Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-08-24


ty Lydia Watts was exactly the girl to
comprehend the situation, and made
the most of her advantages And
Frank. in his desponding mood. sue
cumbed to fate, and supposed it
might as well be Lydia Watts as any
one else"
Talk about circumstances" said
Uncle Joah "Any man could mould
circumstances to suit himself, If only he
has little tact
"And Uncle Joab rubbed his hands
more gleefully than ever.
But as the days rolled by Uncle Joab
began to doubt the efficacy of his
charm.
II really think, rather Fenn," said
the bride, with toss OF the head en-
circled by BLACK. shining braids. ''that
you're making an unnecessary fuss
over that toothache of yours"
"An-unnecessary fuss!" repeated
Uncle Joab, in dismay,
"Old folks hadn't ought to be so fret
full and exacting," went on Lydia ut
isn't Christian; and l. for one, won't
bear it. II you can't sit quiet and
peaceable by the fire, think you had
better stay in your own room"
And Mrs. Lydia founced into the
kitchen to turn the batch Of cake in
the oven before 1t should burn.
Joab Fem rose slowly and went up
to his room. II he had been familiar
student of Shakespeare, he might have
quoted to himself the old passage:
How sharper than a serpents tooth it
is to have thankless child" But he
was not literary man, and kept his
thoughts and troubles in his own
bosom.
Frank doesn't feel So" he told him.
SELF Frank has little compassion
on his old father yet"
But that very evening, when he came
cropping down into the kitchen to get
some mustard for his aching face. he
heard Lydia conferring with her hus-
band in the adjoining sitting-room.
"lts no use talking" said Mrs, Fem,
junior, in an excited sort of way, land
l sha'n't stand it any longer, that
positive. There's very good vacancy
in the Home for Old Men, and it's the
only place he's fit for"
Perhaps you are right, my dear, u
said Frank. ruefully. For. big six.
footer though he was, he stood in NOR.
tai fear of his slim, black-eyed wife
81 dare say they'll make him very
comfortable there, and l wouldn't mint
paying a good weekly sum to secure
peace at home"
Joab Fem did not stop to find the
mustard box. He crept slowly back tC
his own room and sat down on the side
of the bed. A Home for Old Mem
A sort of living tomb in which he
was to be inferred at Lydia's capricioul
will, with his one afternoon out in the
week, his daily allowance of tobacco
and his clean, desolate cell. He shud
dered at the bare idea But what was
he to doP He remembered, with {
shudder, that he had made over all hi
property to Frank and Lydia-that ht
had actually not one cent to call hi
ownI And this was the return measure
dealt out to him.
Little Myra wouldn't have treated
me SO" said he, with one Of the salt
stinging tears of old age burning it
way down his cheek. Little Myri
would have been good to the old man.
Out into the night-the cold, spark
ling, starry ynight-he made his way, witt
the vague, half-formed idea of going t,
Myra- Peregrine Birtwhistle livet
twenty miles away, 1t is true, but h
had walked twenty miles before, and h
could again. ANY thing to get ava,
from Lydias hard, sharp eyes, and pu
distance between him and the Home
for Old Men"
"Oh, Peregrine. look here! An oil
man, asleep by the roadside. Or, IS h
asleepP Come, Peregrine, quick! It
Uncle Joab-desr, good old Uncl
Joab!"
Myra had run out in the dewy calr
of the early morning to get a few of th
watercresses that old Mrs Birtwhistl
liked for her breakfast; and to her sur
prise she found PROSTATE fgur
stretched out beside the brook, wher
Joab Fem had tried to drink. and falle
unconscious in the attempt
$50 it is" said Peregrine. ''What
ever can have brought him hereP"
And between them, they lifted hir
up, and carried him tenderly into th
house.
''Will you keep me. Myra" Joa
Fem faltered, when sense and reaso
returned once more to his becloude
brain. "Will you give me a crust, an
shelter, and keep me out of the HON
for Old MenP"
Dear Uncle Joab," said Myra, burs
ing into tears, ''you were good to IN
once, and all that have is yours, an
welcomed And. oh, Jucle Joab. sha
be proud to have you come and liv
with me. And I'm married to Per'
grine now, and we are SO happy
Aren't we, Peregrine. dearP"
Joab Fem looked sadly into he
bright eyes. If she had married h
boy, how different things would hav
been. If he could only have been cor
tent to let Fate alone, how much Wi
dom he would have shown! But b
had managed affairs to suit himsel
and this was the way he was suited.
Lydia Fem tossed her head agai
when she heard where her father-il
law had taken refuge.
4