Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-10-17

there one spring morning when he came
walking rather YEARLY across the park.
His rheumatic" had been giving him
little trouble.
''But 1 reckon it'll not trouble you
any more, now that it's gittin so warm
an pleasant said the old lady, encour-
agingly.
"I'm hopin not" he said. st shall
need all the strength I can git to hold
out ag in Marthy, my daughter, the way
I'm plannin to hold out next week.
'How's that?'
"Well, 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-
termineG to keep it this time. It'll be a
hard tussle, but I'm goin to do it.
ST would so' said the old lady SYM
pathetically cts 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 I
want to save little money in my peck
ct. 1t amt right for me to give up so
to my son after all I've done for him.
I 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 man
with decision. cit amt right for us to
I0 4 va
thought of gittin me room an shiftin
for myself. I'd do it if my pension was
little bigger
"I've thought of the same thing said
the little old lady. can l 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 a room or two by
myself. Then wouldn'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 sons house is my
own, an they couldn't keep me from
takin EN- away if [ had mind to-"
give got a good cook stove and a lot
of things stored away" said the old
man. "They couldn't make me sell 'em,
for I didn't know but I'd want 'em
some time, an I-I"-
He scratched in the gravel with the
end of his cane, and there was silence
for few minutes. The FELLOWSHIP the
old lady was hemming fell into her lap,
and she let it lie there while she crossed
her hands idly and looked at q pair of
sparrows chattering away in q tree
across the walk.
Suddenly the old man said slowly,
without looking up, eve might-that
is, if you was willn-put our furniture
an our pensions together. .
eyes. we might
The old man dropped his cane and
faced her eagerly. His wrinkled hand
reached out and touched hers. His voice
was tremulous with eagerness as he said:
eve will, if you'll only say so. I've
thought Of it over an over ag'in, but
amt 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 Eve--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 valiantly:
But let 'enl 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 fayorite 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.