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

thdiS, au going 10 quit business.
Miss Wilkenning, sewing away with
nimhle fingers and cngrosscd in her own
thoughts, had not noticed that her
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 Lusiuess!' she exclaimed
"What do you mean2"
= Mr.. Wilkenning laid his paper on the
tablc, put his hands in his trousers
pockets and crossed his legs, while his
sister waited.
81 mean," he said, when he had
adjusted himself satisfactorily, "that I'm
going TO turn over tho whole thing to
Wharton and retire, 90 out; quit"
But, Alfred! you're only forty-six
years old!"
GIVE got money enough"
but you're an active, energetic man.
What will you do wtL-- -Y when
you have no business 10 Hrryud tof.
T. Mr.. Wilkennipg elevated his eyebrots.
Lt.l.ll-enjoy myself, y he said in a a,1aSntrm.
ER!sslss sssss sau = s,.s lss ssioas
NIIF4akc q ride on my hobby $SeS
Miss Wilkenning slowly gatteaof up
the work in her lap and placed it on the
table, while her brother lowered his eyes
from the ceiling and looked at her with
half furtive expression on his good
huipored face.
"Alfrcd," said Miss Wilkeuning,
solemnly, folding her hands in her lap;
"you are going to give up business on
purpose to go into the country and buy
farm. You have had that on YOUR
mind for two years--ever since you gave
Mr.. Wharton half interest in the bust
res. 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 relinquish all the
conn., rts, all the luxurics YOU have been
accustomed to here, all tho friends
WHOSE society is pleasure, an incentive
to you; you will go away from the city
and rust out in some isolated country
place, among narrow, plodding people
whom you cannot sympathizc with or
care for, =. &c toi!y. Why won't you
put the idea out of your heat and be
contentcd where you are certain to be
happiest:"
Mr.. Wilkenping arose and walked two
or three times across the room. Then he
stopped in front OF his sister.
''Alary," said lie, "the love of the
country was torn i'll me- I have lost
sight Of that fact while l slavcl at bust
l,,,t II IL.
myself, longing for the old lie comes
back to me with force you can't uriler-
stand. I've trottcd around on slabs Of
stone for as many years as care to. I'd
give ten dollars this minute if l Just
could take off my vanished boots and
silk ste Niings and plant my bare feet on
the damp, cold turf"
Mr.. Wilkenning took another turn
around the room and stopped, facing his
sister again.
every chestnut tree i'll the pasture
lot'-hc went on-''every apple tree in
the orchard-every old zig.zag fence on
that farm is cverlastingly fixed in my
memory; and they seem to be waiting
for Inc to come back
He stopped abruptly and then added:
"But you don't want to go, Mary" -
Miss Wilkeuning took her work OF
the table and began to sew again.
'I am making some warm clothes for
one of my Children" she said; "you
know have forty seven of them. What
would they do if should go away"
'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. You are tired of seeing
nothirs."M sSasc 'Sa old maids face morning
and eve f,Mravu Safer year. You don't
know ..s"'o ~ is the trouble. Ii you
we're nj. CF had n family around
you, yot our priGSe happy and"
''stos OF co't
Miss Wilkennine would have stopped
about here, anyhow; for her voice and
lips were tremulous. Her brother came
around to the back Of her chair.
'Lets see that old maids face" he
said; and he took it between his hands.
"You are the one that ought to have
husband and house full of children
to love and care for,' he said; "you are