The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-09-29

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door, and Nellie Marshall, her face
stained with tears, alighted with her
three children. 1--WE have come to
to stay, mother" said the broken
hearted woman. byron has gone,
nobody knows where. He has used
the money of others and we are pen
niless.
Mrs. Crandall weptOn her daughters
neck, as she told somewhat of the hard
ships of her life with her unfaithful and
dishonest husband. p.
Other years passed, and another
grave was made beside that of Samuel
Crandall, and Mrs. Marshall, now
grown white haired, lived for her
three children, and reared them as
best she could in their poverty.
One day there was a rumor in the
town that John Harding was coming
to Nineveh on a visit. He was well-tO-
do now, and would come in a style
beftting his position. Mrs, Marshall
wondered if he would call upon her,
and if he would bring Mrs. Harding to
see the woman so changed from her
girlhOod in looks, but nObler and
sweeter in character.
Mr.. Harding had been in Nineveh
for a week. Nellie had heard of it,
and her heart beat more quickly at
any fOotstep on the threshold. One
moonlight night she could not resist
putting just one spray of golden
coreopsis in the buttonhoIe of her
black dress, for if he should come
that night he would like to see it,
perhaps, for after all, women do not
forget any more than men.
About s o'clock there was a knock
at the door; she was agitated. why
should she be-" He was married, -"
she assured herself,
She opened the door, and John,
grown stouter in form and more at
tractive in face than ever, stood before
her. He met he cordially, talked with
the children, and seemed more joyous
than when a boy.
And where is Mrs. Harding?" Nellie
finally found the courage to ask.
She is not with me, was the answer.
The call, really a long one, seemed
short.
when do you leave for the West,
Mr.. Harding!" she had almost said
John" for she had thought Of him of
all these years by the old familiar
name.
Not for two or three weeks, and 1
shall see you again"
Day after day passed, aud he did
not come. And now she realized, as
she had never before, that this was the
only man she had ever loved that his
presence made day, and his absence
night; that she had loved him from
childhood. And now all was too late.
The time came for him to return to
the West, and once more he stood by
the flower beds along the walk to the
| Nineveh house, this time just as the
sun was setting over the cedars. He
kissed the children, q have none Of
my own" he said, and took Nellie's
hand, holding it a little longer than he
had held it before. Her lips trembled,
and her eyes must have told all her
heart.
Il have felt SO deeply for yOu," he
said and his own voice grew tremulOus.
"And will you let me leave this little
remembrance for the children?" He
slipped a roll of bills into her hand,
and was gone in a moment.
Weeks passed, and finally a letter
came. She knew the handwriting.
What could John wish of her? Per
haps he was inclined to adopt one Of
her children, and if so, which could
she spare?
Not the oldest boy, for he was her
pride; not the second, q girl who was
her comfort and companion; not the
youngest, for somehow he looked like
John, and he was dearer to her than
all beside. When Byron was unkind,
her heart always turned to John, and
perchance stamped her thoughts upon
the Open, frank face of John her
youngest child.
She put the letter in her pocket; she
must get calm before she read it. She
would go out and sit by the mill where
he and she sat together. She opened it
there and read:
MY Dear Old Time Friend-I Am
alone in the world. 1 told you my
wife was not with me. She died some
years ago. I wanted to see if you
loved me still, as 1 believed you did.