The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-12
Dick went up the garden path alone.

Dick went up the garden path alone.
His friend loitered discretly in the rear
A woman came out on the path just as
Dick reached IT.
A woman Of forty-nve, neatly clad In
home dress Of silver gray, with ribbons OF
blue In brown hair and at her breast.
She was not beautiful, she was not even
pretty. But she had the kindest, truest
face, and the pleasantest brown eyes, and
the sweetest smile that Philip Joyce had
had ever seen.
my dear husband !" she exclaimed with
her heart in her voice. And she threw her
arms around Dicks neck and kissed him
with her heart upon her lips.
Philip saw his frieDd's face as he bent
down to return the kiss.
1t was full of the placid, perfect JOY
which no man can ever feel unlrss his
heart is surely anchored in the haven OF
pleasant home.
'There's a husband who loves his vile,
and a wife who loves her husband No
need of a Divorce Court here thought Phil
ip, as Dick beckoned him 70 approach. and
introduced him.
"Carre and were Just trying your fav-
orite song, Dick" said Mrs. Barry rs she
entered the drawing room.
ave heard you singing like manYis,
my dear" replied Dick.
"CHTrleJ Raspeu IulllP.
'My sister Carrie, Miss Renton," said
Mrs. Barry just then.
MI. joyce bowed to lady of thirty.
She had the kind face of her sister, but her
eyes were large and blue with rather SAD
expression in their depths. Yet "Sister
Carrie" was very cheerful AID pleasant
and when they separated at II O'Clock that
night, the bachelor confessed to himself
that he had passed the pea>autest evening
of his life.
~ wonder your sister-in-law has never
married, Dickp" he said, as they smoked
last cigar together.
''Carrie? She was enga- ed at sixteen to
a young divinity student. He died just be-
fore their wedding day-one week, think,
before they were to have been married.
Since then she has lived with u.s."
And cared for no one?" asked Philip.
''For no one--in that way. "Carrie's
heart is full of kindness for every one.
But she will never marry now, l think.
The bachelor Strengthened up, and Dick
winked wickedly into the darkness.
land now tell me, how long have you
been married, Dick9" asked Philip.
"Twenty five years"
GOOD Gracious! and you are still as
| happy, and as fond of each other as this?'
cay, aud we shall grow fnnder, | trust,
| III tell you something, When | married
was fool, and my Mary was not so wise
as she is now. Before we had been one
six months We had a serious notion of be.
ing two again"
"a divorced" gasped Philip.
"Yes. And Carrie saved US from that.
So We went on learning to bear each other
to make allowance for each other-til
now, after twenty-five years of welded
! life, .Ove Mary better than | did on my
wedding day. Aud she has the same feel
ing for me-"
"Carrie-that is, Miss Renton-was your
| good angel them" said Philip.
"She was, Heaven bless herr replied
Dick.
81 wish she would be mne," thought the
bachelor.
"And in a few months she was his good
angel; for they were married-that wo-
man-hating bochelor aud the quiet Miss
Carrie Renton.
Phillip Joyce never afterward rallied nt
married life, and never afterwards belev-
ed that nineteen out OF twenty among mar
ried people would be unmarried ii they
could be-"