Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-10-25

there one spring morning when he came
walking rather wearily across the park.
HIS '.rheumatiz'' had been giving him
a little trouble.
But / reckon it'll not trouble Won
any more, now that it's gittin so warm
an pleasant, said the old lady, enoour-
agingly.
"I'm hopin not, - he said. ''6shall
need all the strength can git to hold
out ag' in Marthy, my daughter, the way
I'm plannin to hold out next week. -
Flows that?''
We'll, my quarterly pension comes
in, an I've made up my mind to draw it
an keep it my own self this quarter
I'm needin a good many things, an I've
turned my pension over to Marthy every
quarter for SO long I'm bound and de-
termined to keep it this time. It'll be
hard tussle, but I'm goin to do it.
81 would SO, " said the old lady SYM
pathetically. "It's kind o. funny, but
I've made up my mind to do the same
thing with my pension. Mine comes
due next week, too, an I'm goin to keep
every cent of it. I'm needin new cali
co dress an overshoes, an anyhow
want to save little money in my pock-
ct. 1t amt right for me to give up so
to my son after all I've done for him.
jest shan't do it any longer.
There was resolute note in her
voice, and she gave her head a little
toss of defiance.
You're right" said the old men
with decision. cit amt right for us to
be domineered over SO. Sometimes I've
kh0nOhE oF o,ikki,, ,,,o n ,,oo,,, ~,
for myself. I'd do it if my pension was
little bigger"
''I've thought of the same thing, " said
the little old lady, "an don't know
but I'll do it yit. I'm real spry, an it
wouldn't be no trick at all for me to
keep house for myself Land knows
work harder an steadier now than if
was keepin house in room or two by
myself. Then Iwouldn't be in nobody's
way nor make no trouble for any one.
I've got my own things too. Ev'rything
in my room at my son's house is my
own, an they couldn't keep me from
takin 'em away if 1 had mind to. :"
GIVE got good cook stove and lot
of things stored away, said the old
man. "They couldn't make me sell 'em,
for l didn't know but I'd want 'em
come time, an I-P'-
He scratched in the gravel with the
end Of his cane, and there was silence
for few minutes. The pilIowslip the
old lady was hemming fell into her lap,
and she let 1t lie there while she CROSSED
her hands idly and looked at pair Of
sparrows chattering away in tree
across the walk
Suddenly the old man said slowly,
without looking up, 1--WE might-that
is, if you was willn-put our furniture
an our pensions together.
Yes, we might"
The old man dropped his cane and
faced her eagerly. His wrinkled hand
reached out and touched hers. His voice
was tre1nulous with eagerness as he said:
We will, if you'll only say SO. I've
thought of it over an over ag in, but
ain't had the courage to ask you toto
marry me- We'd be real happy an COM
Portable together. If you'll just say the
word. we'll break way from all this
bein domineered over an live as we have
right to live-if you'll only say the
word"
The next day the old lady, clad in
her brown merino Sunday gown, and
the old man in his Sunday suit appear
ed in the study of the minister of lit
tie mission church they both attended
and were married.
''It'll be an awful s'prise to my son
an his wife, " said the smiling old bride.
can to my daughter, " said the bride.
groom, and then he added valiantIy:
"But let 'ern say an do what they will
I'll defend you ag'in 'em all, my dear. +"
There is not in all the city happier
or more contented' couple than this pair
of old pensioners in their two cozy
rooms. They may be yet seen any fine
day on their favorite bench in the city
park with the birds above them singing
their love songs and their own hearts
not too old to be filled with tender affec-
tions, with hopes and with harmonies.
Detroit Free Press.