Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-05

10. / declare came near playing check
ers. never once thinking Il was near New
Years dav.a How 1 lied Only
didn't know that checkers were tabooed
Oh such occasions in Tamarack or
should never have suggested the game.
1--WE can play dominoes. though, can't
we. Uncle Bent"
/ wasn't dead sure whether domin0es
were III the prescribed list, 50 pretended
net to hear Bobby.
INA, dominoes are all right, amt
theyt''
ssYcs: you can play dominoes. Of
course. said Aunt Becky.
ssDominoesl / echoed. as # | had
lust caught Bobby's question. Oh, yes;
dominoes are all right. "
So Bobby aud Invent to the kitchen,
and as passed through the door / left it
open a little, for was resolved to see
how widower OF sixty and widow Of
fifty odd would make love after ten
years Of courtship. drew the table
near the door. where could hear and
see what was going on in the sitting
room, and Bobby brought out the harm
less dominoes / made SO many errors
that the little fellow had no trouble in
beating me. which made him happy to
continue, and so served my purpose.
Deacon Podson sat there twirling his
hat and looking into the fire. Aunt
Becky leaned back comfortably In her
chair and looked at the ceiling. Not q
word was spoken for q long. long time.
Presently Aunt Becky began to rock
back and forth and hum good old
u rx-x..~..>xs,~- - e~f1l.v nnH p1ns.s1xv as.I
after q few measures, Deacon PodsOn
broke in with his cracked bass, out Of
tune aud out of time, but somehow, after
all, in pleasing harmony. For long
time they sat and hummed that simple
old tune. the humping of Aunt Becky's
loose rocker marking the time, her voice
crealxing and scraping over the highest
notes, but her heart full of the sweet,
peaceful music. thought she ought to
be married, and that Deacon Podson
ought always to stay right there and
blunder his bass notes in, rough though
they were, to give tonic to Aunt Becky's
weaker tones.
Time sped along as the two old lovers
sat and sang, yet the deacon, who had
come only 10 wish happy New Year.
made no sign of going. The sun had
travelled quarter round the house just to
get peep in at the little west window
and see this comfortable old couple. and
the sight was worth all the trouble of
subduing the snow storm for the purpose.
Then, when the sun had lodged behind
the leafless orchard and finally hidden
his big, red face behind the little knoll
where sleep the dead of Tamarack, the
1
The warm glow of the fire filed
the room with lovers ligh', and
/ saw Deacon Podson's hand steal
over and close upon the long, slender
fingers of his satisfied old sweetheart.
This was all. No rapturous embraces,
no lingering kisses spoiled the peaceful
scene. Aunt Becky's face, touched by
the CLEAN from the window in the stove,
seemed SO full of tender love and gentle
satisfaction that said to myself we
young people do not know what real,
comfortable love is. Never again can
believe that true love does not run
smoothly. It is the heyday passion of
youth that finds distractions in its
course, but the steady current of Becky's
love, as she sat there hand in hand with
Deacon Podson, flowed on as grandly
and serenity as mighty river out of tor
rent time
AT last the darkness closed in upon
them and with Bobby fast asleep in his
chair had only to listen Was it wicked
thus to play the eavesdropper9 Perhaps
50. / thought so; and doubt not that
was my prevailing reason for doing 50.
How long is il since Sister Podson
passed away asked Becky, with culver
ering tenderness of tone.
It's nigh on sixteen years now, = re-
Piled the deacon. with heavy sigh,
which was echoed by Aunt Becky.
Sister Podson was such dear, good
soul. said Aunt Becky, softly, 1T
seemed a pity we couldn't a'kept her al
ways. But Gods will be done"
Yes; Gods will be done. repeated
Deacon Podson. with . deep-drawn
sigh.
ssShe was 50 lovin' like and good r.
said the dear old woman, without q
shade of that jealousy which shriveled
the heartless compliments Of younger
women under such conditions.
Yes, Sister Boggs, she was-n
'sCall me Becky, Deacon Poison
.sAn' you'll call me Josh2'
| Eyes, J-J-Joshua, " and / know Aunt
Becky put her gingham apron up to her
face. Ten years of courtship, and
doubt not this was the first time she had
addressed him by his Christian name. /
/ thought surely the deacon would see his
chance and throw both arms around heg
II. 81 = L.