The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-22

Lii: clnac;ous vest. lie had rot had
S1.c.! a meal since-well. for some
wears. Mss Bette certainly looked
mach younger than he had thought
ct first. They went out on the porcn
after supper, and little Bette came out
with q crCcheted shawl and reminded
ler aunt that she would be having
neuralgia if she were not more care
| full. and Judge Blashford remembered
! that he had been good deal troubled
lately himself with Rheumatism, 2nc
they fell to talking about symptoms
and remedies and preventives. Strange
to say. sense Of conmradesllip came
| upon them with this interchange OF
elderly confiencaS, that had not ac-
companied the recalling of youthful
escapades. They had grown old alike,
and it did not seem to be matter for
| unmixed regret. They began to talk,
rov. Of the sober sad details Of life.
He spoke to her Of the wife of his
youth. of their separation by death,
of the children who had left him one
by one, until now his home was
dreary place, and she listened with
only pity in her eyes. Then she
thought of little Bette, and confdcd
to him that she had never let the dear
child know how she dreaded to have
her 80 away.
Finally the judge took a letter from
his inside pocket. Miss Bettie,' he
said, and his tone was very sober, "do
YOU remember a letter sent you on
the day before left college?
Did she? All, could she ever forget?
It was the one she had read only the
night before.
YES" she said.
"You wrote an answer to ii"
Miss Bettie's head dropped assent.
After all these years her cheeks famed
to think Of that answer, and how it
had been ignored. People used to say
that Will Blashford had way OF
playing with girls hearts, but she had
never believed it. He held q letter,
yellowed with age, in his hand.
"I sent my letter by mail. I expect
ed the answer in the same way. You
gave it to Henry Hillard and asked
him to give it to me-"
Miss Bette remembered. His letter
had said in closing, in the romantic
fashion Of their age, IF I may hope,
send me but one word, Come" She
had written that word. She had sent
it by his friend, for she would not trust
it to the uncertain mails. But he had
not replied. The next day he had gone
away and she had not seen him for
forty years.
81 did not receive it." he said quick
". Miss Bette looked at him wonder
ingly, for it was her letter that he was
holding in his hand. II did not re-
ceive it, he repeated, "for just seven
years. Then Henry sent it to me with
humorous letter of explanation. He
had laid it away in his book and for
gotten all about it till he came across
it by accident He did rot know what
was in it. When it came I was mar
ried ard had children about my knees.
1t was TOO late then for explanation.
nut it away in my safe, and it has been
there ever since"
He stopped, but Miss Bette could
not raise her eyes. he waited mo-
ment, and then went on: Il would
not have you think that this blasted
my happiness. Life is largely made
up of substitutes. I had a loving.
faithful wife and a good family. They
made for me true home. 1 have had
all the Joy of domestic life. You,
trust, have not been unhappy"
II have had much to be thankful
for" she murmured. She would not
say more just then.
"But while this is true" he contin-
ued, ut is no disloyalty to the dead
to say that the miscarriage of. this
letter has changed life entirely for both
Of u.s.
She could not speak. She was think
ing of those sad, sad years of waiting
before hope died, of the girl who
thought each morning, 'He will come
to-day" and each evening, "He will
surely come tomorrow" And 1t had
been tomorrow, and tomorrow. and
the years had passed away. She had
had a useful, busy life; she had been
content; but still she pited that girl
she knew so long ago.
The judge was speaking again:
'Miss Bette" he said, 1--WE have not
many more years Of life, you and l.
We are on the downward slope; but
He stopped over and took her thin,
blue-veined hand in his strong one
shall we not walk together the rest of
the way?"
A mist was in Miss Bcttie's eyes.
1t hid from her the portly Judge. The
lover of her youth was beside her.
June roses were blooming again. The
question she had waited for so long
had come at last.
"Will you not speak to me, my
| dear:" said the judge.
And Miss Bette gave him the an
| swer that had been in Ler heart for
| forty years.-Florida Agriculturlst.