The Holly chieftain., 1904-12-02

I; that TO matter whatever befell
,cu-suns shine or rain, happiness or
sorrow-that my ambition was to see
you showered with all the blessings
God can grant to good woman; |
said that if day came when | had
2 right to ask your love in return that
| should Go so, making no claim on
our old friendship. And then you
said something, Jessie-do you re-
member what you said, derling?"
Il said that | wanted you to love
me, but not to speak of it again
until said you could" said Jessie,
lifting her laughing eyes. You can
| say 1t again-if you wish to, John"
Two soft arms were around his
neck and two sweet lips met his.
You knew l would wait for you,
John. didn't you?"
John Burt's modest mansion stands
on the crest of the hill which slopes
down to the old farmhouse. 1t COM
mands superb view of the crescent
sweep of ocean beach, and also of the
more quiet beauties of bingham bay.
Verdant terraces and winding paths
and roads come to the edge of the
yard surrounding the old homestead,
but no gardeners hand has been per-
mitted to touch the quaint surround
ings, sacred to the ancestral founder
of the house of Burt.
In the long summer days Jessie's
children play about Peter Burt's
knees. Nearly five score years have
passed over his head His shoulders
are bent. and the voice falters at
times, but his eyes preserve the spark
of their wonted fires.
Watched and cared for by those
who love him, he calmly awaits the
coming of the reaper, into whose gar.
ner long since have been gathered the
atoms of his generation.
A few miles away another mansion
fronts the ocean. James Blake and
his fair Edith have been blessed with
| TWO children and with each others
love. A roguish boy bears the name
OF John, and dainty little miss re-
| spends to the name of Jessie. James
Blake is now in fact as well as in
name the head of the great firm SO
conspicuous in this narrative. In a
thousand ways he has merited the
confidence reposed in him by John
burt Generous as yet, almost to a
fault, he has acquired with responsf-
hiilty that breadth of view and poise
OF Judgment which found its highest
expression in the man who made his
success possible.
Retiring from active business when
most men are making a start, John
Burt has devoted his time to the
study of craftsmanship in its purest
sense. Political honors have crowded
| upon him. There are thousands who
snare the confident faith OF his Low.
ing wife that the highest place in the
gift of the people shall some day
crown his career.
There are frequent reunions in the
old farmhouse or on the spacious
lawns surrounding John Burt's resi-
oence. once year Sam Rounds SUI
perintends clambake, and John
Hawkins always manages to be pres
ent. To the latter's inquiries con-
cerning the future Mrs. Rounds, Sam
turns a grinning, untroubled face.
No man in Rocky Woods is a bach.
elor until he is way past sixty" Sam
declares, AN I'm spry yet as a colt
in clover. Sometimes Ma Rounds is
bit doubtful erbout my matrimonial
chances, but has hopes; l still has
hopes. Edith, may help you to some
more of them clans? Jessie, please
pass young Master Burt's plate: it's
empty already. How that boy grows,
He's coming up like sparrowgrass at.
ter rain
Mrs. Rounds bustles around her
eyes bright with the Joy of being
busy.
You set down, Ma Rounds" com.
mands Sam in hopeless tone. "You
set right down and let us young folks
wait on the table. can't break her
of workin', John; I swan, 1 Just can't
do nothin' with her. Well" raising
glass of sparkling cider, "here's God
bless all good people, an happy days
tew all Of yet"
(The End)