The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-02-16

for hnc Work, ana sewing uudCliIieo
had been introduced; she was not so
alert in the sick-room as of yore; she
moved more slowly, and her house.
keeping talent was no longer in re-
quest; added to this, the bank where
her little earnings had been growing,
one dav failed and left her high and
dry. Some of her friends had travelled
to pastures new, some had married
away, some had ignored or forgotten
her. As for Larry Rogers, he had
been awaysfrom Plymouth this many
year. Somebody had sent him abroad
the year after Lucy Amory's marriage
to develope his musical genius. He
had grown into a famous violinist,
PLAYING all over the country to crowd
houses, before the finest people IN the
land. 1t was a beautiful romance to
Miss Becky to read in the Plymouth
Record about our gifted townsman;
she did not blame him because she sat
in the shadow, because her life had
been colorless. She sang again the
old tunes he had taught her, and made
little sunshine in her heart. All OF
happiness she had ever known he had
brought her Why should she COM
plainP And now she was going to the
Old Ladies Homel
SIT isn't exactly what expected in
mv-youth," she said to the old doctors
widow.
mo; but you'll have a nice room and
bright fire; and the neighbors will
drop in to see you and make it home
like. Now, there's old Mrs. Gum.
Nothing can persuade her to go to the
Home. She says it's only a genteel
almshouse after ALL and so she rubs
along with wnat little she can earn
and what the neighbors have mind
to send in, and they have to do it
mighty gingerly, too, just as though
they were asking favor of her. Lor',
she doesn't earn her salt.
81 dare saw" returned Miss Becky.
.Now, if it hadn't been for the rIeu-
matism 1 could earn my living for
years yet, and maybe get something
ahead again, but it seems as if the
rheumatism laid in wait for the poor
and friendlcss,
You ought to have married when
you were young, Becky" and the doc.
tors widow, who had forgotten all
about Becky's love affair and labored
under the impression that she never
had a chance-an impression which
matrons are apt to entertain concern.
ing their single friends. Miss Becky
had been spending some weeks with
Mrs. DR.. Dwight, who had moved away
from Plymouth after her husbands
death. She was there chiefly to put
some stitches into the widows ward
robe, which nobody else would do rca-
sonablv, that lady's grief having in
eapacitated her from holding needle
OF giving her mind to material details
of "seam and gusset and band" But
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 exhaust
| ed by drugs and doctors fees 1t was
at this time that she made up her mind
to 90 into Home on ier return to
Plymouth.
Mrs. ID wight saw her off at the sta
ton. II hope you'll find the Home
cow" she said, outside the car win
dow. sits lucky Pars0n Amory left
have doubled it"
Eyes, suppose so" Miss Becky an:
swered meekly. Perhaps she was
thinking that, if she were Mrs. Dwight,
no old friend of hers should go beg
ging for Il refuge at an almshonse.
Perhaps she was thinking of the pretty,
comfortable home waiting for hel
friend, and wondering why their for.
tunes 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 iurch and left her behind,
and Miss Becky turned her glance in.
ward. Somebody had taken seat be-
side her.
.Your friend was speaking of Pag,
son Amory and Plymouth" he said
81 couldn't help hearing. | was born
in Plymouth myself, but haven't mel
a soul from there these twenty years
| am on my way to look up my old
friends"
Twenty years is long time" an
swered Becky, 81 am afraid you won
find many of your friends left. You'll
hardly know Plymouth.
81 suppose not-I suppose not
Have you lived there long"
81? l have lived there all my DAYS.
Good! I'm hungry for news of the
people. Tell me everything you car
think of. Did Parson Amory leave 8
fortune? He was called close. Where
is Miss Nell-married or dead? / car
see the old place in my minds eye
and the parsonage under the elms
and the orchard behind it where Lucy
Amory planted a young tree on hel
wedding day, and the gown little
Becky Thorne wore. BY the way, is
she alive? Do you know herP'
Miss Becky hesitated an instant.
Yes" she replied. II know her
more or less. She's alive"
''And married? She must be 60 odd
| she was pretty creature, such-I sup
pose they are wrinkles now! Where
have the years gomez Is her home in
the old place stiIl?"
Her homer said Miss Becky, flush
inga little. ''She has none; she is on
her way to the Old Ladies' Home"
ITO the Old Ladies' Home! Becky
Thorne!" he gasped. "And II
''You seem to have known her pretty
we'll" said Becky, who was beginning 9
to enjoy the incognito.
81 should think so. I've loved Becky
Thorne from my cradle; we had silly
quarrel which parted us; such a trifie.
when l look back. Do you ever look
back, MADAME
The twilight was falling about them;
Becky's face had grown shade or two
paler all at once; she turned her dark,
veivety eyes full upon him with a
startled air.
''You!"yshe said. You must be
Larry Rogersp" Then the color swept
to her cheeks in a crimson wave. do
you know, l nevsr thought you had
grown old like myself! Don't you
know me? am Becky ThornS!"
just then the train thundered through
the tunnel, and they forgot they were
''sixty-odd.
On the way to the Old Ladies'
Home" she wrote to Mrs. Dwight, Il
was persuaded to go to an old gentle
mans instead. ."-BOstOn 1rdceler.