Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-17
THEIR WEDDING DAY.
BY A. M. CAMERON.

>NNNNNN>NNNNNN<NNNNAO
neither train nor bus to help me, and
l must go in, you know"
He sat still once more lost in
thought. Then jumping up excitedly
he stood before her and spoke fast and
eagerly.
Mol! think! You know the park,
quite near? Could you with my arm,
my strong arm, dear, could you walk
to it's gates? You could? Then listen,
Moll; I'll carry you through, it's not
far, and then, why then, it's but step
on the other side to the hospital door,
do you see, old woman, do you see?"
Moll nodded, but looked confused.
The nod, however, apparently satisfied
him, for he offered no further explana-
tion. only asked If she minded being
left by herself for bit, and then,
smiling mysteriously, disappeared.
Left alone, Molly lay still, too tired
and weak to wonder much at anything,
while her mind wandered dreamily
back again over the pages of that old
life story whose joys and sorrows
seemed today to have become so
strangely merged in one; till at last
she remembered no more, the tired
eyes closed YEARLY. and calmly and
peacefully old Mollie slept.
Timothy's re-entrance awakened her
and she smiled welcome.
He came forward eagerly, his old
face flushed and glad. his little body
hal ho troy
his shaking arms were carrying so
proudly; a tray from which there is
sued forth the all-pevading smell, ap-
petizing or sickening as the case may
be, of-fried fish!
shut your eyes tight, old girl, just
for few moments" he cried out; and
still beaming from ear to ear, Tim
brought forward little round table,
placed it near Molly's chair. and softly
and quickly proceeded to lay it. Fish
potatoes! bread! butter! tea! milk!
Why what more could king or queen
desire? And all from the marvellous
possibilities of one bright shilling;
Then, diving into the mysterious
depths of back pocket, Timothy pro-
duced therefrom a little bunch of vio-
lets, crushed indeed and faded, but
sweet still, and bending softly over
Moll he gently fastened them on her
breast. Then seating himself opposite
to her he told her eagerly she might
look"
Her unaffected surprise was rich re-
ward indeed.
Its your cab, dear heart" he cried.
Your cab! you couldn't use it and
riding horse too, could you? and here's
your horse all saddled and ready. It's
quite right and square, Moll," he
added, quickly. as he caught sight of
an expression of doubt on her honest
face Didn't the doctor say it was to
make the journey easier and won't 1t,
old girl won't it? All, l thought that
would settle it
Whatever she may have felt, Molly
had not the heart to object any fur
ther, and so the wedding feast pro-
ceeded
Timothy picked out the daintiest
and most tempting morsels he could
find, and for his sake she did her best
bravely but it was hard work. Every
thing tasted SO strangely today; even
that blessed cup of tea seemed to have
lost the magic of it's strengthening
and reviving powers land at length.
all further effort impossible, she waved
off the last proffered morsel and lying
back wearily, shook her head.
Eat it yourself, you don't cheat
fair, my man; and, ah. Tim" she
added sadly, you've forgotten some
thing after all, for that day you drank
our health in glass of beer
Timothy expected this. and was not
to be taken unawares.
"Beer." he answered unblushingly,
"ah, yes, to be sure, so / did; and
was Just thinking as came along how
tastes change. Why, there's some
thing almost unpleasant to me in the
very idea now! So today If you please,
my lass, III just drink your health in
tea"
Molly said nothing. Only for few
minutes the room seemed dim and
misty, and life was very sweet.
And so once more that wedding
feast was kept.
A little later just as the short sprinr
day was drawing to close, the rev
pedestrians hurriedly vending their
homeward way across that quiet bit of
the park, paused for a moment to gaze
at somewhat unusual sight. 1t was
that of little old man, weak and tot
tering himself but pushing bravely
and steadily on with eyes firmly fixed
on the still far distant gates, and car
rying Oh his back, her thin arms
clasped about his neck, her hands firm
ly grasped in his, an old sick woman.
Molly, his wife.
Hearts are kind and more than one
friendly offer of help had been made
to Timothy. but though grateful for the
offers he had seemed almost impatient
A. loI,, aud tanIiuinu all acsiSf-