The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-09

L.
and you've not been any oft. When YOU
die. | shall have this label tackc across
your coffin He began life as a poet, full
Of grand hopes and aspirations. and ended
by being slovenly old bachelor, who
made fortune in the brick-pressing bust
ness.'"
cousin Mary, let's start to the camp
meeting.'
AT the camp ground Sam Harrington
and little Mrs. Gerry sat among the deyout
part OF the congregation, and listened TO
the sermon like old folks. when IL was
over, and they had all LETT the wooden
benches, tall, pale lady. with lnstrous
black eyes, and dark, wayy hair, stood up
facing them. An aged lady, with silyery
hair and "A sweet placid face, leaned on the
others arm, and the younger lady careful
~ supported her feeble steps.
That's widow and her mother" whis-
pered Sans cousin. Isn't she lovely -
sam looked. The fine, delicate face was
the least biz faded and tired-looking. but
not bit sourcd or gloomy. Oh, no. not
the least. Ii was a clear. true iace-iine.
strong. and pure, like steel or silk. or
something Of that sort. Little Mrs. Gerty
caught the schoolmistress' hand.
Widow u said she. this is Cousin
sam Harrington, rich. slovenly old
bachelor. 1 wish you'd take him OFF my
hands. Sam-Miss Kildare"
Z" Wh-a-a-t," screamed he. crafty.
" Don't hurt my arm so. What did you
do that for z" said Mrs. Gerry.
'.Mr. Harrington and used 10 know
each other long ago, when was yoang =
said the schoolmistress calmly. but with
an ineffable look from her dark. soft
fringed eyes. :" | met Ar. Harrington fif-
teen years ago. at a camp-meeting. have
never seen him from that day to this"
Then she moved on in a calm. graceful
way. with little spot of quivering sun
shine CHANGING across her gray dress a
she passed. And the first thing Sam HAIR
rington did was 10 look sheepishly down
AT his dusty boots. while his face Redeemed
slowly with the memory of an old flame.
He laid his hand on Mrs. Gerty's ann.
cousin Mary. You said while ago
that used 10 be poet and an enthusiast,
with bright hopes and aspirations. and II
had all ended in my being a useless. SLOW
emily old bachelor. who got rich at potent
brick-making. That woman knows why"
"Then / am sure you wronged her
more than she wronged you. She Is the
rruest, best. brightest woman ever knew.
do wonder il you are the man she nearly
broke her heart about long ago. I've
heard whisper Of that. I'm sure. You
were always too hard and unforgiying,
Sam
Little Mrs. Gerty. romantic as a girl.
watches them narrowly. Were the old
flames kindling into life again : Some
times little Mrs. Gerry thought they had
never died entirely out from the hearts of
either. Sam Harrington began 10 blacken
his boots and button his wristbands.
One summer moonlit evening Alice Kill
dare sat in the porch of the little cottage
in which she lived with her mother. She
was looking down the avenue Of trees i'm
front, toward the west, where the sun
was sinking in the glowing sky. sam
Harrington came slowly up the walk and
Joined her in the porch.
:" Widow Kildare" he said, "l've come
TO bid you good-by."
Have you - said the widow. She
would not ask word more.
- Yes, | must go back 10 my muck-rak-
ing. Bricks, you know, and clay. and fur
naces and things. | meant 10 be poet
when used TO be in love with you. fifteen
years ago. Now am a brickmaker.r
Used To be, That was what she had
stayed an cid maid for. Her heart was
like lead in her bosom. but she smiled and
said AFTER ali, brickmaker Is a. good
as poet"
" Are you sure you think that, Widow
Kildare?''
:. Yes; quite sure"
. Wouldn't you like to see 'em-great
brick-yards. and the huge furnaces. bak-
ing the patent bricks by the hali-million -
- Yes - answered the widow. 81
could tell the school-children about il, you
know"
sam Harrington made face. Then he
looked at her, and saw that. i'm spite Of the
brave, proud head which she held up so
stately her face was pale and sorrowful as
face could be, as though she were parting
with last great hope.
And he actually smiled to see IL. She
had tortured him bitterly once. He threw
his hat across the floor, and sat down on
the edge of the porch at her feet.
Alice" he said, "why haven't you
been married. What have you stayed
sin gle all these years for?'
she looked AT him and tried 10 answer.
but the sound died away In sorrowful,
bitter sob, and she covered her face with
her hands. The brave, proud woman was
crying. He took one Of the slim, cold
hands in both his own.
,sAlce-I never got over 1.-THE old
hurt you gave me once. never got over
the old love either. Be my wife, now.
darling, and let US begin all new again.
A little old-fashioned portfolio lay on
her lap. She took from II slip OF paper.
all yellow and creased with age. She held
the paper toward him.
samuel Harrington! You said in this
note that a woman was incapable Of truth
or faithfulness. Will you take II back
she said softly. Twill you take 1t all backs'
He tore the paper into shreds and frag-
ments and blew 1t away through his fin
gers, and | don't know where the wind
carried IL.
$50, please heaven. my hand shall re-
move all that gives you pain or trouble "a
long as you live. God bless you,my wife
Cod bless ma all ~