The Press., 1895-11-14

fort an independence for the remainder of her life.
 "She had got too much good sense to put on any airs or to pretend to be what she was not. But she quietly al- tered her style of dress, kept servant of her own an was respected by all the folks in the village.
 "Now, just as things had gone we'll with Ann Elizabeth so had they gone badly with Robert Jones. Ellen had now child of her own, an, strangely enough, her health began to fail in just the same way as Mary's had done.
 "Another serious trouble seemed like sly to overtake them. Roberts eyesight was beginnin to fail, so much so that he was threatened with total blindness "At last Ellen died This time Rob- ert was left with two children-deh- cate, both of them-an an overwhelm- ing disaster hangin over him. The man seemed fairly broken down, an no wonder.
 "Things grew worse instead of bet ter, for Robert was obliged to resign his appointment as rural postman, owin to his bein no longer able to properly distinguish the addresses on the letters. The postal authorities allowed him a small pension, an this was all the poor fellow had to reckon on with any degree of certainty. He did any kind of odd job that came in his way, but it really seemed as if luck was dead against him an he would sink down under the weight of his misfortunes.
 Hoo ly able to believe what am now goin to tell you, but it is nevertheless true, that, although Robert an Ann Elizabeth had for years lived not more than a mile apart, they had never set eyes on one an other since the eventful mornin which should have been their weddin day. It was certainly very strange, for if people try to keep out of one another's way accident usually brings them into con- tact, but it had not done so in this case. "One day'-it was gettin on for 12 months after Ellen 8 death, an, as said before, things had been gettin worse an worse with Robert ever sinee-Ann Elizabeth left her own house to go out for walk. She was never one to go about much, but the fine weather tempt ed her.
 ''She hadn't gone very far when she caught sight of 8 man an a child walkin toward her in the distance. As they got nearer she couldn't t help thinkin what pitiful sight it was, for ths man walk cd slowly an. uncertainty, an the poor little thin ehild, coughin at every step, seemed to be takin care of him an leadin him. She'd got motherly heart, had l Ann Elizabeth, in spite of her odd ways an old maidenhood, an she began to feel a yearnin over the little lad who was doin his brave, childish best to help his father. .-l
 "She stood an watched them, an it was not till they got quite near that she saw the man was Robert. What she felt in that minute I'm, not goin to try to tell you, but I've often fancied that the old love must have come sweepin over her like a flood, washin away every harsh an bitter thought an leavin noth- in but 8 love an sympathy almost divine.
 'She stepped forward an met him.
 "'Robeft r said she. Robert lh
 "He looked up. His poor dim eyes could hardly see her, but he knew the once familiar loved voice, an he began to tremble. while the little lad held his hand tightly, Wonderin what it all meant Ann Elizabeth r whispered Robert. He could hardly speak, m the little lad held him tighter an tighter an clung sloser to his side.
 Yes; it's Ann Elizabeth, she said, takin hold of his other hand, and it's moro than that, Robert. It is your wife, if you like to take her There's 2 home for you an the children, an if you will marry mo will marry you.
 So Robert became Ann Elizabeth's husband nearly 20 years from the time they first began cotrtin. Sttangel Yes, miss, sos it was Strange ,epongh, but I've known many 2 woman whose truth an tenderness never came 60 fully to the surfaCe as in the time of sorrow an mis- l fortune