The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-07-23
BEN'S OLD HAT.

bows on the sill watched the people
as they walked or drove past and
entered In at the gates OF the late Mr..
Barker's premises.
I Poor Benjamin." she sighed Il
wonder whether up in heaven he re.
members the day when he took me in
and walked me all over the house?"
J :" The things are old. fash toned.
Camiola he said TO me; but they
were mother's-and before that they
were grandmother's. / like them,
but say the word and I'll new furn-
ish-' ~. Ben says !. what your
ma likes to have don't want to alter.
like 1t all; it's good stuff and then
he kissed me-"
Miss Camiola felt for her handker-
chief as she said this to herself Aud
! we stood at the garnet window and
! looked of toward the mountains.
! We're going to be happy as ever
folks were. said he" here the tears
began to fall oh. Ben. she sobbcd;
Ito think we quarreled after that
and didn't speak when we met But
you never married and refused two
F., offers-good ones. Ben. guess we'll
meet up there sometime. and make
mp"
Why Miss Camiola, you've been
a-cryin''' said Mrs. Blacks loud
voice, Just then. in her ear Camiola
started guilty. but she was too can
did to complain OF cold or the sun
in her eyes.
We'll. / have c.ied little. Mrs.
/ Black. said she. you see. we used
TO be friends Mr. Barker and !. and
! knew his ma, and remember all that
furniture. and it seems sin to sell it
and tear down the old house. and
maybe root up the llacs and straw
berry shrubs and perhaps cut down
the trees. 1t was almost like home
to me in Mrs. Bankers day"
! We'll 1t must seem sin to any
one, and more so to you, Miss Cam
lola, said Mrs. Black. but don't
you want to so over and see the place
and what is going onp You might
as well just take a day or the rest of
1t. I'm in no hurry and you look
tuckered OUT
Mrs. Black was kind in her way and
felt a certain pity for CamioaL She
had heard that Camiola was once en-
gagged to Mr.. Barker and might to-day
have been "A rich and important widow.
instead OF poor lonely seamstress.
Go along. Miss Camiola. +" she,
/ added. Il know you want to-
did she want top Camiola asked
herself and heart answered her. yes"
She would see the old home once
more; see the old furniture; and when
she could get chance she would go
up to the garnet and stand where she
stood with Ben that day.. Her old ell
bows should lean where her young
ones had pressed she would look out.
over the mountains and fancy herself
a girl again. with Ben beside her and
his engagement ring on her finger.
And Miss Camiola thanked Mr..
Black put on her show bonnet with
the washed ribbons. and the shawl
that had been SO gosd once but was
faded and even mended now. and
walked up the road and turned into
the lane. and entered the Barker gar
den.
The neighbors who saw her nodded
or spoke but they were selling the
tstil ClOCh huu bhStO Wdo oOinO CAClbc-
ment. Camiola stood at the door
awhile and listened to the bidding.
Deacon Hickory got the clock; Mrs.
Amos Mole the clawloot ldeboard.
Jewish lady from the village bought
the trunks OF women's clothing sold
unopened for next to nothing. Ann
Barnaby the washer-woman. got the
tubs and irons cheap in lot and SO
on and so forth.
To Camiola IT, all seemed tragic.
She went Upstairs whore people were
poking the beds and pillows and en-
aiming the toilet sets and curtains
and she began TO mount the garnet
stairs
As her head rose above the floor
she gazed eagerly about her. From
the rafters hung some withered herbs
and some ropes OF onions The
trunks had been carried down and an
old bureau A coat hung upon
peg; over it hat Camiola went to
the window. She would not cry. for
she must face those people down stairs
again; but she uttered little means OF
anguish as she stood there. She
realized what life actually is at that
moment and 1t seemed very cruel to
her-once young. beloved pretty and
hopeful; now old, unloved. wrinkled
and with nothing to wish for. No
wonder that she suffered.
AT last she turned her back on the
eternal mountains--unchanged while
lives were lived. and while youth fed. 4
and love departed. and graves were
dug-and saw the coat upon the wall;
Ben's coat--an old mans coat worn
long and carelessly; and a big. broad
brimmed. soft hat The woman went
closer She nestled up against the
coat and talked to It and caressed IL
and she took the hat In her hands and
kissed It. IT was worth nothing. II
had rain stains on It Ito shape was