The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-02
GRANDPA BATES

$50 you think grandpa and grandma
have had romance in their lives, do
you children? Well, as you've found
me out, suppose I'll have to sit down
and tell you the whole story"
Sturdy old Grandpa Bates, whom
everybody in Harrisville loved, honor
ed and venerated, sat down In the
large, timeworn rockingham which
had been presented to him on his we'd
ding day and gaZed down at his tive
grandchildren, who with eager, ex-
pectant gaze awaited the beginning of
his story.
When | was but twelve years old
moved from Canada to Harrisville,
Western Massachusetts. l was put in
the same class with your grandmother
at school But l hated girls; that is,
until three years after my entrance in
to that class.
'One day my eye rested on Ruth
Ashford. which was your grandma's
name then. She was hard to work
over difficult problem in mathe-
MATES. Her flushed cheeks were the
picture of girli>h innocence and beauty
and light-blue dress served to hight
Ell the color. / was smitten. l, who
had always been foremost in deriding
and ridiculing any companion who
might be taken with the charms Of
feminity, fell head over heels in boy
ish love. Your grandma reciprocated
my affections, and many were the
hlissful hours we spent together.
Only too short was our happiness.
Rutl's mother was a woman of the
world She had other views for her
daughter than the son of a shoemaker.
So it was that l was forbidden to see
or hear from my beloved.
81 forsook my old companions and
haunts. became silent and melancholy,
and acted in such a manner that my
parents grew frightened at the depths
of what they considered a boyish,
temporary passion.
FINALLY they bundled me off to
Texas, where the change of scene, out
door life and activity were pronounced
sure cure for love-sickness.
six years | passed in the wilds of
Texas. The sting of the separation
from my darling gradually wore Off,
but in its place there came that deep
set affection which lasted from thar
day to this. My twenty first biz day
came, and l resolved to 20 homa to
wander over the spots where in com
pany with my loved one ! while away
the idle hours of youth.
My long Journey ended Iburs, 4 N
my folks one day while they were at
dinner. For about an hour did moth
ing but ask and answer questions: but
.pl ii. I
girl who was nearest my heart. whom
l had travelled all the way home to
see
Were they trying to conceal some
thing from me? Had something hap
pened TO my darling while l was
away? Had she got married? oh,
God. the thought was enough to drive
me mad
"At last l found a chance to ask
mother how Ruth was getting along.
In trembling tones she answered: MY
poor boy, you must prepare for a great
shock. Six weeks ago Ruth was taken
i'll with typhoid fever, and though she
has rallied ut times. the report to-day
is that she is dying
81 waited to hear no more, but
seized my hat and rushed from the
house. One object was before me. =
must reach her bedside before she
died. | reached the gate leading to the
Ashf0rd's house. and in my blind
haste almost knocked over DIR. Duff
field, who had Just arrived to see his
patient. introduced myself, and then
begged him to hurry down and
acquaint me with any news of the
sick girl. I had not long to wait In
few moments he came back, and
even before he spoke | knew my dar-
ling was dying.
''Oh, the agony of that moment. l
begged permission Of Mrs. Ashford to
see Ruth, and as the doctor acquiesced
my boon was granted.
"There on the bed rested my Ruth.
her cheeks sunken and wasted with fe-
yer and looking hut shadow of her
former self. With glad smile of well
come she greeted me, although no
words fell from her lips. l took her
small hand in my large tanned ones
and sat down beside the bed. The
shadows deepened into darkness. but
still | sat there holding my darling's
hand. Ruth had sunk into slumber.
| dared not move for fear of disturb
ing her. Hour after hour passed un-
til rays OF light began to herald the
return of day. At last Ruth awoke.
A heavenly smile lighted up her feat
ures as she whispered to me: 81 knew
you would come, Harold
From that day her recovery was
but matter of time, and one year
later we were married, and happy
marriage it has proved for me-"
''And for me, too chimed in grand.
ma. who, unnoticed, had entered the
room.