The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-06-02

II must be the person, but they call
me Colonel now, and you must be Jane,
for no one ever called me Teddy excepting
mother and you.
The old man suddenly sprang to his
feet and looked down at her.
"Well, well, who would have thought
it?" Then he limped over and looked
out of the opposite window; but presently
he came back and sat down again.
''It' 5 rather dreary place to wait so
long; not much accommodations on these
branch roads, he said in constrained
tone.
sit is timesome, and | always dislike
the long wait here, so usually bring some
work along to help pass the time, she
answered, glancing down ut her knitting.
The old man was silent for few min
utes, while he watched the needles go back
and forth.
''Do you remember that green silk purse
YOU made for me once p he asked at last.
Haven't you forgotten that p she
laughed.
''No, | haven't, and the first time /
used it was the day We went to the picnic
at Windon Grove, and
He suddenly stopped in "A confused way.
The old lady's face grew scarlet.
''You remember things well; that was
about she paused moment-''f fifty
three years or more ago.
SIT is good thing to have good
memory in some ways, but there are things
that are better forgotten. That Windon
picnic and what happened afterwards is
one of the things in my life, Col. Mars
den " Her tone had decisive ring in
it, while she met his glance with defiant
look in the blue eyes.
The old man face flushed and he fin
gered the top of his cane nervously.
''Jane, | don't blame you at all, y he
began, hesitatingly, ''I have often thought
| would like to see you and-and let you
know that | was not to blame as much as
you think. | never got your letter for
over twenty five years after you sent it.
Here it is now" he drew out large
leather pocketbook and took yellow pa
per from one of the inner pockets. ''Do
you remember that John Slater that
clerked for Black and generally tended to
the mails. He was a tall, red-headed
fellow, with lots of freckles. He gave
me this one when he met me in New
York 1t had slipped down inside the
desk or somewhere, and was not found fol
years, not until long after Black was deat
and they were making some repairs to thu
building
''We had lot Of business together,
but never recognized him until one day
he asked me if | had not come down opf
summer to see you. Then he told me
about the letter and hunted it up for me.
That is why l never came again. thought
you would not forgive me-
s'Why, Teddy = was all the old lady
could say, but there was a quaver in hel
voice
He told me, the old man continued,
''that you had married and gone away and
he did hot know what had become oi
you p
Il did not get married for ten years
Charles was good to me, but he didn' live
long, and had pretty hard time of il
for awhile; both fmy children were small,
but / got them educated. John is doc
tor at Dalton and Alice is married well.
am going to Johns now. / don't eaIe
very much for it. His wife is kind enough,
but she is great for style, and you know
sometimes old folks are in the way" she
smiled sadly.
~ know all about it, he said, know.
ingly. ssI married to have home. My
wife was good housekeeper. l did not
dove her, but ] did my duty by her; yes,
q did my duty, and l missed her when she
died five years ago. l didn't want to
break up my home, and didn't, for had
Bob with me, but now they want the old
man to break up, and | guess | will have
to. I have plenty to live on, but they
say they are uneasy about me, but | don
want to- q ae~er feel right even if
make them long visit. They are kind,
but YOU feel sort of strange and can't have
thiaes just as you want them Things
might haye been SO different if-if | had
just got tdAat letter.
ayes, that's SO, but it's no use frettine
over things now. ] am glad we met, as ]
used to think hard 81 you 1t must be
nearly time for that train. > the old lady
said, taking up her knitting.
ssIt's an hour yet. y
Then the old man walked over to the
miadow again.
Presently he came back and stood be-
farelher
s:gaoey,'' he began, then gave a little
cough, lsyour children don't need you,
and have no one, and get lonely, and
why shodlds't t we get married yet3 We'd
be company fr each other, and-and-I
have cared for you all these years. Maybe
you dom believe it, but | have. If you
knew how I haveIkept that letter, and |