Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-04-07


| bowed to her, and she achuov lcdgcd
my salutation 10y coming forward.
81 guess YOU hat no dinner" she said,
in a hospitable way.
The truth was. | had had none. and,
being rather healthy, l WAS not sorry
To be ushcrcd To the table. where |
WAS beautifully supplied.
During the meal the woman favored
me with many searching chances, which
attributed 10 her curiosity.
After | had finished my rcpast we
again returned to the front porch.
You have a nice place here" said.
handing the man a cigar. The house
is new. is il not? >"
"Ahoud fife year old" he anSwcrcd;
and then his wife took up the cnnycrsa-
tiun.
I've rented farm Offer at JACKSONVILLE
for a long dime. bud We ncfrr had no
childrcns. 80 Nc safcd some money and
bought dis farm" she said.
The woman was eager for a little Cos
sip. and WAS bound to have it. in spit,
of the fact that the dinner dishes were
awaiting her.
"pid YOU ever know old Ahram Mel,
son. Of Nclsou,illc?" | asked. willing
to indulge her wish. Its n long time
now since he died is wears"
"lrs. We knew him. 1t vas part of his
farm We rented after he died." the man
made response.
| could not restrain n smile ut his
clumsy way of putting it, hut before
| could ask another question the WON
an came up to where was standing
and gaZed earnestly into my face.
"Ach. Gott! LIS true" she eN.
claimed. clutching my arms. Its Mel
! li:tlc Mel, Acn Colt, knew IT,"
Then her excitement ended in a flood
If tears. | gazcd down AT her in as
! constituent. and as looked recollec-
| tiou came To me.
why. surely. | used to know You,
said. smiling down upon her. Won
must he Sarah. You used to work al
Grandfather Nelson's when | WAS a
small boy. and took care of me during
my visits"
"kch, see. he knows me-" the woman
exclaimed. turning toward her husband.
"IIc would not forget Sarah, So. so.
/ After 80 long a dime. Ach, my. And
now You are man, and hat { rowed SC
big"
really should have explained before
that my name is Nelson Conway. had
been rather n small, puny child, and my
! Grandfather called me Little Mel.
/ Soon Jake went about his business
/ harvesting the oats. Sarah and | sat
all that afternoon under the cool shade,
talking about old times.
My parents had been dead many
years. and il was something new in my
experience To he petted. deferred To
and made much Of Sarah took up the
acquaintance just where it had been
broken of Is wears ago. and seemed inn
bucd with an augmented alteration for
me.
| felt there was one true, loyal soul
in the world whom | could depend on.
| and. in the natural desire for sympathy
and consolation. ! rccountcd To her all
my troubles, including the circum-
stances connected with the bank rob
berry and the suspicion under which I
had groaned in spirit for year now.
at seems rs though | were fated to
carry that load TO the grave" l re-
marked, despondingly.
"Ach. no. indeed you Won't. Don'd
you feel pad aboud it. Mel. You see it
come right. let dem come To me-
Sarah continued, waxing indignant.
"let dem come to me. dell dem if a
grandson of Abram Nelson is thief.
And dey find out some day"
Her assurances comforted and en-
couraged me very much. For | knew
my life had been honorable and square,
mt least in all business relations, and
her absolute trust in me, after all the
cruel insinuations and tho cold looks
of suspicion, was balm to my wounded
| spirit.
There was another, the brightest, fair
est and best of women, who also felt
confidence in my integrity, or at least
had done so; one whose affection
had gained. But had not heard from
her since Immediately after the rob
still remained mistaken l could not
say. j had no reason TO doubt her: but
then time works wonderful changes
in n woman's opinions, often.
After supper Jake drove me over to
JACKSONVILLE. Sarah accompanied us, OF
course. She would have been intensely
! pleased to have me stay at her own
house, but ! was longing for the rest
and peace which the old homestead
seemed to promise, and SO could not
be persuaded to change my plans.
At the corner of two roads, near tn
house, dwelt an old widow, who had
taken care of my place.
The large farm had been rented ont
i'm parcels to neighboring farmers, bat
the house had remained vacant e' ei
since my grandfather's death.
We stopped at the widows home 'oI
the key, and the old lady came all ne
with us.
Soon / stood upon the porch and
| gazed around upon the scenes which
had stamped themselves SO strongly
upon my boyhood's mind that even low
after all these years, they seemed won
derfully familiar. i missed the white
headed old gentleman. whose fgur had
been the most beautiful of all TO my
boyish mind. With sigh turned &c
the door. placed the key in the lock
turned tie bolt. and entered, followed
reverenti ally by Sarah and her husband
and Mrs. Snyder, the old widow -
tTo BE CONTINUED