People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-05

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. Columbine was
such an impetuous 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 unavoid.
able.
Mrs Baritone smiled broadly upon
her young wooer as he entered her
presence.
80 you've come back again." said
she.
He sat down and took her hand.
'Do you think | could long remain
away from yOu?"
That's all nonsense" said Mrs. Bar
itone. 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,"
We'll, really, don't know what to
say" simpered Mrs. Baritone. IF
believed You really loved me"
Can You doubt it, Melissa" softly
whispered Hamerslie, thinking of the
ten-thousand-dollar-legacy from old
Uncle Baritone's bachelor brother.
'But I'm so much older than you
are"
Love does not go by the calendar"
reasoned Mr.. Hamerslie, tenderly.
And Baritone always objected to
second marriages, persisted the widow.
But Baritone is dead and gonew i'm
patiently retorted the lover. What
can he possibly have to do with it?"
Just then occurred one of those mar
velous happenings which have given
rise to the saying that Truth is stran-
ger than fiction The front door
which, according to the rustic custom
OF the place, was never locked-swung
slowly open, and in the doorway stood
the well-known figure of-old Uncle
Baritone himself!
Hello, Meliss!" was his greeting.
You seem to be enjoyin' yourself
pretty well! And who the dickens is
this young man."
Mrs. Baritone jumped up with a
scream. Mr.. Willard Hamerslie caught
up the poker and straightway retreated
behind the cooking-stove.
"lf you are a ghost" screamed the
widow, don't come any nearer"
IF you are tramp, get out of this
house" roared Hamerslie, brandishing
the poker after the most threatening
fashion.
81 amt neither one nor the other"
said the apparition, leisurely seating
itself. ITS me! Benjamin Baritone,
as everybody supposed was killed in
the lime pitsl But | wasn't had
the luck to tumble out of the kilns,
as I'd tumbled in, and was that
ashamed, as took myself off for good
and all, says | to myself: Old fellow,
your wife is ashamed of you, and so is
everybody else. And you amt of no
use in the world, except to 90 fddling
around to barn frolics and husking
bees So l smashed my fiddle, and [
ran away. But times is hard, and it
amt easy to pick up livin' when a
man gets to my time of life, so here
am back again! And I've signed the
temperance pledge, and mean to stick
to it, this time. Give me a kiss, old
girl"
And so the widow Baritone was a
widow no longer.
Won't you stay to supper, young
man." said old Uncle Baritone, hospit-
ably, as he saw Win Hamerslie feeling
about for his hat under the table.
But Mr.. Hamerslie declined the invita-
ton.
Mr.. Baritone enjoyed the legacy,
himself-nor was his wife altogether
dissatisfied at the unexpected turn
which things had taken.
He always was a good husband. "
said she, except in the matter of ar.
dent spirits And in that there
particular he's a reformed man. And
really no one couldn't imagine how
cheerful his fiddle sounds about the
house, when I'm a-doin' of the chores. u
But Will Hamershe was less recon.
ciled to fate. He had lost the widow
and Columbine Carter would have moth.
ing more to say to him.
II want no secondhand lover" SAID
Biny, laughing. And when Hamerslie
saw her laugh, he knew that love wa.
fed.
He was right. Within six months
Columbine was married to a young
lawyer who had come down from AL
bany to search some title-deeds in the
courthouse records. And our buckles:
hero was left with neither wife mol
legacy.
So run the fortunes of Love!-Amy
Randolph, in n. Y. Ledger.
81 say" said the old subscriber