Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-02-12

w lieu Ae usto III iIlOtt UttiG5 " tstl i FSOl
der what he will do. Well, suppose you
are willing to be our m,itua! friend, uren't
you?
She was standing there and had laid hel
hand in mine. promised 10 serve her, the,.
left her i;y the way T.! come. In tn.
months that followed s.w her MANY
times and carried to and fro .slany mes
ayes between the sweethearts had been
their mail carrier for six months and had
given her "A start up the pole almost as
many times when her father died OF
course her lover went to see her then as
often as he liked so there was no more
need Of me. One morning about two
months after her fathers death she ran
down stairs and overlook me rs turned
the corner. She told me she was to be mar
ried that night at the minister's residence
and that she and Robert wanted me to be
one of the witnesses.
II consented, though wondered if she
didn't know what II hard request she'd
made of me. stood up there bravely,
though it took all my power to do so, and
saw Katie Allen give herself to Robert Bar
ing, and wondered if he did then or ever
would love her as devotedly as did Short
~ afterward doubted it very much. He
was not overly kind to her, staid out at
clubs late and was not as considerable for
her feelings rs he should have been saw
her just often enough to know size was
very unhappy. though only bride of ten
months.
George Birch became very sullen. He
never spoke to Barring except to tantalize,
and when he'd been married one year Birch
SO grossly iDsulted him that there was an
alteration in which both Were wounded.
Barring died within twenty-four hours, but
Birch lived to suffer awhile
''He had !, lingering spell, then improved,
only to get worse later. Katie had been Il
widow for Il year. when she sent FOR me to
tell me that George was dying and wanted
to soc her. She was very nervous and mis-
cradle. she dreaded going, yet had no wish
TO refuse. advised Eer to go and went
also, 1T least rs far as the steps. | wouldn't
go in the room. When she came out there
were tears in her eyes and she looked pale
and frightened She told me in IL low voice,
almost in Il whisper. that he was dead.
walked with her to her door. then left her
alone with her unhappy thoughts. Her
husband left her but little wealth. so She
went back to .he northwest room of the
red teneinents the one in which I'd first
seen her, which she rented quite cheaply
and managed very well, with her baby
girl for company and small hired girl
for help.
Il visited her only occasionally until sll,
left off her garb of mourning then wen,
there more frequently In time she prom
ised to be my wife, but three years went by
without her setting our wedding day. Sh,
told me that George Birch had said that i.
she married ME or any enc else he'd Civ,
her no peace, hut haunt her day and night
She did not want to believe that he could
but weeks before the day set for our mar
rage she was in ID terribly nervous stat
and declared she'd seen George in her dos,
every night for month
The evening before we were to be ma,
ried was sitting in the room holding he
child on my knee and thinking of the briyl
morrow when the back door opened sus!
denly and size screamed: Look at Georg,
Birchl 1t is not his ghost, but him. him
self. See hos; he looks at me! My God!
can't stand it! can't marry you, Simon
can't can't. Save my child: don't l.
her see that facet She moaned, wruny h.,
hands and looked mad.
IL went two blocks for a physician, bu
when returned Katie was gone locke.
for her, and others, too, butH-e never foun..
her or heard any tidings bearing on til
subject. The general opinion was that ii
her fright and excitement she had destro.
ed herself. But how. without there bein
some evidence afterward. am puzzled /.
know
81 sold my new home or the place thu:
was to have been our home, and taking he.
child | took up my abode in my same OIL
lodging house and there I've lived eve
since for this child, who will be a secop
Katie Allen in beauty God grant her
happier life
Il gave up my position us a lineman.
could not climb a pole without thinking c;
her. Since then Eve been knockin:
around, doing anything that came to III
hand, until today, when was called in
service through necessity.
''The red tenement is sold and is to b.
taken down. Hearing this l've been con-
ing here now and then, each time thin
where | first met and loved my beaut.
ful''-
Simon passed, looked fondly at littl
Katie, then gathered her in his arms
tucked her feet within the front of Ii
coat, bowed silently, crossed the street an
walked slowly, with eyes full to the bril-.
md quivering lips, to the room in whc
he lived with every crevce OF his hea:
open to admit the light from baby eyes an
the music of childish prattle, hoping i;
would in time overcome the somher dream
of blasted hope. Virginia Payne He!
richx in Philadelphia Times