The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-28
"well. hello. Where did you drop

"oAi, Hciio! Nncro uiu you drop
from?" he shouted, in surprise. The ut
ter Inconsistencies of every one and
everything else around him was on his
broad hcnrty face. He shook her hand
hard 'Wcll, I'd as soon thought OF
finding Il needle in haystacs Us look
ing to meet you this way"
II saw these horses, and l had to
speak to them. They looked just like
Thomas to me-" she said, looking at
him with glistcning eyes.
"Wcll, l should think they would.
long us you rid behind them with him :"
"llow are all the folks out our way?
Is there any ncws?"
III suppose you know about our old
place, don't you?"
Il know it's sold. l got the papers
yesterday" She took out her haudl,cr.
chief and wiped her eyes.
YES; but have you heard what
great improvements he's going to
malse?"
No; amt seen nobody from out
there since the funeral till now"
why, he's going to move Il way The
old house and build u big new one
biggest one any where around, thcy
say"
She put out ono of her hands rs if 20
find support. Going 10 move away the
old house,
Yes; ! suppose hell use it to make
more shed room. it'll brighten mp the
old place considerable. wont it?'
YES, it will brighten up the old
place considcrab bic" she repeated after
him. Are You going out home now?"
well, in about an hour or so. haze
some flour and things to get; then I'm
ready. Any word you'd like 10 scnd?"
Il was thinking if you'd take me out
with you, I'd like to so and sec the old
place again. I'd like to sec ii before
it's moved away"
"Why, yes. I'll be glad to take you,
and Mrs. fleming will be glad to have
you make us Il visit, l know. Ill stop
around for you on my way out, shall I:"
"ics. I'll be all ready when you
come by"
1t was the middle of May, and the
chcrry-trecs were in full bloom. and
The apple buds were pink. Que into the
spring sweetness, thrusting her poor
Old heart into the past, she went, much
against Mates desire and her own
better Judgment.
1t had been only such short time
since, in the happiness of long con-
tcntment, she had driven ever that
same road with Thomas. And now
she was going out to the old horne for
the last time. She would never go
again Perhaps after this things
would begin to seem different, and she
would begin to be thankful. There
was so much for which She should Ee
thankful.
1t WAS IL long ride, and she was worry
tired. TWAS dark when they finally
came out into an opening beyond u
half-circlc of woods.
Mr.. lcnning pointed off across n
meadow, where 4 light twinillcd
brightly.
a suppose you know whc re YOU are
now?" he asked.
That's Your house. and here's ours.
want to stop. want TO get out and
so in"
"Oh, wouldn't stop here tonight.
It's late. and you're tired. You wait
till morn ing, and Mrs. IIcnning will
come over with YOU"
mo, want to stop now. IL
couldn't go by and OF"
Mr.. llcnuinG he lpcd her ont, and sat
waiting for her in the wagon while she
went i'll through the little gate and be-
tween the lilac-bushcs alone.
y little old weather beaten house,
half covered with honcysucllles and
Virginia crccpcrs. y deep grassy yard.
An old home that through forty years
of shade and shine had held the hearts
love of this one lone old woman She
pushed open the unlocked door and
went in.
Everything was in its place. The
clock licked on the mantle and the
kettle was boiling on the hearth.
Thomas old hat and coat hung on
their accustomed hook by the other
door, and Thomas looked up and
smiled at her from his chair by the
window, as lie had done in those last
days. There was no emptiness to her
in those bare rooms. All the reality
life had ever held for her, or ever
could hold for her, was here.
After awhile Mr.. IIcnning called to
her, and finally came up the path and
led her away. Gertrude Smith, ir
uarper's Bazar