The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-05-02
I cried over that. too; because q


flee himself in every way if he could
only make his wife happy; but Tom
was obdurate and we couldn't starve.
So. stole the jam, His mother was
such a suspicious woman that she al
ways kept her jam closet locked. And
one dreadful day our hired gini caught
me-hired girls were dreadfully un-
sympathetic creatures when | was
young-and took both of us upstairs
to mother.
oh, but Tom came splendidly to my
rescue. Don't you dare lick her,
Mrs. Montgomery, he said, just as
big and brave as if he was truly grown
up. she's my wife, and-and 1
made her borry your jam just to keep
our family from starving. There's six
dolls to be fed and-and 1 eat q 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 splendid
mother he believed he'd come over to
our house to live-but he never did.
His mother acted dreadfully when she
heard of it. He had his things all
packed up in a valise and n cigar box.
ready to come and, when he went to
say good bye, she cried and took on
awfully. Tom said it was perfectly
splendld-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 / began sewing my
black calico strips together again, for
Tom vowed he was going off to fight
Indians and ] instinctively knew Id
soon be n widow; for Tom never quit
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
a terrific Indian battle and the next
time from sunstroke-and suddenly
discovering he hadn't been at the of
flee Mt all that day, he hurried down
town and picked these flowers for me
on his way home.
The next day cruel fate and our
stern parents separated us. We
moved out West and / took along my
black calico and was a widow when
ever L thought about it, but it was
desperately lonely and L was truly
heartbroken, and Tom-well, / never
saw Tom until last winter when /
came East and established q studio.
He's grown to be n big, handsome fel.
low, little gray and-a bit of cynic,
/ fear. He comes to see me, some
times. He says it's quite refreshing
to talk to a genuine old maid who
hasn't n particle of sentimental non
sense about her.
Tonight, when he said that, / be-
gan Cabling as fast as | 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 cannot keep thrill at fever heat
forever-could you?"
Hardly. Old maids take no stock
in thrills-they cannot be cashed," 1
retorted-hastily searching through
my desk for n paper of statistics he
wanted, when the drawer fell out and
my precious bouquet came tumbling
into view.
whats that" he exclaimed in a
tone that sent the blood flying into my
face.
| quickly put away my treasure
without looking at him (even an old
maid doesn't like to be caught blush
ing and carelessly answered: "Just a
little souvenir given me by a dear
friend"
He laughed-such a harsh, bitter,
cynical laugh-and turned away
abruptly, saying; "And Ihad thought
you a woman without any romance
whatever in her past! Heigho! but
women are all alike. If YOU
have that paper ready believe 1 will
go now"
gave it to him and ne left without
another woodland now-I sit staring,
staring, staring at ny pitiful little
bouquet and, tb ough food of tender
memories comes over me, | almost
wish he hadn't seen this bunch Of
clover blossoms and grasses that he
gave me so long ago.
lie must have forgotten. Men nj
ways do forget II is only silly fool
ish women who never can teach them
selves how TO forget.
Heighol II is stupid, dreary old
world-after all.
And / laugh such n weary, sense.
less laugh-as 7 think how fortunate
it is that I am genuine old maid.
without any sentimental nonrou G. -
Detroit Free Press.