Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-12-26

~N
dinner. unheeding Betty's intermittent
string of grievances. To-day she
seemed to hear them more than usual.
Perhaps she was growing hopeless.
Yes, she would get past work some
time, and she never knew whom she
wished would die first: poor Betty, who
chung so pitiably to life. or herself, who
in dying would leave the helpless, de-
formed thing so utterly alone.
"Nanniet Are you deaf? What is
Captain Torworthy like:'
VERY good-looking.' said Mamie,
with pale lips. "Tall and dark
"And his father. the G%eneral?"
to clear the table.
Il could not see him. You know the
choir was packed. and I could only
catch glimpses of the people,"
and you say you could not count the
roses and the lilies. l wish you could
have had ome they will only wither
there now. Of course, your flowers are
good enough. I am not complaining.
but YOU know I always liked really fine
fowers.'
So it went on until Betty was finally
settled for her afternoon sleep. and the
organist had taken her hat and coarse
gloves and tools to work in the garden.
You are not going far?" Betty
asked, eying her suspiciously as she
pulled down the blind. "Remember l
have been alone all the morning"
Yes. l remember. l do not mean
when you awake"
Then she escaped.
The Virginia creeper wanted mailing
up and a storm Of wind had dashed
about her hedge of sweet peas. Then
there was Il bed of scarlet lobelias,
edged With csicoolarias. to be weeded.
and size worked hard at one after an
other. Only not quite so hard enough
TO keep from thinking. Twice she
started to go into the house for 4 book.
but Betty must not be awakened. and
she came back to her wedding. There
was a new. strange listlessness about
her slender. little form. Betty had
spoken truly: she must have overtired
herself at the organ. Or she was grow
ing old. Old. And with old age in
~c"casing helplessness. All without
hope Of escape OF change.
Two scalding tears fell upon the cal
ccolarias. She looked up to dash them
~away-and there he WAS entering the
little gate. tall. thinner than formerly,
~@raT-hcaded and bronZed. but plainly
the boys father and tho more than
friend of her youth. She rose and
turned to meet him. half dazed.
4 saw YOU in church" be explained.
simply. striding over the little flower
beds. and taking her hand. coarse glove
and all. in his. Il am very glad. I
am very glad. l have looked for you
several times. but my life has mostly
been spent in the Far West. Did you
see me-"
No" she faltered. her delicate little
face flushing deeply. Il could not.
But saw him. He IS so very like
tears still on her lashes. And l
thought-'
Yes. He is my only son, Ny wife
died ten years ago. Hera. sit down."
He put her on the Stone seat and
proddcd holes in the neat gravel walk
Ill She controlled herself.
"TEcy told me all about YOU" He
gazed thougljfuily at tho tiny little
house before him. ''You were always
brave. Mamie"
Gradually he old her OF his life: Of
his Success as Il soldier: how he had
taken another name with 4 fortune
ana done well in life. He did not ask
much about her own. Perhaps he had
guessed most of il. and had been told
the rest.
81 did YOU 4 great wrong. Mamie"
he said. 'twenty-ei@ht wears ago. I
was young and very hoi-beaded. 1 re-
p@nted oon enough, aut We're
one I never forgot you. I think
loved YOU always. though I loved my
W dear wife also. ! am all alone
now: my boy is gone. You sec. I have
thought very much about You lately.
-tlt L 100 on Lou tIP ttI ditIlt. iOU.
There is time for happiness still. Will
you marry ME now. -Nannie:"
She started and trcmblcd exceed
ingly.
"Oh, you forget" she cried. but soft
ly. because they were near tho window.
You remember why We parted. And
I can make no secret OF ii. Oh. Rich
ard. she is worse tlan she ever was,
You do not klow. But it is unaltnr-
able. 1 am all she has. and l cannot
leave her. And she will never leave
me. In her way she is fond of me.
| and SOFT can never be-"
The General stifTencd his straight
back and fixed his eyebrows in 4 stern
| air of command.
Betty he said. firmly. Betty must
come. too
And that was the way in which. after
many years. Mamie was caught or the
| rebound.-New York Weekly.
Thr Improved Methods of Modern Society