge when ho discovered the elopomontof his daughter, would bo to state it feebly, but aftor tho first transport was over, ho rocognlzcd its futility, and conceiving it gratifiod his wifo, smothered his temper, and in ordor to disappoint every one, and havo tho best of it, ho bragged to all of tho smartnosB of the device, declaring "thoro wa'n't no ono but an Atkins girl would do such n thing as to run after a husband instead of with him." VtfXHVMITsttN CURED. 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