The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-11-16

can take il all out fixing up the spare
room and Marir :ly's room 1t air
lucky Angeine ha mt been down here
yet-anothe: clear p'intin Now hurry
up the dinner and write Devy letter
tellin him he must come right here.
and we wont take no for an answer.
III hitch MP the cutter. and we'll go
over TO town and engage Angeline for
the whole endurfn week"
The two We're as excited as chill
dren. The letter had to he strong
enough to suit pa and was the labor of
an hour for Mrs GLADDEN. ere it suited
him Dinner over. they tucked them
selves into green sleigh and drove
over to New California
We'll stop on the way. said the
small and rosy man u feel SO anx
ious to get bold of Angeline
''Oh. you do?'' questioned the wife
demurely well as our Marinty de
clares. her pas younger'n any one"
Angeline Culver Angeline Porter
that was was visiting at old DR. Nor
mans She and Cissy Norman had al.
ways been close friends She came
den. She was quite dressy and had
on d pink house sack trimmed WIN
white lace She had tied little white
fascinator over her brown waves.
Il was lowing to go over to Dennis
Daodna's next week, she said in her
soft, comfortable voice, 'Dut if you
make a point of it | guess l can put
them off,
Pa GLADDEN. was so anxious his little
feet danced up and down in the snow
"Oh. we want you real bad next
week, Angelic! We been waltin and
expectin till we're set on ii special
Do say you'll come
Il blieve pail burst if you don't
come, Angelina said his wife. He
gets SO set on anything"
well, WILL" assented the widow.
II used to have good times AT your
house when was girl. never have
forgotten them"
Ia went through an expressive pan
tomime behind her.
And pan fetch you on Sunday aft
ernoon," went on Mrs. GLADDEN.. IF
the snow don't stay on. he'll fetch you
In buggy"
Afterward Mrs. GLADDEN. declared
that pa spent the happiest week of his
life getting ready for that couple to
be reunited. 1t never struck his warm
and innocent heart that anything could
go amiss. He piled up special wood
for the parlor: he lowered around the
two bedrooms; be actually had his fin
ger in every pie and cake baked. He
went to the village store alone once or
twice and after the last visit wore an
air Of the deepest mystery,
Mrs. GLADDEN. stood this until the
hour of retiring.
"Asahel!" she exclaimed. with a
break in her voice. "Asahel, you new
err had secret from me in all your
life. did your"
The rosy man looked as guilty as If
detected in crime. He saw her kind
eyes. and his voice quavered.
"Never before" he whispered but
I'm SO afeard you can't hold this one
over Sunday meetin I'm bound not to
breathe it."
One dry sob brought him to terms.
''It air." be whispered. tiptoeing over
to her; sit air that l telegraphed to
Devy to git here on the Sunday after
noon express"
Mrs Gladden's attitude toward the
world on Sunday morning was the
gossip of the neighborhood for weeks.
She suddenly assumed an air of flu
neral dignity: would converse with no
one and stalked silently out after meet
In oil nj Gle irh fv.t
umphantly.
you've done it," whispered her hus-
band, delighted II didn't credit you
with it."
After dinner the parlor fire was
lighted, the table spread for company
tea, and Pa GLADDEN. wrapped himself
up to go for Angelina. He was SO hap
py his wife's heart trembled.
"Pa," she said, don't you set too
much store by it. Devah may have
other intentions. and Angelina may not
agree.
Don't you think itv' declared pa.
Angelina are hundred times prettier
than she war. Devy air a man: that
settles it ALL Now do your part.
Leave Devy to me. Men understand
! menu
He brought Angelina and her valises
back in an hour. Mrs. GLADDEN. re-
joiced in her womanly beauty She
kissed her as tenderly as if she had
been young girl when she helped her
in. Angeline's face beamed.
How nice you've made everything
for. mev' she cried. "It's like home
coming" Her face grew thoughtful.
sit makes me think Of old times-old
friends
"Well, just settle down and make
yourself at home" said pa, coming in.
Il have to be gone an hour or two.
You and ma can have good old talk "
Awhile later he was stamping off
the falling snow on the platform of
the station. The express stopped. an
unusual proceeding. tall, bronzed
man alighted, and pa met him, 50
eager he almost cried over him as he
shook hands. ...
Alas, alas! All pas fnesse and sub
tie phrases were forgotten. Finally
he refined in Dolly. almost in sight of
the house.
"Devy." he quavered. 81 always felt
so sorrowful bout you an Angelina
Porter's break off. You war so happy
together when you was young. Devy,
I've got Angelina here. She air wild
! ow; she air finer woman n you could
, see in a days travel 1t air the de.
sire of my heart to bring you two to-
gether.''
The man beside him grew pale and
gasped; then he wrung the mittened
hand.
Good Ma GLADDEN. came out to the
sleigh. She. too, had forgotten her
part. She had been crying and broke
down.
"Please 'scuse Angelina" she said
brokenly: shes there in the parlor.
Don't you want to go in Devah? |
guess you needn't Ike afeared'
The tall man strobe past her. his
own eyes misty The wedued couple