Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-04
Tales aud Sketehes.
Dawes OLD FRIENDS.


pipe together and talked of crops, the
weather, and business In general. Jane
was no fool. as she often observed. She
gathered that David was part owner Of
ship-yard, and had built some tidy craft
himself. Another time she would not be
SO particular about the door-mat.
In the midst of the talk and smoke,
Miss Simmons came floating In, in . fut-
ter of muslin and ribbons, breithless,
bright, aud coquettish. II Just run over.
between the drops,' said she, shaking out
her curls with jewelled fingers.
Miss Simmons was pretty girl from
the city. She had wit, she had wealth, it
was said, and she was quite belle. She
played, and sung, she chattered brightly.
She smiled on Mr.. David, and rattlsd Of
his favorite old tunes. 1t was new to him
to have any one to shine especially for
him, sparkle and warble and plume them.
selves for him. Miss Simmons clear voice
and high-keyed notes, her tall and grace
full figure, her noiseless, easy movements,
charmed him. "a splendid girl ~ he said
to himself land how smooth her skin is.
whereas Hannah Hannah was pcck-
marked.
Hannah! He steaded his voice and
said, How is Hannah" as If the whole
party had been making allusion to her.
Sister Jane colored up. Don't you
talk to me about Hannahr' she said.
And they didn't talk. At that moment
Miss Simmons struck up brilliant bravura
on the piano, and when 1t did, like .
ham took his leave
dropping in on one or another old aquain-
Eipo11v he Str,p, blod ;rx<, %bo b~;ye,
ming household where Betsev presided.
Betsey had settled in life, as the sexton
said--settled like building on ill-made
ground. She had been trim, she had
been sharp, model woman. with a dav-
or of crab-apple about her: she had grown
slipshod and vinegarish. A devoted
mother was Mrs. Betsey Jones, as Jane
had piously intimated, querulously salts
fed that she, at least, was doing her duty.
and looking out rainily on the rest of the
world, expecting it to share her burdens
"Inever go anywhere, never!n she said.
"or l might have known you were in
town. Dear, dear, to think how time
does go! Jim"-turning to the eldest, a
barefoot, sunburned lad-"I thought you
was to run errands for your aunt Hannah
this afternoon. It's the only thing to keep
'em out of my way" she added. 'and the
least Hannah can do"
"Where is Hannah ?" asked Mr. David
at last.
La. don't you know? Well, to be
sure Why, Hannah always was odd.
you know. Jane offered her good home,
and am sure had no end Of work for
her; but She $ dreadfully set is Hannsh.
and she's
"Married?@
BLESS you, no. There no chance ios
Hannah now, since she refused Jasper
and Jane is mortallv offended
with her."
Why ?" queried the listener impatient
II.
Why. she's keeping shop down in the
village"
Il guess I'll take turn down and see
her." said Mr.. David, abruptly, as jim,
sped out of the door, followed by troop
of smaller fry
Here yeu. Tim and Joe. come back =
cried the mother. Hannah mazin, par
ticular and techy, and don't like to see 50
many on 'em round barefoot"
However, the troop were of, and if Han
nah had errands for all those nimble feet,
she must have been busy woman. Jim
hitching up his trowsers and holding ou
to his shred of q hat, shot down the quier
street. and vani shed at the corner where
the old pump stood.
".Jim?" called Mr.. David, 'hold on A
bit. I'm coming too"
''Hurrv up, then," said Jim. 1--WE got
lots of chores to do, and Aunt Hannah--''
You like your Aunt Hannah, do you
.Im?''
You may bet your life on that an
swered jim, sententiously. "She's one OF
the reg'lars, she is. tell your and Jim
wound up this pleasing information with
long, low, whistle of indefinite applause
Keeping the boy in sight. Mr.. David
presently came in front of quiet. cozy
little shop with a great tree before it, In
the miniature show-window hung bright
array OF ribbons, over which the swaying
leaves cast ilichering shadows a pot OF
geranium with scarlet blossoms glittered
against the snowy curtain within. A
wholesome. well-swept, cheery-looking
place. David did not want any ribbons.
He couldn't decorate himself with milli-
merry but as he looked within the doorway
and saw quiet, shaded sitting room just
back of the shop, and quiet, little figure
in pink dress and black silk apron. sew
ing busily. his heart gave great lesP.
all unconscious of being seen, threaded
her needle and hummed a blithe song 10
herself.
A beautiful inner picture, as though he
were looking throug ii the depths of cam
era at some chastc image, ideal, shining,
out of his reach altogether. She seemed
to him Il lady in Il dream. apart from the
dusty WAYS of common life. Yet she kept
the little shop under the tree.
/ did not think Mr.. David would have
had courage to break the spell that seem
ed to separate him from his old friend.
iad not jim, bursting in, announced his
presence.
4 quiet little woman, David had said:
This did not seem very quiescent person
.ge, however, this flushed and tremulons
somebody, like and yet not like the old
Hannah, who came toward him with elo.
luent eyes and hands outstretched, CRYING
Dave" like q note OF old pathetic music.
All, that was welcome At that mo-
ment David thought it cheaply bought
with eight years of absence.
rCoNTINuYD ON FOURTH PAsE.1