The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-14
Ho stuck ms cap between his knees.

way. 1t Is my intention always to Eo
kind and sympathetic. You should have
been quite sure would have heard your
story through with understanding. Now
tell mo everything. She is the daugh-
ter, Gm told, Of German i'll Hudson
street."
That's right, aunt Her father has
the biggest corner grocery over there,
and he has made his pile-I mean has
mado money since he's been there
How long has he been here?"
Going on 25 year. Oh, he's almost
an old Ninth wardcr now. He's some
in politics, and his family is right i'll it. "
Percy, never knew Them"
Il know, but you wouldn't 1t amt
my fault. wanted to have them all
over to mothers so as you could be III
troduced to them"
The old lady looked as though she
would answer this, but did not. She
was silent IL moment before she pro-
decided:
so her father is grocer?"
Yes, like Mr.. Jamison. who you
like well enough
MIR. Jamison is n gcntleman, my
dear. Tho misfortunes of his family can
never alter that. Tho Jamisons are of
the oldest Greenwich families Oh both
sides. He is u grocer by necessity. This
person OF whom we are speaking is one
by choice -
well, Aunt Martha, it's as good as
being truckman, and better.''
Mrs Lovccn WINGED.
You might have been Il Judge like
your father or n senator like your grand
father. L wanted you TO enter political
life.
Politics is pretty low down these
days, " Percy remarked 1T amt what
1t was. Besides, 1 tried to get IN office
from Mike Mcnamara, but he said |
wouldn't do i'll any Office where the pay
was as much as tho trucking paws. And
L guess that's about so ="
The last sentence was chccrfully
spoken. Mrs. Levccn looked at her
ncphcw's ruddy checks and sighed.
Il do wish, Percy" she said gently.
that you could have found some one in
Greenwich. That part of Hudson street
where these people live is way beyond
tho outskirts OF tho old village, out
where the hog fields were till the immi-
grants began to settle around us. ="
But what's the difference, Aunt
Martha? It's all one now. There amt
no Greenwich any more; it's all Just
New York city. So what is the use of
pretending:"
The impatienco i'll the young mans
tone amazed his aunt almost rs much
as the sentiment he uttered. Never be-
fore had he failed to show her respect
On the contrary, the humblcness OF his
dcmcanor had been Il grievance to her;
1t did not become one of her own blood
TO manifest the same awe before her
that an ordinary Ninth war(ler did
The old lady Strengthened III her
chair, the lines about her mouth stiffcn-
ed, and her eyes glistened like her
kDockcr, as she answered.:
Percy Dean! You forget to whom
you are speaking. You forget yourself,
sir, and your good breeding is evidently
suffering from the associations you per
init yourself"
Percy was frightened. The last time
he had been rcbuked i'll this temper by
his aunt was when he was n bov. He
meant no Offense
beg your pardon, Aunt Martha, "
he murmurcd.
Mrs. Lcvcen took her knitting from
the table and worked busily ut it till
she was quite calm. She looked MP after
every few thrusts of her needle, indig-
nantly at first, then coldly, and finally
the habitual expression OF kindness re-
turned to her face.
Il dare say you are III Il hurry to 90
IN I ,l...
you much longer. You may tell me
something about this young-this girl
How old is shc?'
She is going on 10, Aunt Martha. "
" Is she cultivated, educated? Come,
Percy, tell me all about her. -
She went through the grammar
school, l think, but she had to work
after that. So she can't play the piano
or sing, but she is Il nice girl and can
tend the house and cook, now that he1
mothers dead. 2"
That's right. She ought to be able
to manage her husbands household.
But tell me more about her Is her
voice soft, arc her manners gentle, is
she modest? Describe her to me, my
dear Is she pretty?'
Iercy was encouraged by the few
words of approval he had Won
Aunt, she's a bcaut, that's
What do you say-a WHAT"
mean she's Il beauty. She's got
blue eyes and blond hair and the incest,
biggest, reddcst checks. She amt what
you would call quiet; she's more lively
like. You ought to hear her laugh when
we re down on tho docks nights with
the rest of the crowd. III bet you could
hear her across the river in Hoboken.
And jolly? If she gets q mug ms is too