Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-06

helm my feelings"


to judge. an | amt blamin nobody for
Sim couldn't git along. but If you
couldn't you couldn't. an that's all thar
Is TO 1t. Sim amt never faulted you
for nothin, an I'm moughty shore l
amt a-goin to nuther. Whatever may
be said, know one thing, Loueesy. an
that is. no matter what you thought of
anybody else. you've always been
true wife to Sim. Ysur conduct has
been right, an that's all the world has
got to do with. Your thoughts an your
feelin's Is atwixt you an your Cod
And God knows l never meant to do
wrong" Louisa said. "but did when
married Sim without loving him. But
1 didn't know, Pap; I didn't know. l
was too young. loved the other then,
but liked Sim. and wasn't sure. oh.
love Is so cruel. so cruelr'
mo, Loueesy. it amt that It's that
people amt kecrful enough of what
they're doln when they marry. You
was too young TO know your own
heart"
81 was, and the consequence is /
have ruined Sims life and made my
self miserable forever"
mo, no, Loueesy. Don't you go TO
lookin at il that away. Lord, thar's
many years afore you. an thar's no
tellin what all may happen yit. You
jest keep up courage an be as hopeful
as you can, an some of these days
you'll find that all your pains an suf-
FERNS has been left behind"
mot in this life, Pap. 1t can't ever
be in this hard, cold world"
But 1t can, an it will. You'll see.-
They walked on a little way In ST.
lence. They were both thinking, and,
though neither Of them knew it, their
minds were on the same subject. Pres
emily Louisa sighed and. as IL speaking
to herself, said:
Poor Sim, poor Simr'
Pap glanced quickly at her face.
while the faint trace of a smile played
about his lips. In that moment he
saw farther into the future than Lou
lisa would have believed.
"An now about Melvin" he said. Il
reckon you know what people say an
Think"
mo, but l suppose they think me
wicked and say hard things about me-"
WAL, some Of 'em do, Loueesy.
Yes; I'm afeard some OF 'em do
I'm sorry. but can't help IT."
'In co'se. 1 understand all that But,
seem as things are so, lowed you
wouldn't keer bout givin folks no
more room for sayin things than you
can holp, so 1 reckoned you'd ruther go
to see Melvin when everybody want
thar to see you"
Yes; would. But can It-
Shore. II you Jest wait till tonight,
when ever'body's gone home. I'll take
you thar. I'll arrange it with Hicks
SOS you can go in. That away no
body won't know nothin bout II, an
nobody can't have nothin to say"
Thank you, Pap. You are more
than thoughtful and kind"
Lord, that amt nothin. Even IL 1
didn't keer nothin for you I'd do that
much jest to balk Mary Manu.
At the mention OF that name Louisa
shuddered. Pap noticed 1t and said:
II reckon you amt got much more
love for that woman than l have"
81 despise her" Louisa replied.
"Most folks does. Lord, she made
plumb fool of herself over Sim"
And l accused him of making love
to her"
"Makin love to her! Sim Ranks
maxim love TO Mary Mann! My Lord,
GAL what was you ever a-thinkin of?
Why. Sim hated her wussin plzen."
II know now that l was unjust
'To be shore you was. But reckon
somebody told you somethin?"
Eyes"
That's the way il is-allus some
body fairly splittin their skins to git
to stir up trouble Sich people ort 10
have their tongues split an their legs
run through EN-"
AS Pap had promised, Mrs. Sampson
proved true friend to Louisa. She
received her kindly and made her feel
heartily welcome from the instant she
entered the house. Like Pap, she nei-
Their Judged nor blamed, but rather
sought to soothe and comfort The
generous kindness Of these two plain,
simple old people touched Louisa deep
ly, and she never forgot it.
That night Pap took Louisa to the
store to see for the last time all that
remained of the man she loved He
felt that he was doing right, and when
he spoke OF it to his wife she readily
agreed with him.
Il think it will be for the best" she
said. 1T may be comfort to her,
an anyway it can't do nobody no
harm"
The store was dark, and there was
no one there, bue Pap had secured
from Hicks the key to the wareroom
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