The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-03-12
| Of womanhood she turned into the Ell

Of womanhood she turned into the ez-
act image Of her mother at her age.
Ben Madden had long been rich old
"widower." Passing the house of his
erstwhile sweetheart one day he was
startled at beholding girl in the yard
that was the living picture Of one he
had loved just 20 years before. The
sight of her stirred the damp ashes in
his old greedy heart, and 10! Some liv-
ing Goals were found!
The old man thought Of the mort
gage he held on the widows farm, and
he fairly Rugged himself with JOY.
The next day he called on the Widow
Osborne.
Flora" he said, as he seated him
self and pushing back layer of sweaty
iron-gray hair from his forehead, Il
passed by here yesterday and saw what
looked like little Flora Of 20 years ago
in the yard. l had to give you up on
account Of poverty-'twas better for
both, we afterward learned-and now
that I'm rich, think I'll experiment
with love again. I felt my old heart
leap again as it did when 1 first saw
you. l thought it dead-twas only
sleeping. Now, you are getting up in
years, and are poor, aud I've come to
tell you that if you will give me your
daughter in marriage, your now lean
board shall creak with plentitude the
balance Of your days. I'll take away
the mortgage and put a new house in
it's place. The old lady shall have fair
adornment so that old widowers from
afar will hear Of her, and hasten to
place their vows and kneel at her feet
eh, Flora? He-he-he!"
The widows face caught fame, but
he took it for the rose-hue Of joy.
At first she was tempted to order him
from the house, but prudence, engen-
dered by thought of the mortgage he
held, restrained her righteous impulse.
''You should be ashamed" she cried,
almost choking with anger and humili-
alton.
81 see nothing to be ashamed of in
the offer Of a rich man to divide all
with the needy"
Ben" strangely spoke the widow af-
ter long pause, ''let me show you
sometime" And she went into the
room and returned to the porch and
showed below Ben's eyes the wings of
a dead butterfly.
The old fellow at first smiled in a
silly way; then he understood, and his
face turned pale.
Nov come out and walk with me to
the rear of the house."
The old fellow wonderingly followed.
look" she said, what do you see sit
ting on that bench yonder?"
Bens eyes almost started from his
head. On bench, on the same spot,
at the same season, where he and an
other had sat just 20 years ago, he be-
neld tall, handsome young fellow, and
beside him a beautiful girl. In their
loves sweet dream they were blissfully
world that beat on the highways near
them. Soft breezes flowed about their
bowed, happy heads, drenching them
with nectarine odors. Birds above fash
ed in the sweet, lush foliage, and chat
ted about love. Butterflies befreckled
the air with swift, changing rues. One
great, fan-winged butterfly wabbled
and zigzagged about them for a min
ute, then slowly dropped and rested for
e. moment on the warm clasped hands
of the dreaming pair. 1t was not killed.
"Ben," said the woman, softly,
would you be cruel enough to crush
that little paradise yonder? Behold my
daughter; behold your SOM"
The old fellow turned to the widow.
He tried to laugh, but tears broke
through his forced expression.
mot for anything, Flora, would in
terrupt that scene. / never knew be-
fore my son was coming here. I've kept
my eye too much on the dollar to notice
such things. Thank the Lord, he's got
no poverty, as had, to destroy, at the
baoinni0U all thattc host and cuootoS%
in life.''
He looked down at Flora, and was
startled at the expression of her face.
She seemed transformed in his eyes. A
young face seemed to push through the
shadows Of 20 years and shine beauti-
full again.
"Flora," he spoke, taking her hand,
eve are not so old yet. Come, I see
another bench out yonder, under an
other apple tree!"