The Dawson journal., 1883-09-06

| SICAOAIdu lEOul TOD To
toe, and | used to be thought the
richer and the handsomer man
ha, ha." He gave a great lauob
and slapped Justify the olivegreen
patch on the knee of his well worn
gray trowsers. "Wealthy, thev
say you are now, clever, success
full. Well, Tn glad of it, and I'm
glad to see you, too-right glad!
Matte, Mattel" he called in a
loud tone, resuming his seat on
the door-sill at the same time
Here's an old friend come to see
u.s."
Mrs. Palethorp soon made her
appearance. She still wore the
faded calico wrapper, her hair was
still in frizzy knot, and she still
had the baby in her arms. The
bloom was gone from her cheek,
the brightness from her eve, and
the music from her voice. Scarce
ly trace of her beauty remained,
but the presence of the only wo-
man | had ever loved, and once
asked to be my wife, afectad me
deeply.
"Harry-Mr. Eldrege."
There was no light in the room,
but felt that her lips were grow
ing pale, and her heart beating
fast and loud. She had the baby
III the cradle, made hasty move
ment to arrange her dress, and
then, III a confused kind of way,
approached me and held out her
hand. took it calmly enough
for my love was dead! Johnny's
tow-head and dirt-pie had swept
away the last lingering vestige of
my old, fond fancy; and Jack, in
nocent soul, stolidly smoking his
pipe IN the doorway, had no cause
for even the remotest suspicion Of
jealousy.
"You are not married?" she ask
ed, after a pause, turning away
her head.
mo; though I suppose I could
support a wife now," [ replied,
little proudly.
She sighed, and for answer bent
over the cradle with a gentle,
motherly tenderness that went far
toward reconciling me to the fad
ed calico and untidy hair.
So far from being in bed, as l
had fondly hoped they would be,
the children were all up, and as
lively and unmanageable as SO
many young colts. Johnny ca
pered about on the dewy grass
plot like a small fend, playing
circus" with a clothes prop. Su-
sic and Kitty had an animated
war of words over their respective
dolls; little Matte whimpered for
bread and butter, with sugar on it,
and the baby was uncommonly
wakeful, and wouldn't sleep long
er than two minutes at time,
swapping its round blue eyes wide
open and bowling like a young
Banshee the moment the rocking
ceased and one attempted anything
like conversation.
Jack smoked through it all with
an Indifference that amounted to
sublimity, and the poor weary
mother soothed and patted, and
covered and uncovered the restless
little mite in the cradle, with pa
tience and sweetness that won my
utmost veneration.
[ bade the happy pair good
night-for [ suppose they were
happy, after fashion and went
away, thankful to the very bottom
of my heart that | was not Jack,
and those pledges of marital affec-
ton not mine. / was disenchant-
ed. My angel was no longer an
angel but a woman, and very or
dlnary woman at that, who had
married not Jack Palethorp, but
Jack Palethorp's farm, while un-
selfish love as she had to give she
had given to me.
My comfortable bachelor quar-
ters seem doubly pleasant since
my return from Hartsville. l am
only thirty-one, but during the
ten years which have passed since
[ returned back upon its quiet
streets and shady lanes, thoughts,
hopes purposes and tastes are all
changed, and the memory Of my
early love is but faint and misty
shadow, changed like the rest, as
little regretted and as little neces-
sary to me now as / once thought
it indispensable to my happiness
and impossible to live without.
BArLEY's SALINE ArERrENT is white
powder. and when placed in water, ,foams,
sparkles, and tastes just like soda water.
1t is very cooling and pleasant, acts
gently upon the bowels, relieves constl-
patton cures sick headache, sour stem
ach and heartburn.
ENGLISH FEMALE BlTTERs sends red
blood to a siclxly woman's cheeks and
strength to her muscles. by giving an
appetite, aiding digestion and building
up the system. All sickly women who
need never-failing female regulator,
will be delighted with its prompt and
reliable action.
slough on ChIlle,'
Cures 5 cases for 25 cts. in cash or stamps
! Mailed by John Parham, Atlanta, ga.
DAWSON, GA, July 21, 1883