The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-18
THE ROMANCE OF AGE

tomorrow" he suggested. II should
ike to see your grandson. Indeed |
should"
And should so love TO see the little
girl. 1t would be nice, wouldn't TT
"And we could show them the bears
and other beasts and let them play up
on the grass. and we ourselves might
talk OF those other days" There was
meaning In his eyes as he looked into
the sweet old face She knew II, and,
with a faint Autter of the heart. like
that OF the girl who had given him the
flower before quarreling with him. she
acouiesced in the arrangement. She
would bring lunch for the children,
and they could watch them at their
play.
He saw her while she was yet dis
lance and walking across the flower
marked lawn toward the fountain
where they had arranged to meet
Somehow the vision OF other days
came to him, and be remembered that
she had once looked like this when she
had moved down the path and under
the apple blossoms to meet him at the
gate, only then there was no blue cap
ped and white wasted grandchlld run
ming at her side. He remembered also
that no little golden haired girl In a
white frock had held his hand while he
had waited at the gate or had looked
up ut him and asked him childish ques-
lions In the name of grandpapa.
The children were shy and hung
back when they were earnestly
prompted to shake hands and kiss each
other. and the little boy finally re-
fused fatty and was child therefor.
Then they all went to a green hillside.
and under the shade OF tree they
gayly spread the little lunch.
"Do they not" he asked, indicating
the children. make you think that we
are beginning life all over again In
stead Of coming rapidly into lts ending
and TO a lonesome ending nj thatf DO
they not-hold on, my little man. you
mustn't smear Jelly on your sweet
hearts frockw The admonltion was
called out by a fiercely hostile action
on the part OF her grandchild. Before
they could check the youngster he had
repeated his sweet aud sticky assault.
and the little girl burst into spasms OF
tears. They comforted her, and the sill
YER haired grandmother warned Bobby
that such dlsgraceful conduct, IL ne
peated, would meet with swift and ter
rible justice.
81 have always kept that rose you
gave me before our quarrel" he said,
suddenly turning TO her. Il did not
think II disloyalty TO my wife to treas
ure It, and It was great comfort TO
me. u
He was interrupted by a scream from
her.
Your little girl is scratching bis
face! Oh, the poor little man.
He had his hand In his coats Inner
pocket. and It was clasping small box
IN which he knew there rested withered
rose leaves. but he drew It out again
and interfered between the two chill
dren.
"Stop, Mabel" be said sharply.
There. there: don't mind. You mustn't
cry about your dress. Grandpapa will
get you a fine new one tomorrow. and
a dolly"
"And candyT snuffied the weeping
girl.
"And candy" he promised
Somehow this episode seemed 10 have
severely wrenched events. She comfort
ed the scratched Bobby with promises
OF edible merchandise. occasionally
speaking Of the dreadful nature OF bis
wounds. It was ten minutes before
they had worked around TO q normal
condition. and then he said, II have
kept that rose for all these thirty
years. and you had forgotten me-"
Forgotten you? No. no. You must
not say that pledged my faith to my
husband and kept it-but-sometimes-
someumes-see, here Is the little ring
you carved out Of a peach stone for
me, and
"Wah-h-h-hr' came from rearward.
She turned the sweet old face just In
time to see the little girl leap to her
feet and butt the boy fercely and
vengefully In the stomach. Bobby roll
ed down the hill and brought up
against a sapling.
"Oh, what do you mean? You wick
ed little vixenF' she screamed. AT
lacking a poor child like TINT That is
your grandmother's spirit in you, III
warrant
"He put a choad down my back"
screamed little Mabel. "a nasty hop
choadT
"a toadT' the old man called angri-
". "You outrageous little villain.
Just wait till peel a switch OF this
tree, and
A silver haired statue lowered before
him. With her right hand she thrust
the sniveling Bobby behind her. What
will you do, Robert HardenT she ask
ed, with flashing eyes. Assault my
grandchild for being nearly killed by
this scratching, fighting little spitfire;
Never! Over my dead body alone shall
such an outrage be committed" And
she looked at him like heroine.
VERY we'll, madam he snapped.
Perhaps your daughter knows how
to raise children--perhaps you do your
self-but there's no evidence Of 1t. A
toad! Down her back! The vicious
little whelp!"
Good morning. Robert Hardenw
Good morning, Rebecca ElllsF'
They separated. each leading a
shrieklng grnndchild and each burning
with inward hatred for the other.
A tramp who sat beneath that tree
an hour later found small box OF rose
leaves lying on the turf.
We Doubt II.
"Oh, those won't do at air. she said
a. x..fA~ h~~,xhk ont thn onnw.