Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-07-23

no thoughts of prylnS into your DUST
ness. only want to help you out or
this if can"
81 know, know" she said quickly,
IAN you're good-good. You'll think
me Il silly old woman, but can't bear
TO disappoint him. Nigh thirty years.
It's Il long time, an we've both got
old an ugly, but our hearts is just the
same. If he hadn't said it almost the
last thing, | wouldn't care so much,
but, Molly said he. be careful OF
your teeth. You've such II purity
mouth. An'-an'-now | ;snt no teeth
at all. an him a-comin after all these
years! It's a long time to be in prison,
an that's why want the rug, cause
it's so bright an cheerful, an he halnt
seen nOthin very cheerful all these
years, but-but | must have the teeth.
| had the money for them, too, but
they'll only send him TO Cincinnati,
where he went up from, so Ill have
to send the money for the rest OF the
way. | must have the teeth" wiring
ing her hands uncOnsciOuSly while the
sunken lips quivered and the tears
trickled down the yellow cheeks. Il
must have the teeth-an'-an' | don't
know what to do.
"They sent him up for fifty years.
It's n long time for KILN man that
egced him on to dom it, an he was
young an hot headed then. Nea
only been married four year, an we
was ius gettin' nice little start, but"
with a dry sob, 81 know it seems silly
TO YOU fer an old woman to care how
she looks. but it's for him; It's to please
him."
The man walked quickly to the win
dow
A woman true for thirty years! A
woman who would rot lie! a woman
whose love had grown with suffering!
A woman with clear brown eyes like
He. bowed his head in his hand a mo-
ment. and when he raised it the light
of Joy that shone through tho mist was
like the sun behind an April cloud.
1--WE can't take back the rug" he said,
"but here" quickly writing on his card,
as the address Of my dentist. 60 to
him. lie will make your teeth. and l
will stand good for them. Now prom
Use me that you will go today"
mo, no." she said, breaking into
tears. 81 amt nothn' to you an l
can't let you do that. God bless you
amt never taken nothin' yet but
what earned. l wouldn't feel honest
in dom this, for | wuzn't tryin to get
help. only to have the rug taken back"
you must" he said firmly. You
can pay me back; you can pay it lit
tie at Il time. Will you be generous
and do this to please me| And he
looked into her face with a winning
smile.
God is good" she answered broken
ly the weary old face lighting with a
/ great joy. Il know you mean what
you say, an III pay you every cent
| JUS rs soon as l can. You don't know
what this means to me-" breaking Into
helpless sobs, "for-for want to look
as good as | can for John"
That evening a girl with clear brown
eyes sat with hands folded listlessly in
/ her lap, her lips in wistful curve. Sud
denly she started, flush came to her
| checks. warm light to her eyes. with
a cry of JOY she sprang to her feet and
held out her hands to him. With no
words he caught her to him and kissed
her with u passion Of love; then, put
ting his hand under her chin, he held
her face so he could look into her eyes
and said slowly:
'If | was sent to prison for thirty
years, would you love me, be true to
me and kiss me after those thirty
years with the same gladness you dc
now"
81 don't know" she answered hest
tatingly.
"You don't know
mo. How could 1? l love you so
much think could love you always
But how can tell? Oh" her face
flushing scarlet, what am | saying
| am telling you love you, and-you
have never yet said you loved me. And
you cannot or you wouldn't have left
me for a month with no word, even to
tell me why"
you know love you, though" he
said-"loye YOU so much | was afraid
of it. And | am happier to hear you
say that you can't tell whether you
would be true to me or not than for al
assurance to come tripping off youl
tongue. 1t wasn't you, darling, but
your sex, that has almost robbed me
of my happiness. But one little Ole
woman has redeemed all your sex fol
you and brought me to you again. FOL
Gods sake, never lie to me- Cleta"
She looked at him with tender won
anly pity
Poor boyw she said softly. You
have seen the one side so long you for
get how many sides there are to an oc
tagon. Because from millions OF won
on few hundred come to you will
lies on their lips must you condemn
all womankind? No, no, my dear; yot
must not condemn women, for every
noble man is mostly what his mother
has made him. While women have
their weaknesses. they are
1.-THE light Of mans life!' he cried.