The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-01-01
Mr., WILKENNlNG'S HOBBY,
BI q. II. AUGUR.

| BI o. II. AUGUR.
"Mary, am going to quit business. y
MISS Wilkenning, sewing away with
nimble fingers and cngrosscd in her own
thoughts, had not noticed that hel
brother had ceased reading; and this
abrupt remark startled her. She looked
up quickly and found his calm gaze rest
Ing ON her face.
Quit lusiucss!' she exclaimed
"What do you meau2"
Mr. Wilkenning laid his paper on tho
table, put his hands in his trousers
pockets aud crossed his legs, while his
sister waited.
81 mean," he said, when he had
adjusted himself satisfactorily, 'sthat I'm
| gong TO turn over the whole thing ia
Wharton aud retire, go out; Quit"
but, Alfred! you're only forty.six
years old.n
We got moneJ onouoh."
~, nu. you 10 an ac'iVe' energetic man.
you have no business 10 HrteaG tor" AS'
Mr.. Wilkenning elevated his ey yebros.
Y ssl'il enjoy myself, ne said in q. asSt ~.
rlssass ie9ss g :! y = ~ SSlodl
Z y ltakc 9 ride On iny liobby 80
Miss Wilkenning sie%fy gath bsan up
the work in her lap aud placed it on the
table, while her brother lowered his ewes
from tile ceiling and looked at her with
u half furtive expression on his good
humored face.
NAllrcd," said Miss Wilkeuninp,
solemnly, folding her hands in her lap;
you are going to give up business on
pHposc to go into the country and buv
farm. You have had that on YOUR
mind ior two years--ever since you gave
Mf. Wharton half interest in the bust
ce;s. You look back to the DAYS of
your boyhood, and you imagine that YOU
could again be as happy and free as YOU
were then. You don't consider that the
conditions have changed that you have
changed. You will relinouish all the
com, t,rts. all the luxuries you have beef
accustomed to here, all tho friends
WHOSE society is a pleasure, an incentive
to you; you will go away from the city
and rust out in some isolated countrs
place, among narrow, plodding people
whom you cannot sympathizc with or
care for. IL is folly. Why won't you
put the idea out of your head and be
coptented where you are certain to be
happiest?"
|. MI. Wilkenping arose and walked two
OF three times across the room. Then he
stopped in front OF his sister.
MARY said he, "the love OF the
country was born in me. have lost
sight of that f&ct while shaved at busi.
ness; but now, when am able to free
myself, longing for the old lie comes
back to me with a force you can't uuuer-
stand. Pve trotted around on slabs of
stone for as many years as care to. I'd
give ten dollars this minute if lust
could take off my vanished boots and
silk stockings and plant my bare feet on
the damp, cold turf"
Dir. Wilkenning took another turn
around the room and stopped, facing his
sister again.
every chestnut tree in the pasture
lot'-he went on-"every apple tree in
the orchard--every old zig. gag fence ON
that farm is cverlastingly fixed in my
memory; and they seem to be waiting
for me to come back"
He stopped abruptly and then added:
"But you don't want to go, Mary"
Miss Wilkeuning took her work oil
the table and began to sew again.
81 am making some warm clothes foi
one Of my children" she said; "you
know have forty seven of them. What
would they do il should go away2n
"Ah, yes your mission. You have a
hobby, too. had forgotten that"
Miss Wilkenning looked earnestly into
her brothers face.
"Alfred, "she. said; "you are tired OF
your home. life. fau are tired of seeing
nothisa.sm. ~ ''SsaId maids face morning
and evS SApasu 'Yafser year, You don't
we're m our pri{ had a family around
you, y Of eoiy oe happy and
Miss Wflkenning would have stopped
about here, anyhow; for her voice and
lips were tremulous. Her brother came
around to the back of her chair.
"Let's see that old maids face" he
said; and he took Il between his hands.
"You are the one that ought to have
a husband and a house full of children
to love and care for" he said; ''you are