Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-05-06
WE TWO.
y Pencil Sketch by NJ. Quad.

~ It's we two. and we two, its we two for aye.
All the world and we two, and Heaven be our
stay
1t was o gay, rollicking party that
boarded the fast express train going
cast. and, as it was late, and the cars
crowded, the noise made by the in
trnders stirred everyone to anger, and
their ilI-timed wltticisms were received
with wrath aud Indignation. The leader
of the company was a noisy youth over
flowing with an abundance of animal
| spirits, and he gave the passengers q
saucy reioinder when they reproved
him for disturbing their repOse. When
he had traversed the entire line of cars
wit out finding vacant seat, he no.
ticed an old man sitting alone but APP
parently guarding a reserved space next
to him. Rapping him smartly on the
shoulder the presumptuous youth asked
if he might sit down.
"Eh! ell ~ said the old man, in a
feeble voice. eve two have these seats !;
there isn't any room for you y
The young fellow sauntered back to
find his friends all provided for, and
after strolling through the baggage and
smoking cars he returned and saw the
seat of the old man still vacant. The
aged passenger seemed to be doing,
but he responded feebiy to the energetic
touch Of the other.
'Look here!' said the young man,
'let me have seat /; you haven't any
one with your
"Hush y answered the other, "you'n
brighten her away Can't you see her
sitting there smilin', with her long
yellcr curls, and with the white dress
that she was married in? Mebbe it
was fancy, but l could ha' touched
her before you come-no, no, she's in
| there, and Pm here-we two have lived
together for fifty years it's hard to be
separated nowl'
The Young man had seated himself
and lie paid no attention to the old
mans Wandering talk till he heard
hia saying softly over and over to him
self, Katy my Katyi Katy darlin !"
Then he listened, for Katy was the
name OF the sweet-faced, biue-eyed girl
he loved, and even now he was on his
way 10 make her his own.
"W as she your wife ?" he asked, with
more respect in his voice, nor could he
have told why he used the past tense is
the way he did
"My wife-my love my bride - vas
the almost incoherent answer. "Ohl it
was hard world, but we two travelled
it together / never had a pleasure but
Katy shared ii with ne; nor sorrow
that she didn't help bear. / wish you
could ha' seen her, Young man. She
was rs straight as young saplipg, and
that fair-complected like little child;
her hair was yallcr, like buttercups in
the meadow. I'd take you ont yonder
to see her if they'd let me, but they
wouldn't. They Jay she's changed =
she never changed in my eyes till her
hair just turned white like the blossoms
of the suow-drop. Then / knew she
was a-ripenin' for glory-there never
was any but we two. God didn't send
any children to bind our hearts or break
'em-it's cold here, and he sank back
and shivered.
81 wish could think So" answered
the young man, yawning, and feeling
life and strength in every throb of his
riotous blood care you going East 2"
he continued, for want of something
else to say.
eyes, and it's a long journey. I'm
goin' clear back to the sunrise-back to
Maine. There won't be q soul know
Twin, but Katy she hankercd after the
old buryin' ground where her folks are.
Sayr" rs the conductor passed along,
sis she all right cut there alone?"
'She's all right" answered the man,
swinging his lantern. ''There amt
nothing that II disturb her, reckon!"
''She Is with her Lord. said tue old
man, solemnly; "with Him she loved
and served all the days of her life. /
'spose she hasn't missed me or thought
of me onc't, but it would be hard trial
for me if Heavens glory made her for.
get-if we two didn't 20 hand in hand
there. as we have here-dear dear it
wouldn't seem like Heaven to me less
Katy was along"
The Young traveller passed into the
land of sleep and walked with his be-
loved in the fair bower of loves young
dream. The old mau gathered his feeble
limbs together and he, too, slept but
his lips moved, and broken, incoherent
sentences fell on the ears of those who
were awake and listening all the night
long. He, too, was walking in his
dreams with his beloved he babbled of
still waters and green pastures he sung
of golden streets and gates of pearl; of
the beauties aud mysteries of the many
mansions of the peace that floweth as a
river-he held her small, soft hand in
his, and called up the love-light in her
beautiful eyes, and played with her
yellow hair; and all the time the train
went on flying through the night, and
out in the baggage Car an old, Old
woman, wan and wrinkled, lay peace
fully in her coffin, her veined and with
cred hands crossed over heart that
was at rest. and that was all that was
mortal of Katy
Like laverock in the lift sing o bonny bride;
1t we two, and we two, happy side by side.
When the young traveller awoke in
the bright light of early day. he
stretched his cramped limbs and felt
like giant refreshed with wine, and
out of his strength and happiness gave
the old man at his side gay ''good
morning! But when, getting DO re-
spouse, he turned to look at him, he
saw that he had reached the new sun
, rise, the morning that has never noon.
ats we two it's we two while the worlds away.
SittiDt, nv the Golden shcayes on Our Weddjno