The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-11-25

Theodore went and told Mrs. Peter
son about the accident, and after he
had gone a loud wall rose from the
three girls, but when the household eff
fects were moved in and the Petersons
themselves went to their new home,
there. in the drawing-room, was a
beautiful brand new piano awaiting
them.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared in amazement.
"Mr. Foster had it sent" Aunt Sarah
Peterson explained. She had been
there attending to that end of the
moving. "He said that as it was due
to his carelessness that the other was
wrecked, he should take the liberty
Of replacing it by this one" Maud,
the eldest girl. went and tried the in
strument. isn't it beautiful" she
cried rapturously.
Time went on and the girls practiced
diligently. Their aunt also took adj
vantage of the chance to play, so that
Theodore had all the music he want
ed.
One day Theodore asked Maud to
go with him to the piano shop.
II want you to try them ALL he said,
land see if there is one you like bet
ter than the one at home"
Maud tried them. mo" she de-
clared, ''there isn't one so nice"
"By the way, won't you play that
new waltz for me?"
She seated herself at the nearest IL
strument and began to play. When
she had finished she looked around, but
Theodore was not beside her, as she
had supposed Instead she saw him
at the far end Of the room coming to-
ward her with piece Of paper il his
hand. When he reached her he passed
her the paper. ga birthday present,
my dear; I believe it is your birthday
to-day"
Maud looked at the paper blankly.
Then it dawred upon her that it was
a receipt for the piano at home, made
out in her name. Maud would never
tell her sisters what she did at that
mor1ent, but when she came horne and
told them about it they all declared
that Mr.. Foster was q dear"
"Don't you think it would be better
for you to go out Of doors more, Miss
Sarah?" Theodore asked her enc day.
II would be greatly honored if you
would accompany me on ny daily
walks. 1t is rather tedious Going home
alone"
And so it became the custom for the
old bachelor and the maiden aunt to
walk out every day together. But af-
ter year of this Miss Sarah told him
one Cay that she was going away for
a six months visit. Theodore was
filled with CONSERVATION at this, end
begged her to consider. Re pleaded SO
and eloCuently that she
finally promised to stay away only two
weeks, and when she came back to
"namc the day"
That was the longest walk they had
taken, and toward the end Of it The
odore said: my dear, there is come
thing I have wanted to tell you ever
since 1 have known you. 1t is about
the piano"
II don't think you will have to tell
me now" she said. 81 have known 1t
all the time. | saw you do it."
"Saw me do it? Do what?"
"Cut the rope"
He stood still and looked at her.
II was at the window. l had come
over to see the things, you know, and
saw you take out your knife, step up
to the hub Of the wheel and cut the
rope"
"And you never told?'
"No; you see," she said, confusedly,
her color rising, sit flashed upon me
at once what you did it for-that old
piano was an instrument of torture
and that was the beginning of the
end, think"
81 don't understand what you mean
by the end"
She turned o radiant glance upon
him. "Why, don't you see-to-day"-
st. Louis Star.