The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-26

inc ehut was all That was left Of hiInI
Poor, dear Baritone! He always said
thnt women hadn't no business to mar
ry again; but he never could have fore
seen this legacy. How is poor female
10 invest it without n little advice?
And, really, Mr.. Hamcrslic is so press
Ing; and I've lived u solitary life tor
three years. como next October, and
The last conjunction was swallowed
up in deep sigh. Plainly, tho citadel
which represented tho widow Bari
tones heart was about to surrender ct
discretion.
She sat there in the neatly kept
Kitchen, knitting away, in her blacl.
calico gown and black-ribboned cap
when Mr. Hamerslie came in that af-
ternoon. How Yves she to know that
he had just been closing up that little
account in loves ledger with Columbipe
Carter? How was she to dream of
Biny's scornful tears, her indignant re-
lection of the mans miserable subter-
fuges?
You have never loved me-" sold
Biny. "If you had, you never could
have left me in this way. Go TO your
rich widow; /, for one, will never stand
in your path Nor shall stoop to en-
tighten her as to the true character of
the man she is about to marry"
So Biny had dismissed her lover.
Will Hamerslie had WINGED little. It
was not the sort of parting which he
had pictured to himself Itrobbed him
of all dignity and aplomb. But it
couldn't be helped Columbinc u.ns
such an irnpetuous little thing that she
never allowed him the opportunity to
inter the smooth speech which he had
so carefully committed to memory.
1t was awkward, but it was unapoifi-
able.
Mrs Baritone smiled broadly upon
her young wooer us he entered her
presence.
'SSo you've come back again." said
she.
He sat down and took her hand
DO You think 1 could long remain
away from you?"
That's all nonsense" said Mrs. Bar
itonc. But, nevertheless, she did not
withdraw her hand.
You promised me your answer to-
day. said he. "You can imagine how
eagerly am waiting for it,"
Well really, don't know what to
say" simpered Mrs. Baritone. ~If
believed you really loved me-
"Cnn you doubt it, Mclissa?s' softly
whispered Hamerslie, thinking of the
ten-thousand-dollar-legacy from old
Uncle Baritone's bachelor brother.
but I'm 30 much older than Won
arc"
Love does notgo by the calemlur,e
reasoned Mr.. Hamerslie, tendcrly.
And Baritone always objected 20
second marriages" persisted tho widow.
but Baritone is dead and gone!' i'm
patiently rctorted the lover. 'sWhs.t
can he possibly have to do with ft?-.
Just then occurred one of those mrD-
velous happenings which have given
rise TO tho saying that Truth is straa,-
ger than fiction The front dooe
which, according to the rustic custom
OF the place, was never locked e,Itu,p
slowly open, and in the doorway stool
the wen-known fgunc of-old Uncae
baritone himself!
Hello, Melissa was his greeting.
You seem to be enjoyin' yourself
pretty we'll! And who the diclsens.is
THIS young man?"
Mrs Baritone jumped UP with q
scream MIR. Willard Hamerslie ca,.pht
up the poker and straightway retreated
behind the cooking-stove.
IF you are ghost" screamed the
widow, don't come any nearer"
IF you are tramp, get out OF this
housed" roared Hamerslie, brantlishine
the poker after the most threatening
fashion.
II atn't neither one nor the other"
said the apparition. leisurely seating
itself Its me! Benjamin Baritone,
as everybody supposed was killed in
the lime pits! But I wasn't. I had
the luck to tumble out of the kilns.
as I'd tuInblcd in, and I was that
ashamed, Us took myself off for good
and all says to myself: Old fellow,
your wife is ashamed of you, and SO Is
every body else And you amt of no
use In the world. except to go folding
around to barn frolics and huskiny
bees So smashed my fiddle, and I
ran away. But times is hard, and Il
amt easy to pick mp livin' when o
man gets 10 my time Of life, 80 here I
am back again! And I've signed the
temperance pledge, and mean to stick
to it. this time. Give me a kiss, old
girlr'
And 80 the widow Raritme@wassa
widow no longer.
Wont You stay to supper, young
men?' said old Uncle Baritone, hoeptt-
ably, as he saw Win Hamerslie feclin1
about for his hat under the table.
But ME. Hamerslie declined the invita-
ton.
MIR. Baritone enjoyed the legacy
himseH-nor was his wife altogether
dissatisfied at the unexpected turn
which things had taken.
HE ALWAYS was q mod b,,sho,,a .,