The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-12-25

OF the house. In times of stress such
as this the wOod-pilc was his greatest
solace, and thither he went now.
All the morning Martha heard the
drone of the saw and the sound of
the aX on the chopping block. but she
wisely rcfrained from interfering until
the midday dinner was ON the table.
Then she put ON her overshoes and
her hood and went across tho back
yard.
You better come into dinner an
stop actin SO ridiculous" she couu-
selcd THE idea Of you beln out
here with your coat of never
heard of such thing i'm my life!
You'll get the rheumatism all over
ye."
house. but once i'm the kitchen, his
eyes fell again upon the stand in tho
corner.
He strobe over to it and stood re-
gardi"g 1t with narrowed eyes.
Too old to git an invite to her
weddin, am IL" he mumbled. "Well,
If that's so. I'm a good deal too old
to be a-tinkerin' clocks to give her."
His arm shot out and swept the
top Of the little table clean.
Wooden wheels, levers and weights
fell crashing to tho floor. lie kicked
the debris viciously into the corner
and slammed the table. bottom up,
on top Of it,
Maybe | am TOO old TO go to we'd
din's. Maybe | am, But | amt so
old that | amt got some spunk left
yet Now let $ have dinner"
All the afternoon the old man sat
by the kitchen stove, pretending TO
read the paper, but Martha noticed
that every few moments he laid the
paper aside to stare long and silently
through the western window at the
bleak vista of fields and the ragged
line of hills beyond. That he was
deeply hurt there could be no doubt
She felt a growing resentment to-
ward the thoughtlessness of the
Thorpes.
Il shouldn't "a thought they'd "a
forgotten him" she told herself 81
declare, it's too bad of Ellie! He's
taIin' it dretful hard"
In her hating, clumsy fashion she
tried TO comfort her brother, but her
attempts were such signal failures
that she finally gave it up, and left
him to his paper and his brooding.
1t was just at dusk that the back
door opened and some one came brisk
ly into the little kitchen Amos laid
aside his paper and looked up.
why, Ellie Thorpe!" he heard his
nj oil ft ft,or
in. Amt YOU cold?"
Cold? Indeed not" laughed the
girl. Hello. Uncle Amos"
He Strengthened himself in his
chair. Good evenin'!" he said, coldly.
The girl drew a chair beside his.
in the gloom of the room she could
not see tho pain and disappointment
i'm his face, but something in his tones
told her of trouble. What's the mat
ter Uncle Amos?' she asked Aren't
YOU woll?"
oh, I'm toler'ble, toler'bie," the
old man replied, with reserve that
she had never seen in him before.
Il came over" she said, especially
to bring YOU this She thrust thick
white envelope i'm his hands.
He took it and fumbled ia awkward.
~ turning 1t over and over
WHAT'S it?' he asked, haltingly.
IT'S your invitation to the wedding.
Uncle Amos" she laughed "The boys
took them down to the Office to mail
last night, and somehow this one OF
yours was caught in the bottom Of
the basket. / found IL there this af.
ternoon. wouldn't have had yours
delayed for the world" she added,
gravely
The old man bent forward to bring
the fading light from the window on
the envelope. There was his name
across it in the same bold hand. He
coughed weakly
I'm much obliged. Ellie, much
obliged he said, Frightening up per.
cepubly
And you're coming aren't you
Uncle Amos?" she asked
Comm? OF course I am" he de-
clared, with emphasis
I'm awfully sorry IL happened tlhs
way she said. FOR ! wanted you to
have your invitation as soon as IT,
could be sent And. Uncle Amos" she
said, drawing her chair closer to his,
you know there's no one to give me
/ away at the wedding-no father or
brothers, I mean.-and want you
to do that for me. Will your"
"Me?' he echoed with an ilrcon.
cealed touch Of pride IL amt Mt TO
You don't want sech an old fossil as
| I ami
yes. I do" she interrupted II
| shall count on you"
/ Well.' nc announced iudicially. it
you're terrible set on IT, maybe {
| Will"
When Martha returned to the kit.
| chen. after she had rendered her visit.
/ tor the unusual honor Of being shown
/ through tho frigld hail 10 the front
/ door, she found Amos ON his knees be.
/ fore tho little pile Of wheels and lev
/ crs In the corner where nc had kicked
| them at dinnertime BY the feeble
/ light of q candle on the floor beside
him Inc was sorting over the pieces
/ OF The wreck
why Amos. what a star. you gave
me here in the dark, What ON earth
. are you up To- nOw?" she demanded.