Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-02-16
The Waiting Of AT. Horace
BY sarah Lindsay Coleman.
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lCops right. isoo. bs the Authers' syniicate.l

A IL nature seemed JOYOUS and /
~ bright that afternoon f.r spring I
had returned GO Carolina ON every side I
the irou plovshare had gone Deep into I
the heart of the fields and the earth /
had "a fresh smell that caused vague
thrill OF pleasure.
But Mr.. Horace noticed none 81
these things as De rode slowly pa-t
the Bryson orchard. The sunshine acc
centuated the weary lines OF his face.
the detected droop Of his shoulders.
Poor Mr. Horace" AIRS. Bry
said 20 her husband. as hc passed her
gate. "if ever a man was faithful. he
is But he will never win. and be
knows it. 7 believe I VIII ask him for
a setting Of turkey eggs" She sped
down the walk as nimbiy ss IL She
had been go instead Of so.
Mr. Horace brought his old gray
mare Co halt and waited for his
neirhbor 90 catch her breath.
Turkey eggs2" be- asked. with old
| fashioned politerc~s. certainly
madam Mrs npsu drew nearer
I and in her caruestut caught che
u-iare bN lhe bride rein. "Nr. Horace
! -Nr. Horace" -he said. ie-u,rately
| "it's not turkey crr,i ft's been go-
/ ing on SO longs Nou will mover win
1 Why. you are % bv-vord for counting
! I'M the whole settlement NJ. Horace
/ pieadiurIV for ne was looking down
az her in such a helpless beviderer
I fashion: ~Bouse Yourself, MARI he
in spite of herself, Cood evening. sir.'
She ran back up the path TO her
home
Mr. Horace logged on. His face re-
sumcd IT'S detection. and his shoulder
dropped sympatheticaiiy.
Twenty-Five years is long Iool
back Tie was q slim youue fellow
fun Of hope and youth. that first sun
day afternoon ne rode up Co Mary
/ Hirs gate. h'tched his horse. an,
went in 10 begin the siege ~ hc
heart; and she was yonng. and th'
prettiest girl in all the county.
For ten years he bad ridden 10 ne
house. and then had ridden away
The visits ended suddenly. and
month later Mr.. Horace was married
Mr. Horace's little wife never com
planned. but at the end of five year
]
and laid it down. IL was ten year
from the time of his wife's deati
and 25 years from the time OF hi
first wooing. as he went up the pat
20 Miss Hills home. Strange though
were thronging his brain. As he pu
one foot behind him for his Old-fa y
toned bow. he felt decidedly bevi
dered 10 hear the words Master he
, Why. YOU are by-word for cour
: ing"
y He looked up TO see if she hs
= heard the loud-spolen words. 81
!. was smiling and inviting him into n
Q oid-fashioned parlor.
; "AlI alone2" he questioned
:. eyes" with faint hush AT n
l. eagerness Of his tone. And then -
/ told him that the family were ava
d for the day. With an impatient M
tion he passed his hand across h
brow. as though he brushed imsginar
cobwebs from his brain. "Now's Il
time. Marry her in spite Of herSef
p Reuse ycurself." How the words reT
y in HIS ears.
:, He asked for some water. and WIS
ie Miss Hill returned she dimly re@iizs
p that a change had passed over hir
d Mr.. Horace had pulled himself tcgcthe
u Tie sat down, and held himself cree
q He spoke with a dignity new 10 hi
r. Mary ne said. its 25 years sin
y I first hitched my horse TO your gat
20 post. and, as look back. IL sseIns Z
N Sunday afternoons when / have con
ID 10 see YOU"
- He grew eloquent. he even ne
ticpsi- the rides throngh yr>s sS=sA.ls