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only a common laborer in the vineyard。〃 He stopped and hesitated； he
might have said more； but the widow； who was familiar with that kind of
humility as the ordinary perfunctory expression of her class； suggested no
sympathetic interest in his mission。
〃Thar's a deal o' talk over there；〃 she said dryly； 〃and thar's folks ez
thinks thar's a deal o' money spent in picnicking the Gospel that might be
given to them ez wish to spread it； or to their widows and children。 But
that don't consarn you； Brother Gideon。 Sister Parsons hez money enough
to settle her darter Meely comfortably on her own land； and I've heard tell
that you and Meely was only waitin' till you was ordained to be jined
together。 You'll hev an easier time of it； Brother Gideon； than poor Marvin
Hiler had；〃 she continued； suppressing her tears with a certain astringency
that took the place of her lost pride； 〃but the Lord wills that some should
be tried and some not。〃
〃But I am not going to marry Meely Parsons；〃 said Gideon quietly。
The widow took her foot from the rocker。 〃Not marry Meely！〃 she
repeated vaguely。 But relapsing into her despondent mood she continued：
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〃Then I reckon it's true what other folks sez of Brother Silas Braggley
makin' up to her and his powerful exhortin' influence over her ma。 Folks
sez ez Sister Parsons hez just resigned her soul inter his keepin'。〃
〃Brother Silas hez a heavenly gift；〃 said the young man； with gentle
enthusiasm； 〃and perhaps it may be so。 If it is； it is the Lord's will。 But I
do not marry Meely because my life and my ways henceforth must lie far
beyond her sphere of strength。 I oughtn't to drag a young inexperienced
soul with me to battle and struggle in the thorny paths that I must tread。〃
〃I reckon you know your own mind；〃 said Sister Hiler grimly。 〃But
thar's folks ez might allow that Meely Parsons ain't any better than others；
that she shouldn't have her share o' trials and keers and crosses。 Riches and
bringin' up don't exempt folks from the shadder。 I married Marvin Hiler
outer a house ez good ez Sister Parsons'； and at a time when old Cyrus
Parsons hadn't a roof to his head but the cover of the emigrant wagon he
kem across the plains in。 I might say ez Marvin knowed pretty well wot it
was to have a helpmeet in his ministration； if it wasn't vanity of sperit to
say it now。 But the flesh is weak； Brother Gideon。〃 Her influenza here
resolved itself into unmistakable tears； which she wiped away with the
first article that was accessible in the work…bag before her。 As it chanced to
be a black silk neckerchief of the deceased Hiler； the result was funereal；
suggestive； but practically ineffective。
〃You were a good wife to Brother Hiler；〃 said the young man gently。
〃Everybody knows that。〃
〃It's suthin' to think of since he's gone；〃 continued the widow； bringing
her work nearer to her eyes to adjust it to their tear… dimmed focus。 〃It's
suthin' to lay to heart in the lonely days and nights when thar's no man
round to fetch water and wood and lend a hand to doin' chores； it's suthin'
to remember； with his three children to feed； and little Selby； the eldest；
that vain and useless that he can't even tote the baby round while I do the
work of a hired man。〃
〃It's a hard trial； Sister Hiler；〃 said Gideon； 〃but the Lord has His
appointed time。〃
Familiar as consolation by vague quotation was to Sister Hiler； there
was an occult sympathy in the tone in which this was offered that lifted
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her for an instant out of her narrower self。 She raised her eyes to his。 The
personal abstraction of the devotee had no place in the deep dark eyes that
were lifted from the cradle to hers with a sad； discriminating； and almost
womanly sympathy。 Surprised out of her selfish preoccupation； she was
reminded of her apparent callousness to what might be his present
disappointment。 Perhaps it seemed strange to her； too； that those tender
eyes should go a…begging。
〃Yer takin' a Christian view of yer own disappointment； Brother
Gideon；〃 she said； with less astringency of manner； 〃but every heart
knoweth its own sorrer。 I'll be gettin' supper now that the baby's sleepin'
sound； and ye'll sit by and eat。〃
〃If you let me help you； Sister Hiler；〃 said the young man with a
cheerfulness that belied any overwhelming heart affection； and awakened
in the widow a feminine curiosity as to his real feelings to Meely。 But her
further questioning was met with a frank； amiable； and simple brevity that
was as puzzling as the most artful periphrase of tact。 Accustomed as she
was to the loquacity of grief and the confiding prolixity of disappointed
lovers； she could not understand her guest's quiescent attitude。 Her
curiosity； however； soon gave way to the habitual contemplation of her
own sorrows； and she could not forego the opportune presence of a
sympathizing auditor to whom she could relieve her feelings。 The
preparations for the evening meal were therefore accompanied by a dreary
monotone of lamentation。 She bewailed her lost youth； her brief courtship；
the struggles of her early married life； her premature widowhood； her
penurious and helpless existence； the disruption of all her present ties； the
hopelessness of the future。 She rehearsed the unending plaint of those long
evenings； set to the music of the restless wind around her bleak dwelling；
with something of its stridulous reiteration。 The young man listened； and
replied with softly assenting eyes； but without pausing in the material aid
that he was quietly giving her。 He had removed the cradle of the sleeping
child to the bedroom； quieted the sudden wakefulness of 〃Pinkey；〃
rearranged the straggling furniture of the sitting…room with much order
and tidiness； repaired the hinges of a rebellious shutter and the lock of an
unyielding door； and yet had apparently retained an unabated interest in
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her spoken woes。 Surprised once more into recognizing this devotion；
Sister Hiler abruptly arrested her monologue。
〃Well； if you ain't the handiest man I ever seed about a house！〃
〃Am I？〃 said Gideon； with suddenly sparkling eyes。 〃Do you really
think so？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Then you don't know how glad I am。〃 His frank face so unmistakably
showed his simple gratification that the widow； after gazing at him for a
moment； was suddenly seized with a bewildering fancy。 The first effect of
it was the abrupt withdrawal of her eyes； then a sudden effusion of blood
to her forehead that finally extended to her cheekbones； and then an
interval of forgetfulness where she remained with a plate held vaguely in
her hand。 When she succeeded at last in putting it on the table instead of
the young man's lap； she said in a voice quite unlike her own；
〃Sho！〃
〃I mean it；〃 said Gideon； cheerfully。 After a pause； in which he
unostentatiously rearranged the table which the widow was abstractedly
disorganizing； he said gently； 〃After tea； when you're not so much
flustered with work and worry； and more composed in spirit； we'll have a
little talk； Sister Hiler。 I'm in no hurry to…night； and if you don't mind I'll
make myself comfortable in the barn with my blanket until sun…up to…
morrow。 I can get up early enough to do some odd chores round the lot
before I go。〃
〃You know best； Brother Gideon；〃 said the widow； faintly； 〃and if you
think it's the Lord's will； and no speshal trouble to you； so do。 But sakes
alive！ it's time I tidied myself a little；〃 she continued； lifting one hand to
her hair； while with the other she endeavored to fasten a buttonless collar；
〃leavin' alone the vanities o' dress； it's ez much as one can do to keep a
clean rag on with the children climbin' over ye。 Sit by； and I'll be back in a
minit。〃 Sh