The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-07-30

lad" | SAID "and III help you car
ry the jug the rest of the way, il
you'll tell me your nahe."
"Tom Horton, sir, but | guess
can carry it now. Pm all rested,
and | want to tell Katie | brought
it myself.'
"All right, Tom, l honor your
sentiment, but if | put my cane
through The handle you can take
one end and | the other, so you see
] won't touch the jug myself, but IN
that way can relieve you of some
of the weight.
| think Ton in his heart felt the
sophistry in my argument without
knowing it, for he consented to the
plan rather reluctantly, although
after we fairly started on our jour
ney lie chatted on quite cheertully,
and we soon reached the cottage of
Farmer Granger. Tom gave a
shrill whistle as we drew near the
gate, and Immediately the cottage
door opened and a little girl flew
down the path and sprang into
Toms outstretched arms like a llt-
tie squirrel. | moved away unno.
ticed, Tor something came to my
throat which made me feel that if
tried to speak | should cry, What
was the matter with me? l walked
briskly homeNard, but do what
would, | could think of nothing,
see nothing but that picture the
devoted little knight and his little
lady love, with the homely brown
jug of syrup at their feet. Why in
the world should the memory of it
bring the tears so near my eyes ?
COnll it be an intuitive provision
of after years
Another picture from the same
corner OF my heart:
a bright, sunny day in early
summer, sparkling brook, a beau.
titul elm.tree on the bank, in the
shade of its branches two figures,
girl of sixteen or seventeen years
with knitting in her hands, her face
shaded by broad. brimmed hat,
her graceful little figure dressed in
a quiet cool looking gown. In the
distance some men raking hay,
toward whom the little head turns
very often, although the other fig
ure under the tree is talking to her
all the time. She laughs "a merry |
little laugh now and then, and some.
times picks up bits of grass or
clover aud pelts the speaker with
them. OF course you know it is
Katie and myself. We are both
older than when l saw her leap in
into TOMS arms that evening but
are we wiser 7
The haymakers are Farmer Gran.
ger and Tom Horton with the "hir-
ed help"
Let us see, am | wiser with my !
advanced years. There has been a
panse in conversation, the needles
have been very busy. The air, so
sweet with drying hay and full of
the soothing buzz of summer, might
have put a man of my years to
sleep, had been wiser.
"Katie 2"
"Yes, NonnO.7
Now, what made me writhe at
hat answerg The tone was sweet
the name, Nouno, | had
,aught her to call me years ago,
when felt so much older than she.
had said: "Call me Grandpa"
Jut she had laughed so heartily at
hat, and said grandpa must have
White hair; so | made a comprO-
Mise, and taught her the italian
'quivalent, which did not convey
he same idea to her mind. But
ince then she had been growing
Ip to me, and | did not feel that /
dvanced in the same ratio, aud
o-day my thought had been run.
mug riot with my reason, so that
7ben Katie said, ayes, Nonno' in
hat calm way, felt irritated and
-as silent.
"What were you going to say,
,ouno %
| moved nearer to her, and looked
nder the broad hat into the merry
yes.
''Do you love me, Katie, dear 7"
"Oh, yes, very, very much, Non
o. and the eyes grew tender.
till, felt Irritated. / took her
ands, aud stopped the clicking Of
le needles she looked at me ia a
lrprised way.
"Why, NouuO, you, know Tom
nd both love you dearly"
just then a shrill whistle in the
istance made her start up. She
'aved her hand to the baymakers
no we're coming toward us, and
lrned to open the basket OF lunch
on which was waiting in a cool
Drner for them. l turned away
aud was moving to-
ard the road when she caught me I
y the arm.
"Ah, now please don't 60. There's
lenty of luncheon for you, aud ,
ON said be sure and make NOnno /
tay with Us TO nOOning."
'sNO, Katie, / can't stay to-day.
toOd-by, dear childi God bless
our
/ took the pretty face in my
ands, kissed the sweet mouth, aud
irned quickly away lest she should
e the tears which WOnld come to
le surface this time.
I never saw Katie after that ex-
spt in the shadOWy light IN which