Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-16

uncle who was captain OF an ocean
steamer; and Sallie. staring at home,
refused the offers of hand. heart and
fortune made her by various gallant
Virginia youths, saw her younger sis
tiers marry, and kept the secret of her
heart from all.
IF he had but come" she often said
to herself.
IF she had but answered." Edward
said Us often, having no doubt she re-
ceived his letter.
AS for Phil, he went away 10 school,
and afterward to u military academy,
and grew tall and handsome. and came
home for the holidays, and was the
family Joy and pride us heretofore.
And the splint basket hung upon the
hook in the pantry with a persistency
only possible to southern basket in u
southern kitchen.
1t was old and shabby and a sort OF
heirloom. A big new basket had been
in constant use when Phil went on his
errand, but this had been chosen for
its small size and light weight
Phil was just 16 and home for Chris
mas, and for the first time since he
went away Edward had come home.
He had proposed, but he had not mar
ried.
He had never forgiven Sallie for re-
fusing TO forgive him, and he believ-
ed he hated women for her SINS The
truth was he still loved her.
After he had been home for week
and had been to call on ali his old
friends, and had found the Virginian
village unchanged. even the old pump,
that some one had begun TO paint
blue, stood half finished, as it was
when he went away, and old Uncle
Blink, the gardener, had not time to
finish "Platin' dem var s'ringa." he
walked one morning down into the viii
lage to the postotfice.
The postmaster was still sorting the
letters in the tea-caddy, as he had
been when he last saw him, and his
wife was reading the postal cards and
commenting on the news they convey
ed.
There were letters and papers for
him, and after he had got through
with the requisite amount OF gossip he
turned his steps homeward and came
full upon tall youth who carried in
his hand a shabby little old splint bas-
ket.
Well" cried this young fellow in
astonishment lis it you or somebody
else?"
II believe / am myself" said Ed
ward but who-unless why, it is
Phil Peyton, grown like the vine in
Jack and the Bean-stalkr"
Il do shove up" said Phil 'You
look shorter somehow. Well, how do
you do? Somehow it seems as If this
all happened before"
at did-eleven years ago." said the
older man. You carried the same
basket and were going for coffee"
ave been for coffee now" said Phil.
"Well, come and see us. Good bye,
they are waiting for the coffee. Uncle
Mo would have taken two hours to do
the errand, so offerod to run over to
the store. Goodbye. Do come over
and have cigar and a chat"
He hurried away. Edward went
slowly up the hill. Had Sallie altered
as much as Phil had? he asked himself.
Sallie was 81 now; he was 81. He
heaved sigh suitable for an S0th birth
| day.
youth has flown" he thought,
land love with it."
He looked over his shoulder at this
moment. He had reached the point
whence he could see the Peytons' gar
den.
Despite himself he turned and gazed.
Phil had entered the gate. A little
woman in blue stood there and took
the basket from him.
"Sallie! My God l am Just as fond
OF her rs ever!" sighed Edward.
hat an idiot L ami
he tears arose TO his eyes. He saw
her take the basket from Phil, and the
two entered the house together.
who do you think l just now met,
map" said Phil.
"Who was ftp" queried the mother.
"Sallie's old beau. MIR. Edward Bar
ton" said Phil. 'He didn't know me
at first"
Sallie turned to look out the window.
Here is the coffee, Martha" said
Mrs. Teyton, handing the basket to the
cook.
'Dey is letter is dis dar basket,
missus." said Martha
"Did you give me one to mailP"
asked Phil. IL didn't see it,"
mo, it is directed to Sallic," said
Mrs. Peyton. why, how dirty it is?'
She caught the letter. After one
| glance at the hand in which it was
directed she disappeared from the
room.
The next day Edward Burton receiv-
ed letter. Within it was his own
/ dear missive.
Dear Mr.. Barton: To-day when Phil
came in he brought this letter in | tile old
basket we have had in the house forever.
IL is dated eleven years ago. He remem.
! bers that you gave him one for me when
/ he was little boy. IL must have caught
in the splints and hidden itself all this time.
| | want you to know that | never read il
before or surely [ should havo answered it.
Yours truly, SALrIE PEYToN.
Eleven years of sorrow Eleven
years of anger!
1t was really one of Cupid's excel.
lent tricks; but, after all, these two
were yet young aud they loved each
other, and all Is we'll that ends we'll
l am asked to the wedding.