Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-05-18
I cried over that, too; because .

man really OuRnU 10 DC Wiling 10 SACrl
fee himself in every way if he coulC
only make his wife happy; but Ton
was obdurate and we couldn't starve
So, I stole the jam, His mother wa
such suspicious woman that she al
ways kept her jam closet locked. Ant
one dreadful day our hired girl caugh
me-hired girls were dreadfully un
| sympathetic creatures when I wa
young-and took both of us upstair
to mother.
Oh, but Tom came splendidly to m,
rescue. Don't you dare lick her
Mrs. Montgomery" be said, just a
big and brave as if he was truly grown
up. "She's my wife, and-and
made her borry your jam just to keel
our family from starving. There's sil
dolls to be fed and-and I eat lot
and Katie has to have some"
Mother was busy, so she just laughed
and told the girl to give us some every
day and then we wouldn't be tempted
to steal.
Tom said I had such a splendid
mother he believed he'd come over t.
our house to live-but he never did
His mother acted dreadfully when she
heard of it. He had his things al
packed up in valise and cigar box
ready to come and, when he went t.
say good bye, she cried and took or
awfully. Tom said it was perfectly
splendid-she could cry better than
could, and then we had our first quar-
rel. 1t was dreadful, the things he
said, just like grown up man for all
the world; and l began sewing my
black calico strips together again, fol
Tom vowed he was going off to fght
Indians and [ instinctively knew I'd
soon be widow; for Tom never qui
anything until he had gotten himself
killed for me to cry over.
The very day he brought me this
bouquet he had died twice-once from
terrific Indian battle and the mex
time from sunstroke-and suddenly
discovering he hadn't been at the of
fee at all that day, he hurried dowr
town and picked these flowers for MT
on his way home.
The next day cruel fate and oul
stern parents separated us. W,
moved out West and [ took along my
black calico and was a widow when
ever I thought about it; but it wa.
desperately lonely and I was truly
heartbroken, and Tom-well, I never
saw Tom until last winter when
came East and established studio.
He's grown to be big, handsome fell
low, little gray and-a bit of cynic,
I fear. He comes to see me, some.
times. He says it's quite refreshing
to talk to a genuine old maid who
hasn't particle of sentimental non
sense about her.
Tonight, when he said that, I be-
gan Cabling as fast as 1 could about
Dewey's bravery and Hobson's hero
ism, until he yawned gently behind
his hand, and said quietly: ''They are
all very we'll. I'm proud of them,
but 1 cannot keep a thrill at fever heat
you?"
Hardly. Old maids take no stock
in thrills-they cannot be cashed," ]
retorted-hastily searching through
my desk for paper of statistics he
wanted, when the drawer fell out and
my precious bouquet came tumbling
into view.
"What's thatl" he exclaimed in 8
tone that sent the blood flying into my
face.
I quickly put away my treasure
without looking at him (even an old
maid doesn't like to be caught blush
ing) and carelessly answered: Gust q
little souvenir given me by dear
friend"
He laughed-such a harsh, bitter,
cynical laugh-and turned away
abruptly, saying: "And L had thought
you woman without any romance
whatever in her past! Heighol but
women are all alike. If you
have that paper ready L believe I will
go now"
I gave it to him and he left without
another word-and now-I sit staring,
staring, staring at my pitiful little
bouquet and, tn ough food of tender
memories comes over me, l almost
wish he hadn't seen this bunch Of
clover blossoms ard grasses that he
gave me so long ago.
He must have forgotten. Men al
ways do forget. 1t is only silly fool
ish women who never can teach them
selves how to forget.
Heigho! 1t is stupid, dreary ole
world-after all.
And 1 laugh-such weary, sense
less laugh-as 1 think how fortunate
it is that I am q genuine old maid
without any sentimental nonsense. =
Detroit Free Press.