Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-09

well 1 said wasn't quite we'll, and the
Lord knows | wasn't.
Sally said I'd better take dose of calo-
mel, there wasn't nothin' like calomel.
After breakfast / went out 10 go to
work, but hadn't no heart for workin'
10 been kind o. taken Il for granted for
so long that Lucy was to be my wife, and
had so felt that all my work was to make
a home for her and me, that now there
wasn't any chance for her comm 1 felt as
II there wasn't no use In doin' anything.
| didn't care nothin' about the farm, and
didn't care noihin' about myself / felt as
II somebody had pulled the soul out Of me
like dentist pulls out tooth.
Well, things went on this way for sew.
eral days. | don't mean 10 say felt as
bad all the time as did In the beginnin' 4,
but felt mighty miserable all the time,
and Sometimes as though couldn't stand
ii. The worst was that couldn't SEQ no
end 10 Il.
Then got to thinkin' about the way
had acted, and felt sort Of mean, BOB San
ders had q right 10 court Lucy If he
wanted TO, and he'd been a fool If he
hadn't wanted TO-.
Then maybe she hadn't accepted him
after all. But l didn't dare thiuk that
way; could't stand another fall off of
them ttllls I'D been walkin' on.
Still felt as II I'd behaved mighty
mean about that card. and that l ought TO
beg Lucy's pardon. So thought I'd
write her letter, 1 tried to do Il but I
couldn't write none to eult me. Then
happened to think that II Bob Sanders
was engaged 10 her maybe she'd show him
my letter. felt as II / couldn't stand
that nohow, so l concluded that go and
sec her.
There was the rub. How was to see
her alone without goln' to her house, and
II went there maybe I'D meet Sanders,
maybe, too, she wouldn't want to see me,
and maybe-well no matter, thought
of all sorts o. maybes till | was most
sick. lay awake at nights imagining all
sorts o. things I'D say TO her when I'D
git 10 the house.
At last, one eyenin' got sort Of des.
perate like and concluded / wouldn't
stand this no longer, and SO Just fixed
myself up and started downtO the Widow
Handy's, but when l WAS purity near
there my heart failed me, and went
down TO Newport instead, and stopped AT
the tavern where played dominoes and
drunk whiskey, and when got home
that night, II Was purity late aud l was
about half light.
woke up next mSrpiu with a splittin'
headache and feelin' more miserable than
ever. That was Saturday. Next day
thought I'D go 10 church and Try 20 git a
look at Lucy. | sat way back and waited
aud waited, but she dldn't come, and ther
| took to imagining that maybe she Ws'
sick, and as | went home my mind run on
thlnkin' what IL she should die and mt
never have a chance to ask her pardon fol
bein' 90 mean 10 her.
| had got home by this time, and wher
| thought Of Lucy dyin' l forgot myscl
and groaned right out.
Sally heard me aud come runnin' in ou
of the kitchen to ask IL | was sick.
l told her | had a pain, and the Lore
knows, so l had.
Sally started right off and mixed me VI
some pepper mint and | took 1t rather than
answer questions. was glad of 1t, too
for ii gave me a chance to get out Of eat
ing dinner.
Right after SUPPER that evening go
Dick to saddle my horse. thought L,
list ride till was tired, so could sleep
but the first thing knew was headin
toward widow Handy'e.
l hadn't Intended to go there, but
thought I'd jlst ride past any how, bu
when / got near the house who should
see but the widow herself Just comm GU
at the gate with her bonnet on.
She had always been very kind to me
but / wondered whether she would be g.
now.
refined up my horse and said "goo
evenin'."
She smiled as pleasant as ever an,
/ as lra ~ aaaln i hQA atnnnah auih AtNnu
you light Pm goin' down TO see Mrs
smiths sick child myself, but Lucy lie !
/ the house."
said didn't see Lucy at church tina
mornln', and asked whether she was sic
or had che company.
NO." said Mrs. Handy, "she's onl
got bad cold, and there's nobody ther,
so expect she's kind o. lonesome. Sine
I've got to go away Pm right glad you'y
come !" and the widow went on down th
street.
walked right into the entry and the
sort o. stopped and knocked at the parlC
door. She said, "Who's therel" and sal
, "Me," and walked right In.
There was a wood-fire In the fire plac
! and she was settin' there in an easy cha
without any other light. could see h
plain enough though, and thought sh
looked prettier than ever.
1 She jumped up kind o. fustered like an
said, "Good evening Mr.. Bond"
a That "Mr. Bond" went right throug
e me kind O. cod like, though TO be sure
a had no right to thiHk the'd keep on callii
Q me Tom after what had passed. 30
said "Gooa evenln', Miss Handy" Tn,
Il neither one Of us said nothin' for 4 miuut
) Then | said, 81 saw your mother at q
a gate and she said she guessed you we
+ soi o. lonesome, so / thought I'D drop in
e ri hope you haven't put yourself to al
! Inconvenience" says she, ''for mother
d mistaken-I like very much 10 sit alone
= Thought that was a purity broad hiu
!. and dldu't knew what 90 say for a mi
ute, 90 I jast Etood there fumbin' my h
aud feelln' mighty mean, and then l "a
~ guess I'D better go then, II you'd rath
be Alone" and turned toward the door.
Then Lucy, she says, Pardon my a
se parent rudeness, Mr.. Bond, l did n
c. mean to insinuate that you were unwi
{, come"
lt That kind o. give me COURAGE and
et turned round and said "Lucy, its not
you to beg my pardon for anything, b
for me 10 beg yourn, and ! want to f
ie that Pm ashamed OF what / done {
d, last time was here, and l ask your pI
W dom"
Lucy didn't say nothln' but jlst Ike
70 lookin right down at the carpet. l &C
1u cluded she was gittin' angry again
D. think of It, but thought l might as VI
, finish now was at it, 90 kept on.
a "Iknow," says l, cit was mean
~ tear up card you set such store by, a
"a then 20 abuso the man l expect you To-
:. y. bat you see, couldn't help Il for lO'
you so myself aDd"-
"Oh Tom Tom how could you thi
- | cared anything for Bob Sanders" Ii
~ cried, but she didn't finish the sentei
w for list took her in my arms and q
nd her such a hug as its a wonder did
m smash her.
u" Well guess you can imagine the n
"A So far as the card was concerned she
~ put II In that book TO send back book
- all to Bob Sanders as the geutlest way
81 of checking him, but my rashness spOilt
plan.
as Oh, what become of hint Why
cal took school up in Chester county bel
ern Lucy and me was married, and hear
that he's goin' to marry II girl up
Iay way purity soon.
red But come, guess It's time flr sup
II Yes, there's little Tom comm TO call u
iay amt he u chubby little cuss,-and the
Lucy 10 the door with the little gal on
lie, shoulder, amt they a purity pict
Come on man, cau't wait till git tn