The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-09-12


sumption two years ago."
She answered very briefly, and he
did not think fit to inquire as to her
present circumstances. If Martha
Derriman had not prospered, the fault
was none of his.
Dear. dear! and Jack the young
est of you all! What about Loocy
now? I suppose she was married up
comfortable years ago.
For all his hardness he was lit
tie i'll at ease then, and his look avoid
ed hers. If he had seen her eyes
then in their wistfulness, as she an
swered jauntily enough
ITO be sure; married up comfort
able to Jimmy Mech. six months
after you stopped writing to her"
Although this was not true, It
should have been grateful hearing to
Timothy, yet he resented it.
"What! a pretty piece like Ioocy
married up to that girl, long-legged
Jimmy. man as never thirds his
mangold? I always thought he was
after you; he'd have done we'll enough
for you"
Under the influence Of her presence
the unaccustomed words belonging to
his youth came trooping back Of their
own accord No other way Of speak
ing to her would have been natural;
nor did she seem offended at. bis in
sinuation that anything in the shape
of a man was good enough for her,
but not for Lucy. Her eyes even
sparkled as she answered:
''They are married all right. and are
as happy rs can be! There's heaps
of young stock on the farm, and you
should see 'em of Sunday setting
In church with their five boys and
two girls! Twas q pretty sight when
I was home, but they must be fine
lads and maidens By now"
His face darkened, being childless
man with head, money-loving wife;
and just then he seemed to see Lucy
in the exquisite bloom and freshness
Of young womanhood. How the sun
shone In her hair, just as 1t used to!
None of his gold was one tithe as
bright.
The woman leant eagerly forward.
'T low as you really loved her at
the onset"
"God knows! I was but a boy
chap, with my way to make, and
Loocy hadn't nothen."
But he knew regretfully that the
lad and the girl had even then been
rich with untold wealth-rich in youth
and hope-ay, and love, treasure
that his Golfers had not contained for
years.
you've changed" she said slowly.
"What a sperrity lad you used to be-!
Can't you mind dowsing Dan Legg
in the pumptro' because he served
our kitten bad-an all-over white kit
ten 1t was with a tabby tail?'
The clerk opened the door.
"Mr. Carl Rasch to see you, Sir"
81 cannot see him. am particu-
larly engaged"
Then Timothy Burt turned to her
with q frown of anxious recollection
on his lined forehead.
"Not an all-over white kitten
surely; hadn't it patch Of tabby on
the back? Ay, can mind how Loocy
hcllied out; she was turrible fond OF
cats. A bad buoy that Dan Leggs!
I'd do the same again" Then hab-
itual caution asserted ftself-"But he
bid fair to make an awful big chan"
She eyed his unathletic figure with
grave compassion:
you've plimmed since then. do
fancy you'd not stand much of a
snock now. But you need not be
netting Dan Legg any more; he's been
dead these many years.
The silence lay heavy between them,
until he suddenly turned suspicious:
"Where was you when 1 dowsed
Dan? I can only mind Of Loocy being
by. Where was you to-"
"I was in the bakehouse, stripping
feathers. IT'S so long ago you for
get"
This remark was providential IN
suggesting a new train of thought.
"You and your feathers. Martha!
I couldn't bide in house when you
was bakin' Of them. Tell about
SWITCHES! I zim smell Of 'em now"
She laughed a softer laugh than
Martha had ever been guilty Of
| Martha, the terrible tidy woman; So
called, more in evaporation than ad-
| miration, by the victims Of her rabid
cleanliness-Martha, who was too
near" and saving to pay her sisters
fare across!
They were now thoroughly warmed
to their subject, and both revelled in
a quaint and homely speech that
| would have astonished the clerks out
| side.
Timothy Burt required the minut-
est particulars of people whom until
then he had totally forgotten, and he
was marvelously surprised to find
so many of them dead. 1t was like
turning over full page to encounter
q blank!
1--WE be gettin' along. Tim; gettin'
woldish with never chick nor child
to comfort Us. 1t do zim pity, too
If you'd a married Lu-"
| He silenced her abruptly. and again
the golden haired vision swept fresh
across his fancy.
ut is to be hoped" he said. not
without latent jealousy. "that Loocy's
children favor her. That Mech was
always a dumble6ore of a man-not
but what he'd a-done for you right
enough"
He had no intention Of being rude,
but in the old days Martha had never
minced matters, and he saw no rea-
son to mince them now.
"They are knowledgeable," she an
swered modestly, land the eldest girl
Is like what Loocy used to be, 80 they