The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-08-15


brought out in relief on her face, like the
chasing on silver. IL made her more at
tractive than she had been in her youth.
for she had new er been pretty.
She and her mother reached the com
Portable house, with three great elms in
front of it, whore they lived, two hours
before sunset.
About an hour later Adoniram Dill went
home too from his labor across tho fields
He was tall, muscular old man, with a
strong featured beardless face. He was so
straight and agile that he looked like a
young man tho width of a field away.
When he came nearer, one saw his iron
gray hair, the deep seams, and the old
brown tint of his face with start of sur
prise.
Supper was not quite ready, so after he
had washed his face and hands at the
kitchen sink, he went into the stting-room
and sat down in a Calico covered rocking
chair with newspaper. His mother
looked in presently, and saw him there.
She stood in the entry door and beckoned
him solemnly. "Come into the parlor n
minute" she whispered; "I've got some
thin l want to tell you, aan' the children
will be racin' in here"
Adoniram rose and followed her in
obediently.
She shut the parlor door and looked
think? Mis- Wheat was over to the meetin'
this AFTERNOON, and she an me hid a little
talk after tho others was gone, am she
brought up that old affair Of you an Becca
agin."
There amt any use bringa' it up,
mother"
"She says she didn't meap1a tfy,z when
she talked to you so about that butterfly
business. She Jest thought you hadn't
ba a iy,J
things as ketchin' Butterflies, an she
wanted Becca to core in an do some
SEWN. That's what sle said. l let her
know | didn't believed word ont. | told
her right to her face mat she thought you
want good enough for Becca, an she
wanted her to hev thtt rich Arms Teller"
Seems to me I'd have let it all gone,
mother"
II want goin' toilet it all go, Adoniram.
I'm slow spoken, 81 don't often speak,
but once in awhile l've got to. She's the
most aggervatin'-I don't know what you
would hev done With her eff you had mar
ried Becca. You'd he'd to hev her arter
Mr. Wheat died She 'ain't never liked me.
She tried to be dretful nice to me to-day,
cause she'd 60 an ak to grind; but she'd
got so much SPITE in her she couldn't help
it showin' out lectle. Why, she kerried
it into the prsyer- meetin', she did, Adon-
old an broker down, an she's three year
older'n me- think it's awful to show out
that way in sprayer- meetin'."
"P'rhaps sie didn't mean anything"
eyes, she did l knew Jest what she
meant 10y thu hull ont, Adoniram Dill.
She's gotlkirder sick livin' thar alone with
Becca, without any man to split up kind
lin'-wood az bring in water, an she's try
in to git you back agin. She jest the
same as said she hedn't no objections to
it. | guess she thinks you've been dom
mighty nics thing now to hev you step in
thar with your money an wait on 'em. l
see through her"
"P'rhaps it amt so, mother"
Eyes, tits. Adoniram Dill, you don't
mean to say you'd hev any idee of mar
ryin' BeCca Wheat, arter you've been
treated as you hev?'
you amt heard me say any such thing,
mother"
Il thought you looked kinder queer. You
wouldn't, would you, Adoniram"
mot if it didn't seem for-the best. l
dOn't-knOw"
All Of sudden Adoniram Dill sat down
beside the little parlor table and leaned his
head on it as he had forty years ago.
whats the NATTER" his mother asked,
with scared start, looking at him with
awed eyes 1t was almost likeAg coming
back of the dead, this rising of her sons
youth from its snowy and grassy grave in
her sight. so, Adoniram, YOU poor boy,
you amt felt jest the same way about her
all these years? It's awful. hadn't any
idee ont"
"Never mind, mother. James callin' us
to supper; you go right along, an I'll come
in a minute"
Thar amt any need of your havin' any
more frettin' about it, anyhow, Adoniram.
Her mothers willin', an | amt O doubt
but Becca is. I've seen her look kinder
down hearted sometimes; for all she's so
good an uucomplainin', | guess she's been
worried as well as some other folks. You
jest slick up arter supper an go right over
an ask her. Thar amt no reason at all
why you shouldn't. You amt nuther of
YOU so very old, not more'n sixty. AM |
don't know as Mis- Wheat III be 50 very bad
to git along with. l dessay she's meant all
right"
Adoniram said nothing. He rose with
an effort, and went out to supper with his
mother, who kept gazing at him with
loving, questioning eyes.
Amt you goin'E' she whispered when
they were in the sitting-room again.
u guess not tonight, mother"
"Well, mebbe It's jest as well to wait till
to-morrer. | don't want Mis- Wheat to
think you was in too much of a rush"
After his mother had gone to bed and
the summer night was complete with all
It's stars out doors, he sat down on the
front doorstep alone and thought. He
felt like wanderer returned to some
beautiful, dear country, the true home of
his heart, which he had never thought TO
see again. Tonight the golden gates of
youth swung open with sweet music for
Adoniram Dill, with his gray locks and his