The Negro world., 1900-06-09
You're - years old to-day.

Win HAs Nissli ~ ~ idtius s . ~ INV
forgot It entirely II you hadn't mem
toned IL.
'|Thomas?"
"Weli. mother?' ?''
'lt was on this day 25 years ago
that you were--you we're
Coin to get married. !" Tom con-
cluded the sentence somewhat. grim
~. so I was.
''fhoBras, why didn't you ~
Haven't | told You. mother, hun
direds of times -
Yes; bur. dear. I've never believed
you
Mother"-Tom looked at the old
lady with the utmost solemnity- I've
told you the trutli.Zslie aud | were
not suited 10 each other Ny hair
was too red. mud her eyes we're too
black. Twas lucky we found II out
I'm time. | reckon some one'd been un-
happy II We hadn'
''Ara you sure. Thomas. that some
one hasn't been unhappy anyway %
We'll, tolcrable certain, mother. She
she got married almost right away
10 another fellow, didn't she? don't
think the disappointment was very
close 10 her yitals. or she wouldn't
have done that"
''But you, my boy"
Me-" Tom laughed. ''IIave yon
seen me mopin' or plnin' or dwindlin'
away durin' the past % years? /
guess not. And II stands 10 reason
don't II. that I would have moped
and pinned and dwindled some II I'D
took IL much 10 hearth Mother. don't
you he frettin' your old gizzard about
this thing any more; H. ain't worth
II. Please to pass the d0uglnuts."
The meal wns finished In silence.
Tom had his overeoat ON before he
spoke again.
"tt's quite u ways over there" he
said. ''and ! reckon I'd better be
stnrtin'."
Then you're really goin', ThomasP"
"Of course, mother. Why not?"
His mother offered no reply 10 the
question. She only sighed deeply and
put up her tremuIous old lips 10 he
kissed. cllnging 10 Toms shoulders
until he gently pushed her aside.
''I'll be- back to dinner maybe
earlier" he said. cheerily. Have the
house pipin' hot. mother. for I'm
tbinitin' I'll run the temperature
down bit when | come. It's cold
enough in the hollrr but out on the
hill where the wind blows free I'll
warrant It's colder than the comfort
OF strangers"
Then he strobe away. His mother
stood al the window watching him un.
I'll he turned the corner into the
highway which led straight through
the village to the hill. two miles dis
tant. where the dead slept.
"Pcor 'ihomasl Dear ehildl" Mrs
Hunt uttered the words half aloud as
she poured boiling wuter into the
dishpan. II amt so blind that cast
see it-not so blind as that no. no"
She shook her head dolefully, Gle
hasn't been the same child since
that day, rs years ago. when he come
home with ghostly smile on his face
and told me twas all over between
him and Maria Bates. / almost
tainted with the shock of Il. for |
wasn't real strong then. havin hay
in lost Joshua such short time be.
fore. ! thought then twas the girls
fault, and ! think so yet She's made
the poor boys life a bed of thistles,
Just because Dick Morglinton had
prop'ty and wanted her 10 marry him.
l hope she's been happy. but it'd been
only righteous Judgment on her Il
she'd have come tn realizln' sense
long ago of what she's missed by moi
havln' Thomas, Think Of him goin'
To that funeral ON day like thlsl
There ain't more'n one man In thou.
sand would do t."
Toms mind. also. was busy with
thoughts of the past as he plodded to-
ward the great house where the Grape
was huttering, lie was wondering
whether he had acted wisely; whether
the reward had been worth the sacri.
fee. He told himself that Il had. At
any rate, II was too late now for
lie entered the darkencd house aud
seated himself upon the edge of a
chair near the door, almost beneath
the heavy curtains. The room was
nearly Allied with people. all OF whom
he knew; but In the restraint that
tensencss which comes al times like
this he looked at them. and they re-
turned the look. with unrcsponsive
eyes, u was as though they were
strangers.
suddenly the curtain behind him
moved slightly, aud he heard his name
spoken, He was startled, but con.
trolled himself by mighty effort
lie knew who uttered the words. al.
though they we're spoken In the faint.
est Of whispers.
"fom comet"
He arose unsteadily to his feet, aud
passed into the hall 4 woman. clad
in deepest mourning, stood waiting
for him.
"Marial"
The woman extended her hands.
Tom, my dear friend" she whlS.
pered. III was very. very good OF You
to come | feel 500 alone. aud
despite II all have remembered that
u Is YOUR birthday. | have gift a
very poor little gift you"
She mmhled tremhllngts al the
hosom of her dress. and drew forth a
locket, fastened by slender gold
chain. She opened 1t. showing him a
picture of himself
II Is the portrait you gave, Tom.
before before
Il KNOW know. whispered Tom.
h,..l AsIa ....... -.