Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-05-25

quickly to meet her.
She looked at the handsome face,
and caught quick, gasping breath.
"You must be one of Johns boys,
she said. "How like you are to your
father"
81 am Fred" he answered.
"Dear hearti How you've grown!
Is your ma hereT'
'She is waiting for you at home.
The good old countrywoman had
never had the least doubt of warm
welcome at her brothers house, and
Fred certainly confirmed her expec-
tations. He found the old black
leather trunk, the bag, the great buig-
ing cotton umbrella, and put them
all in the carriage, without one smile
or ridicnle. He made his aunt go to
the restaurant and refresh herself be-
fore starting on the long drive home.
He listened with respectful interest
to all the mishaps of the long jour
ney, and sympathized with the
"Ruination of every mortal stitch
I've got on, dear, in the dust and
smoke"
And he chatted pleasantly OF his
childish recolleetions OF the tiny
house and wide farm where Sablna
lived.
sYou see," she told him, 81 made
up nv mind this year would come
to London once more before i died.
I've tried to before now, dear, but
something or nuther alters hindered.
Dear. dear. You are all grown up, |
s'pose, and you was but q lot OF ba-
bies last time poor John brought
You to see me-.
s'Corinne is the Youngest, and she
is eighteen. WILDER is the only one
older than I am"
sYes, I remember Well, dear,
I'm glad that Johns wife brought up
such fine family. I'm only an old
maid. bnt do love children and
yonng folks"
But chill fell upon the kindly
old heart when home was reached at
last, and four Acknowledgement la
dies gave her strictly courteous
greeting. But for the warm clasp of
Fred's hand, l think she would
have returned to the station in the
same carriage she came, so wounded
and sore she felt.
"Not one kiss" she thought, "and
Fred kissed me at the train, right
before all the folks"
Fred slipped a silver coin into
the hands Of the servant girl who
WAS to wait upon his aunt, promising
another if she was very attentive,
and himself escorted the old lady to
La,, ..>er..s- IGa~wass not often the
young mans Indignation found voice,
though it grew hot over many shame
ful acts of hard seliishness in the
house OF his mother, but he said some
words On that day that called a blush
to the cheeks of the worldly wo-
man.
It was not very busy season, and
finding Sabina was likely to have
sorry time, if left to the other mem
hers of the family, Fred asked for a
holiday, and appointed himself the
old ladJs escort. He was too proud
TO ca,e for the fact that the quaint
littls figure on his arm attracted
mo1y an amused glance, but graveiy
stood by while new dress for Dolly,
Che dairy-maid, and city neck-tie
for Bob, the plowman, were pur-
chased.
He gave undivided attention to the
more important selection of new
black silk for aunty herself, and
accepted blue silk scarf,
with large red spots, that was pre-
sented to him, appreciating the love
that prompted the gift, and mental
ty resolving to wear it when he paid
the promised visit to the farm. He
drove Aunt Sabina to the park. He
took her to see all the sights.
Once or twice, meeting some of his
gentleman friends, they had thought
''the queer old party is some rich re-
lation, Gorham is so very attentive"
and had delighted Sabina by their
deferential attention.
Once-Fred had not counted on
that-in picture gallery, Cornelia
Caldwell sauntered in alone. She
had heard of Sabina, through the
disousted comments of Lucilla, and
knew she had no property but
miserable farm" but she greeted
Fred with smile far more cordial
than she gave her admirers. A little
lump came in Fred's throat. Then
he gravely introduced the stately
beauty in her rustling silk to the lit
tie, old fashioned fioure o. '-fo arm.
a,I,--.nU, MISS GOrham, Miss
Caldwell"
They admired the pictures to-
gether, and the young lady was cor
dial and chatty.
After they came down the steps,
Miss Caldwell said:
"You must let your aunt drive an
hour or two with me, Mr.. Gorham.
l am going to do some shopping so
/ will not tax your patience by in
viting you to join us, but / shall be
pleased if Miss Gorham will dine
with me, and you will call for her this
evening"
Then she smiled again, made Sa-
bina comfortable in the carriage, and
drove off, leaving Fred forty times
deeper in love than ever, as she in
tended he should be.
''He is very prince of men," she
thought, "and l will give him one
days rest. Bless the dear old sonI,
she has such blue eyes as my dear
old grandmother"
Then she won Sabina's confidence,
and found she was worrying about the
purchase of certain household mat
ters that would not go in the black
leather trnuk and tbot sho d;1 not