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

! Tor no one ever called me leuuy 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.
1T rather a dreary place to wait so
long; not much accommodations on these
branch roads, he said in constrained
tone
1t is timesome, and | always dislike
the long wait here, so usually bring some
work along to help pass the time, she
answered, glancing down at her knitting.
The old man was silent for Il few min
utcs, while he watched the needles 90 back
aud forth
DO you remember that green silk purse
you made for me once p he asked at last.
Haven't you forgotten that ? she
laughed.
NO, | haven {, and the first time |
used it was the day we went to the picnic
az Wiudou Grove, and
He suddenly stopped in confused way.
The old lady face grew scarlet
You remember things well; that was
about she paused moment-"f fifty
three years or more ago.
1t is good thing to have a good
memory in some ways, but there are things
that are better forgotten That Wiudon
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
gcred the top of his cane nervously.
Jane, dom blame you at all he
began, hesitatingly i have often thought
would ike 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 cut a large
leather pocketbook and took yellow pa
per from one Of the inner pockets. DO
you remember that Johu Slater that
clerked for Black aud generally tended to
the mails lie was tall, red headed
fellow. with lots Of freckles He gave
me this one when he met me in New
York Il had slipped down inside the
desk or somewhere, and was not found for
years. not until long after Black was dead
and they we're making some repairs to the
building
We had lot of business together,
but never recognized him until one day
he asked me If had not come down one
summer to see YOU Then he told NE
about the letter AMI hunted it up for me.
That Is Why never came again. thought
you would not forgive me
WHY Teddy was all the old lady
could say, but there was a quayer in her
voice
lie told me, the old man continued,
that you had married and gone away and
he did not know what had become of
you p
II did not get married for ten years.
Charles was good to me, but he didn live
long. and had a pretty hard time Of it
for awhile; both Of my children were small,
but | got them educated John is a doc
tor at Dalton and Alice is married well.
am going to Johns now. | don care
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
II know all about it, he said know
insly. 1 married to have home. My
wife was a good housekeeper | did not
love her, but did my duty by her; yes,
did my duty. and | missed her when she
died 1--WE years ago. didn' I want to
break up my home, and didn't for | had
! Rob with me. but now they want the old
man 10 break up, and guess | will have
TO. [ have plenty to live on, but they
say they are uneasy about me, but don
want to. never feel right even if |
make them a long visit. They are kind,
but YOU feel sort of strange and can t have
things just as you want them. Things
might have been so different if-if | had
just got that letter
Eyes, that's 50, but it no use frettiHg
over things now am glad We met, as
used to think hard of you. 1t must be
nearly. time for that train, the old lady
said, taking up her knitting.
Its an hour yet.
Then the old man walked over to the
window again.
Presently he came back and stood be
fore her
'.Janey," he began, then gave little
cough, your children don't need you,
and have no one, and get lonely, and
why shouldn't we get married yet Wee
be company for each other, and-and-I
have cared for you all these years. Maybe
Won don believe it, but | have. If you
knew how | have kept that letter, and |
want you as much as ever did, he said,
pleadingly.
'Why, Teddy, we are so old. l am
past seventy, and | am rheumatic and
John wife says | am old and cranky"
IL am older than you are by some years;
| am lame and cant get along without a
cane; but, dear, won't you have me any
way p The old mans voice trembled
and he held out his arms
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