The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-05-22

down and began to ply her needle
with desperate energy. She did no
even notice that she was knitting bac
over the same needle.
What do you mean, child?" sh
gasprd in voice that she intended /
be calm. How do you know?"
Why, what woman you are,
aughed the girl. cone can't eve,
mention missionary work, but you e
off into the tidgcts. Catch me over get
ting 80 struck on charity ~ that. Bu
it's true. Your brother was ut the sta
t0n when he got OF the train TIM:
morning, and he invited him here.
was in your brothers store ard Sa"
him, and he's just splendid, en!hNSl
usticallv; "slX feet high and more, ano
carries himself like Il regular SoIdIcr
Your brother told me to hurry bach
and let Won all know lie was coming.
She was silent for n few moments.
then burst out with: " I'm going 10 sci
nv can for him. I'm iusi SICK ana
tired of this pohy ?lar|, and | always
did wan! ir 80 10 Japan and China
| and those foreign roUutlIc<.'
ChiIn. lhl&'' demonstrated Ketu.
-ah shes more ihaM twice Your age. -
Cn., .1iN-GVc." SAID the Girl per-
verse;, &c! heard him Tel. Your
o"oiho, 80, Thai is INST the night age
IL " man.
" Maybe he's married. child."
" ~, II, amt 70: you: brother asked
INN. He AerNS house and has a
( a.Maman 10 cook and do his work.
My SIsio! says must look sharp, for
hes the best catch there ever was in
;hj> :owu. Hes awful rich. even if he
: a tuiss!onary.' She was silent again
10: som" moments, tapping her foot
>"mi .acent!v against The rustic work
# ;he a!bor. Then she looked at
Ne;uiah with sudden interest.
He sad he used to live here when
b" was young man. Did you know
l!m. Miss kciurah? You must be old
enough to remember most every.
,hing.'"
He went to school with brother
and me- said kctuah quietly. Gle
lscd to live in that house across the
street. | believe he was considered a
very nice young man thcn.n
| should think 500 scornfully.
At any rate he's the finest man
.Vcr saw. But there they come now.n
And she hurried away as two men
urned in the gate and came lcisurcly
~ the gravel walk toward the house.
kclurah?" and she rose calmly
md gave him her hand.
am glad to see YOU, Charles, e"
,hc said; cts been long time since
'ou were here
"NcS, a lOny tlmc--'' Then
Florence hustled into the arbor and
)orc him off to look at The flower Gar.
len.
The next few days Kcturah saw
very little Of him. Florence had him
IN charge most Of the time, making
poCr-calls, wandcrin. about The fields
II on the piazza chatting of the delights
)f travel and missionary work. But on
The fifth day Florence was Obliged to
20 to her drcSsmakcr's, "ncl whilo she
.ysIc gone The Rev. Charles Bardcn
found his way across the lawn to the
arbOr where kcturah sat
She greeted him quietly
and made room for him on the seat
bcsilc her.
1" haven't seen as much of you as |
>opcd,' he began gray ely, as he sat
lOwn.
There's been considerable going
)m,' she said.
" Yes; have been trying to get a
;hancc TO speak with you alone, but
his is my first opportunity. DO you
our last convcrsation-bc-
ore lcfl?"
She did not answer, but her needles
began to click more rapidly.
1t was in this very arbor, you re-
member, twenty-five years ago. |
asked you to go away with me, and
you said that your father was growing
)ld and needed you, and that it would
not be right to leave hlm. Kcturah
will you go back with me now? Youl
father ls dead and your brother is pro
vidcd for. No one needs you here.'
The knitting fell to the ground un-
needed, and o warm, rich color lstol,
INTO her face.
But am getting to be an old wo
man now, and you arc in the prime OF
Ifc."
All, indeed?' quizzingly. am
[orty.IIve and you are forty three; just
The same difference between us as
there was twenty-five years ago. VIII
you go back with mc?"
But still her conscience made he1
lcmur.
"Would not a younger woman dc
YOU more good, Charlcs"
"l want you, Kcturah," the
grave voice growing earnest and tender
g wanted yon twenty-five years ago.
| want you now. | shall want you al.
ways. Will you go back with mc3"
Yes"
AT the dinner table that evening the
Rev. Charles Bardcn looked across
at his host.
" believe | haven't told you, John
that kcturah is going back with me-
he said composedly.