The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-11-26
Selert StOrp.
THE BEND OF THE ROAD.
From Al The Year Rnnnl.

An old man leaning over gate at sun
set In the background a farmhouse and
buildings surrounded by meadows; in the
foreground a white dusty country road.
This was the picture presented to my
eye-the picture round which the story is
written.
He was tall old man, and his frame,
bent as it was, must have been exception
ally powerful in its day; but now there was
an appearance of weakness prevailing the
entire personality The hand that clutch
ed the gatepost was feeble one; the face,
with its look of patience expectancy, was
very wan and drawn, though it might be
more by sickness than age, and the eyes
that were bent upon the winding road be
fore them were dim as though the light
was fast departing from them.
His eyes were bent upon the road, the
dusty whiteness of which was unsullicd
except by the presence of my own sombre,
travel-stained figure, for was on my way
to the village which lay beyond, round the
bend of the road, but there was something
in the solitary form before me that caused
me to slacken my pace until was almost
at standstill.
| noticed that the old man 5 weak gaze
seemed to be fixed upon Just this same
bend of the road, and from something In
his attitude and expression | judged him
to be waiting for some one whom he ex-
pected to come from this direction In
accordance with the custom of the country
| | wished him ''good evening.
He answered back in weak, quaverins
voice. which seemed little in accordance
with the massive frame to which 1t be
/ longed
Good evenin' to ye Sir"
| was abcut to hazard some other re-
mark-such as it being fine weather fol
the crops-when the old man suddenly
became violently agitated. His gaze
which for Il brief instant while | spok,
had been diverted frcm that particular spot
upon which it had been fixed, returned
thither, and was now riveted upon som'
approaching object which, though somg
distance off, was yet perceptible even to hs
dimmed vision.
'Look, Maggy, look - he cried, il
trembling eagerness; "see there, at th
bend o tn road can see summat red
like"
And he pointed with shaking finger
[ have spoken of the old mans solitar,
figure-and so it had at first appeared
but now. as he uttered these words, | wa
aware of that of a woman Il little way be
hind him, which ! had previously over
looked. She now came forward and, bend
ing over the gate beside the old man, look
ed down the road She was young-quit'
girl-and her face, so far as could SET
it under the penthouse of sunbonnet, wa
pretty after pale pathetic style, but from
something in her dress and manner judg
ed her to be somewhat lower in station
than the old man. The hand with which
she shaded her eyes as she looked dowT
the road was red and roughened by hare
work. and vet in her eyes | Thought | saw
the same expression of patient waiting anC
expectancy which | had read in those o
him who had addressed her as "Maggy.
| aI.ook, Alagey, look r the latter crloc
again. dts comm nearer. Is it som'
un in a red coat, think ye?''
And his excitement was so great that h,
was obliged to cling to the satepost for
support.
The young woman ga2ed for moment
down the road. and the hand that shaded
her eyes from the rays of the setting sur
trembled Then she turned to the ole
man. and | fancied | heard the ghost Of ;
sigh as she answered him, as one woulC
answer child,
'lYo, daddy, no, not this time I'll
only Farmer brakes wife in her red shaw
drivin' home from market,
The old mans excitement died out a
rapidly as it had kindled, and his face tool
upon it its former look Of pathetic patienc
as he quavered out:
"Aye, Maggy, lass, ye're right, ye're al
lers right; but he's sure to come soon. i
not today, tomorrow or maybe next day.
Then his eyes fell upon me again, as
impelled by some feeling of mingled sym
pathy and curiosity evoked by the littl'
scene | had just Witnessed, had fingered
by the gate
"We're a-watchin' fur our Joe" he ex
planned with feeble smile as he uttered
the name. 'He's bin in furrin parts, bu
he's comm home now eh, Maggy
"Yes, daddy" she answered, with +
faint smile like his own and a note of cheer
fulness-feigned or otherwise-in he
voice. "he's comm home--sOon.
babe them both, the old man and
for so l Judged her to be by her address
ing him as 'daddy daughter, 'gooc
evening and left them Before | hao
gone far encountered the very woman il
in the red shawl the delpsive appearahc
of which had, it appeared, raised falls
hopes in at least one breast. She wa
driving cart from which came the cackl,
of poultry, and presented a perfect EN-
bodiment of rural prosperity and yet
felt, vaguely, that owned her a grudg
for being herself instead of some one else
When |, too, reached the bend of tn
road. round which the village lay, looke'
back.
The sun had gone down and coldnes
had fallen upon the landscape, but fan
cied that could still see the two waitin:
figures at the gate.
| remained some days at the village an'
made the acquaintance of the clergyman
who owned the living and preached tw'
sermons per week to drowsy and limite'
congregation in an old, cd church, tn
date of which was not known to q centur.
or so. One day met him coming out 0
the very same gate over which | bad seel