The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-11-06
And this was all. After year of sep

aration, a year Of longing and home
sickness, was greeted with a stare by
the girl who had declared she would al
ways trust and believe in me.
watched the wagon until bend in
the road hid It from view, and then still
looked toward the spot where 1t had
disappeared.
A touch on my arm recalled my
thoughts. and I glanced around into
the SOLICITORS face of my old nurse.
~ guess de young woman is putty"
said Mrs. Snyder. ZACH, and you dink
80, too, Mr.. Mel"
"Yes, she Is beautiful, very beauti-
full" murmured, more to myself than
for answer to the widows clumsy at
tempt at pleasantly.
Sarah's watchful old eyes and the
promptings of her affection for me dis
cerned something more in the fixed
gaze had sent after the wagon than a
suddenly awakened admiration.
"Vhat is id, Mel? Do you know her?"
the good soul asked, anxiously.
"I'll tell you some time" l answered.
Yes, yes; beautiful indeed was Flor
ence, lovelier than ever, and good and
true-well, / did not seem to feel so sure
of her faith. She had passed me by
without extending salutation.
could not blame her for not recognizing
me, after the resolve l had made, but it
cut me to the heart, nevertheless.
The remainder of the forenoon was
spent in going through the barns and
over the farm.
A small structure, twenty or thirty
feet from the house, had been used to
do the cooking, baking, churning,
washing and ironing in. We could not
gain access to the cooking house, as it
had been called, the door being locked,
There had been no care taken of this
place, and could hardly see through the
dust and dirt which obscured the win
dows, when l attempted to look inside.
"There is nothing to be seen in there,
anyhow" l said. But l remembered
the pile of cakes and the loaves of bread
WnlCll llul lSouSh iloli oiu DutSh
oven built in one side of the cook
house. How / wish for some of the
good things now!
After a midday dinner, harnessed
the horse in the buggy. According TO
my instructions, my agent had provided
me with single rig, and now pro-
posed to use it to drive Sarah home and
then keep on down the road, past Sid
ington Station, across the river to
Twineburgh, in which place Mr.. Som
tag, my lawyer, resided.
/ had never seen Mr.. Sonntag. My
former agent had died nearly a year
ago, and six months after his death
Sonntag Fad bought the law business
from the heirs.
had been advised of this fact by q
circular letter from the present incum-
bent. giving references as to ability.
honesty, etc. Mr.. Sonntag had also re-
quested me to allow him to assume
management of my small estate. AS
Mr.. Perry, the president of the bank.
was down among the names Of refer
ence, was most willing to grant Mr..
Sonntag's request, and wrote him to
that effect.
On the way TO Sarah's house un-
bosomed myself to the good old soul.
l told her of my hopes regarding Flor
ence, and my fears that those hopes
would never be realized.
Zach, yes" answered Sarah, "you Will
marry her some day. Just see how
you've been brought both to de same
place togedder. And know she lofes
YOU"
"You are more certain than l am Of
that" answered. somewhat gloomily.
II have told you everything about my
self, because / have no mother to con.
fide in; and you will no more violate
my confidence than mother would;
of that am certain"
Zach. Nell l got no leetle vons OF
mine own" she answered, with trem-
bling voice. There were tears in her
eyes, too, when she said: II would do as
much for you as mudder; guess !
would, Mel"
Her love was grateful to me, or
phaned as had been for many years,
and for the last year without friend
to console or advise me.
bud you vas foolish, Mel, to say you
not see her undil you flint de robbers
Sarah went on-"foolish Of you, and
hart for her, too. I bet you she hal
lots of heartache."
What else could l do, though. in
honor?" I exclaimed.
"Vell, you are innocent, and she lofes
you, and knows, too. dat you didn't
| rob de bank. So den it would be no dis
honor to drust her lofe and be happy
in i'd"
Sarah's logic found an echo in my
heart. Perhaps it was unjust to Flor
ence's love not to ask her to share my
burden. l knew. if l could share any
sorrow or trouble of hers, how happy
would be.
We soon reached Sarah's house, and
refined up to allow her TO alight. Then
/ continued on my way.
Twineburgh was about two miles
across the valley beyond Sidington. II
was lively little place, of about 1900
inhabitants. One of the great trunl
lines of railroad ran through the town
The road to Twineburgh crossed tho
track at Sidington station. near tn:
depot.
AS l refined up my horse to walk
and glanced up and down the track
before crossing, saw the station agent