The Delta independent., 1890-01-07
home for the holidays and WAS the

home for the holidays, and Vas the
family joy and pride as heretofore.
And the splint basket hung upon the
hook in the pantry with persistency
only possible to a southern basket in o.
southern kitchen. .
1t was old and shabby and 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 a week
and had been to call on all his old
friends, and had found the Virginiun
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 vii
lape 10 Ine pOSLOlnce.
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
t,1rpo6 hiS ctaps homnwor6 ,,d n, ~,
full upon n tall youth who carried in
his hand shabby little old splipt bas-
ket
WELL" cried this young fellow in
astonishment sis it you or somebody
else?"
II believe l am myself" said Ed
ward. But who-unless-why, it is
Phil Peyton, grown like the vine in
Jack and the Bean-stalkn"
Il do shove up" said Phil "You
look shorter samehow. Well, how do
you do? Somehow it seems as If this
all happened before"
alt did-eleven years ago." said the
older man. you carried the same
basket and were going for coffee"
.Ive 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 l offered to run over to
the store. Goodbye. Do come over
and have Il cigar and chat"
He hurried away. Edward went
slowly up the hill. Had Sallie altered
II, much as Phil had? he asked himself.
Sallie was q now; he was 81. He
hcaved sigh suitable for an S0th birth
day.
youth has flown" he thought,
land love with it.n
He looked over his shoulder Mt 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! lam Just as fond
of her as ever!'' sighed Edward.
What an idiot | ami
The 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 it?'' queried the mother.
| "Sallie's old beau. Mr. Edward Bar
| Iou' ohiN l. hii' Alc uluu huOW INC
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 mail?"
asked Phil. II 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 bi ought this letter in little old
| basket we have had in the house forever
| 1t Is dated eleven years ago. He remem
| bers that you gave him one for me when
| he was little boy. 1t must have caupht
| in the splints and hidden itself all this time.
| I want you to know that / never read it
before or surely [ should have answered it.
Yours truly, SALrIE PEYroS.
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 and they loved each
other, and all is we'll that ends well.
4 am asked to the wedding