Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-23
The Better Way By ALICE (. McKEEVER.

gone home." ,...
 ''So early. Why did he go?"
 "He has letters to write, he said"
 The old woman glanced at the girl, anxiously; her eyes were dim, but she had been crying.
 My dear,' she said,: softly. Bob is only a man-and-you wouldn't let any sense of duty stand between you?"
 The girl flushed deeply, and turned her lovely face toward her questioner.
 'No, \auntie, don't worry, it isn't question of duty" '>
 'I thought perhaps-Bob is so close, he would object to me, and wouldn't, not for the world, keep you apart. The poorhouse has no terrors for me not if it makes you happy" @'.~t
 ''You have a queer notion of what would make me happy. No, you are all I have left, and we'll 'bide wee together.''
 And the girl pressed her soft cheek against the one so old and wrinkled.
 Its hard," murmured the old aunt. "First there was the old father and mother you nursed so long, and now there's me-and he's & likely lad as ever was. He'll be rich, some day"
 "Yes,'' said the girl, quietly. "I know it. He's made of the stuff that produces rich men. Let us forget him, for he is not of our world"
 "But I hoped" persisted the old woman, sadly, "that he might lift you, at least, up to his world. You work so hard, you are only girl. Your life ought to have been so different"
 His world is not above mine," ex- claimed Louise, earnestly; cit is far below. I do not care to step down. Never mention this again, auntie, please"
 But when the winter of snow and rain set in, and Louise had to plod back and forth a mile through the storm to the little millinery store, where she was hired at 75 cents day, the old woman more than once brought up the name of her old-time lover.
 "He's gone to the city," she said, one day, getting salary that would make us rich, one year of it.'
 Louise, pale and weary; answered nothing, but the old woman contin- ued, plaintively: .....
 "Now, if it hadn't been for me you'd been a living like queen. Seems like instead of helping you, as want to, I only take all your hopes away. Dear, dear, how long I do live?''
 ''Hush!" said the girl, sternly. "How unkind you are! You are all I have in the world. Youar all have ever had since-since- they went away" . -.. ,. -
 "You're .25," said the old woman, softly, "you're the prettiest girl for miles around. always thought-'' 7
 ''I'd marry. We'll, won't" an swered Louise, brightly, "for I'm de- termined to be an old maid"
 Bob Hunter had been in the city 20 years. He was no longer known as Bob, but as. Robert Hunter, the mill ionaire. '',.. ; >~5 = /
 He had friends, such as they were, astute business fnanciers like him- self; servants who ran at his bidding, but not one person in the whole world who loved him.
 Even the little errand boys knew him for what he was, hard, cold and uncharitable. They were paid their stipulated prices, never a cent more. This world and this life was only a place to live long in, in order to grow rich and richer.
 He seldom recalled his old country home; there were no ties there to hold him. Only, sometimes there came feeting memory of fair young face, the one face in the world he had turly loved.
 'She was a little fool," he would mutter; "she's been a martyr long enough. I didn't propose to saddle myself with that old aunt. We'll, she chose her way, hope she's en- joyed it.' -..@.,%-.... '.+ 7 ...
 Accident brought back his old home wildly at last. There was 8 railroad running through that part of the country that he. desired to buy.
 "I'll run out there a. few days," he said; Git will be prudent to do so, and I wonder how the old place looks by this time. anyway: Nobody will rec ognize me, dare say"
 But they did; the newspapers had heralded his name, and the old neigh bors who remembered him as a boy wanted to see the great man he had become.
 A number of old friends, as they were pleased to call themselves, under l took to show him around and to point out the improvements that 20 years had brought about.
 There was a new courthouse, new jail and lastly a fine large building lately erected for the county poor.
 Bob did not care 8 copper cent to be shown any of these affairs, but he had his own reasons for being civil, hence he permitted himself to be dragged hither and thither and at last actually found himself inside the handsome new poorhouse.