The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-06-24

"Well. then. He stood straight be-
fore her. Helen said he, have you
forgotten me?' and she began to turn
white. 4 have had time enough said
she.
"oh, you ought not to have stayed
Ned!"
you may find out the rest by your
learning" said the offended narrator.
81 should like to know how | was go
ing to leave. Only I'll say this, that
il Aunt Helen would marry old morn
ton today-she wouldn't touch MIN
with a walking stick
To our amazement on the very next
afternoon who should appear at our
gate with his phaeton and pair, but ME-.
Thornton; and who, bonneted, and
gloved, and yelled, should issue from
the door, 70 be placed in the phaetoh
and drive off with him, but Aunt Hell
en-, Ned chuckled; but the rest OF us
could do nothing but wonder.
HAS she gone to be married.? we
gasped. And Lii and Harry began to
cry.
"Weu. III tell you" said Ned, in
mercy. HE said there's never been
day since he left her that he hadn't
ionged for what he threw away"
ooh, how wicked"
"She told him so, very quietly and
severely tell you Aunt Helen can
he severe-and to be silent on that.
Forever? said he. And ever said
che 1T is impossible said he. And
then he went over, one by one
dozen different days and scenes when
| thew were young; and if ever fellow
felt mean, was the one.
az should think you would we cried
with one accord.
"Now look here" returned Ned. III
YOU want to hear the rest, you keep
that sort of remark to yourself. 1t was
too late to show myself, any way And
ri he blamed if I'll say another word
if YOU don't every one acknowledge
you'd have done just as did.
"Oh. Ned, do tell the whole. That's
a good boy"
"WelI. she just begin to cry-I new
or saw Aunt Helen cry before. And
then it seemed as if she would go dis
tracted; and he begged her not to
crv and she cried the more; and he
begged her to marry him out OF hand
| know just how to do it now; only
If doesn't seem to be very successful
way-and she shook her head; and ne
implored her by their old love, he said
and he wiped her eyes, and she LOOKED
at him, and gave laugh-a hate1u
sort of laugh.
Then said he, "'if you will not TO
my sake, not for your own sake, thel
for the sake of the motherless children
who need you more than ever cLltdrel
needed a mother yet, and wno-wh
are driving me crazy! and then Aun
Helen laughed in earnest. gooo
sweet, ringing peal; and the long an
short if it is that she has driven II
to the Thornton house today to 100
: at the cubs and see what she THINK
about them. Maybe she'll bring tte'
down here-she's great on missionar
work, you know"
well, | declare!' was the hnal ch'
: rus. And we sat in silence a good L 4
> hour: and by the time our tongue
/, were running again. Aunt Helen ha
a returned, Mr.. Thornton had come
l with her. and sat down upon the plaz1
D step at her feet, but not at all with II
L "a step at her feet. but not at all VIII
I the air of an accepted lover-muc
e more like a tenant of Mohammets &C
G fin. we thought. And as | began TO te
a YOU we were all sitting and sWinglr
Their when Aunt Helen exclaimed APO
Il its being a scene of domestic com1oi
II AS she sat down the big black COCK
= hen came to meet her, and AuntHei'
|, threw her a bit of watercracker
e supply of which she always carri
i, about her nowadays
d "Whyl where's your husband? sa
u she to the hen.
II There he is said Ned. He's De
Is I'D alone in that corner OF the 9r8
III the whole day, calling and cluc-a
~ and, inviting company; but the n
ct haven't paid the least attention
dS him, and are picking and scratchl
FL down about the cannas.
1e "Oh, but he's been down there tw
t Ned" crefd Harry, and tried to wi
IT, the little bantam, but it was a dra
~ battle"
~ Well. he ought to have title
No cation, and scratch for awhile, $
Aunt Helen. HE has picked q
~, scratched for his hen and her fan
VI all summer"
iIo "And SOS the banty," said Ned -
- bantam's the best; he's taken as ri
L. IL a %