The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-19

stitches into tho widows wardrobe,
which nobody else would do reason
ably" that lady's grief having incapaci-
tated her from holding a needle or Civ
ing her mind to material details of ''seam
and gusset and band" Bat during the
visit Miss Becky had been seized with
her sharpest attacks of rheumatism,
which had kept her in bed for weeks,
till her wages were exhausted by drugs
and doctors fees. 1t was at this time
that she made up her mind to go into
the home on her return to Plymouth.
Mrs. Dwight saw her off at the sta
tion. 81 hope you'll find the home
cosy" she said, outside the car window.
"Its lucky Parson Amory left you
that 500 after ali. He might have
doubled it.
eyes, suppose So" Miss Becky
answered meekIy. Perhaps she was
thinking that, if she were Mrs Dwight,
no old friend of hers should go begging
for refuge at an almshouse. Perhaps
she was thinking of the pretty, COM
Portable home waiting for her friend,
and wondering why their fortunes were
so unlike.
"Write when you reach Plymouth,
and let me- know how you re suited"
said Mrs. Dwight, and just then the
cars gave lurch and left her behind,
and Miss Becky turned her glance in
wards. Somebody had taken a seat be-
side her.
"Your face is familiar, madam" said
the occupant of the scat, fine-looking
gentleman, whose dark hair showed
many streaks Of silver. Il am going to
Plymouth, my early homo, which have
not seen for twenty years. am on my
way to look up my old friends"
"Twenty years is a loag timo,' an,
swered Becky. I'm afraid you wont
find many of your friends left. You'll
hardly know Plymouth"
Il suppose not-Isuppose not. Hav'
you lived there longT
~? have lived there all my days.
"Good! I'm hungry for news of the
people. Tell me everything you can
think Of. Dill Parson Amory leave a
fortuae2 He was called close. Who're s
Miss Nell, married or dead? | can see
the old place in my minds eye, and the
parsonage under the elms, and the or
chard behind it where Lucy Amory
planted young tree on her wedding
day, and the gown little B cky Thorne
wore. BY the way, is she aIivo3 Dc
you know her.?
Miss Becky hcsitated an instant.
YES" she replied, Il know her
more or less She's alive"
''And married? She must be sixty
odd; she was a pretty creature,
such---I suppose they are wrinkles now.
Where have the years gomez Is her
home in the old place still?"
''Her home' said Miss Becky, flush
ing little; ''shc has none; she is on
her way to the Old Ladies'. home"
"To the Old Ladies' homo! Becky
Thornc!'' he gasped, "And I"
You seem to have known her pretty
welI!' said Becky, who was beginning
to enjoy the incognito.
'T should think so. I've loved Becky
| Thorne from my cradle; We had a silly
quarrel which parted .us; such a trihe,
1 when look back. Do you ever look
back, MADAME
The twilight was falling about them
g Becky's face had grown shade or two
J paler all at once; she turned her dark
l velvety eyes full upon him with c
S startled air.
"You?' said she. "You must b
, Larry Rogers" Then the color swep
to her cheek in a crimson wave. "Dt
C you know, 1 never thought that yoo
o had grown old like myself! Don't yol
T know me2 1 am Becky Thornc."
i Just then the train thundcred through
e the tunnel and they forgot they wer
: ''sixty odd.'
c con the way to the Old Ladies
: home," she wrote to Mrs. Dwight, g
5 was persuaded to go to an old gentle
:. man instead!'