The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-11

Because I'm not sure that Tn be | safe anywheres. Some or 'em might l find me even in a boarding house in | Anderson!'
 Why did you leave nere in the first | placer Jackson's tone inspired conf | dence.
 | Why, l was druv out--aetually druv out---by widders and old maids! The town is full on -er-widders and old maids. and I was the only single man in the hull townsntpF | Jackson repressed smile That is 8 peculiar condition of affairs. Mir. | Palmer. tell me about It."
 We'll with sudden vehemence, l its easy enough to tell My sister kept house for me. She was awful | easy -goin' woman, ana She kinder let l the neighborin' women-the widders and old maids. get the uppers on her | by takin' their advice and lettin' 'em | tell her when and how to do every thing. When my sister died I had a l housekeeper from Anderson, in fact, had a whole percessIon on 'em.
 If they was old and humbly, the widders and old maids druv 'em away by advisin' and meddlin. If they l chanst to be young an good d-lookin', they was talked about and scandalized until they took measures to save their | good name-some of 'em by leavin' and some by threatenin' me with breaches of promise. Finely I concluded to bach 1t. Then four or five of the | Greenfield gang took 1t upon them selves to help me keep house. When I'd come up from the field at noon- | time I'd find one of them cusses in | my kitchen with a dinner all cooked! l They'd likely be a difrrunt one there 1 for supper. They'd get in somehow, suite of lock and key. They kept the | 4,. m cloes. and I'd rather go ragged than be beholdin' to one of 'em Then one 1 morning when I come down stairs, | there was this Ann Baxter. I've come I to stay, Abner,' she says, know l you're too bashful to ask me, and I've will be here at 9 o'clock. and then l you'll never be alone again. Abner, dear" an irrepressible shudder swept over him. choking hIs utterance. Gosh, but I was scart! l cut and I run for dear life. She put, after me,
 and you know how she can run, but
 she stepped on her shoestring and
 stumbled and I got to the depot just
 in time to jump on trafn 1t was a narrer escape!"
 Jackson murmurec an appropriate and appreciative response. He re- adopted by the redoubtable Ann, and
 began to feel less secure.
 q went straight to MT. Hammond's office He rented the farm the next week. and that family moved out here. 1 That's about all" rising slowly. I've upstairs and get that-that little thing I come after. and then we'll go"
 "You'Il take your ciothesT'
 NO, I guess not. They'd make quite a bundle, and we've might get met on the road goain'--
 naf Those duds are no dlsguise, as you have seen, and. in your own clothes you'd feel more like a man." mentally he added. "and stand a better chance of acting like oneH
 When Palmer returned Tom was astonished at his appearance. He wore | a well-htte suit of good material and modern design. But the change in wearing apparel was not all; he stood erect and walked without shufiing. | He looked at the young man steadily | for a moment before speaking.
 Then he carefully opened small package. saying simply: Mir. Jack l son, I think you're |. good man, and I'm goin' to show you what l come | back for"
 It was a little, dried, faded flower. | and Palmer touched it reverently as he refolded it in it's sue-paper wrap | ping and replaced 1t sn the tiny box. Maybe you wouldn't believe it, but that there little rose is forty years | old"
 He sighed softly. "I was only twenty and she was 8 couple of years younger. I was seein' l her home from singln' school, and she give me this rose-she mad wore 1t in her hair"
 Tom scarcely knew now to frame the question he was longing to ask. but there was no neec-the softened voice wandered genriyI on: T was slow and bashful-Ben Barnes was bigger handsomer and smarter-he married her and took ner to Californy | She never knew-I guess-abOut me ." A long drawn. regrerruI sigh and the plaintive tones continued slowly: .'I didn't care for any other girl, and knew l never would. Then I begun to think how she'd like the place to look if twas hern, and to fix 1t up for her That's how came to have SO many roses-she loved roses like they was babies"
 He smiled wistfully into Toms face and held out his hand. Tom clasped it without speaking; for Tom Jackson, with the memory of dozen love af- fairs in his two dozen years, was silent as before miracle. He had stumbled upon Romancc-and the steadfast- ness of the mans heart filled him with wonder.
 That's all. MT, Jackson. we'll go now. I want to slip up to the buryin' lot first. and see If they set out my grave-stun as l told 'em to-"
 Not yours" protested Tom.
 "Yes. mine" deprecatingly; tits the only way to have things as you want 'em."
 Tom followed his most. They had walked but a few steps within the
 title enclosure when Palmer paused. There's a woman--there, by my stun" he whispered, you go see what she wants The public buryin' ground is about mIle further On--she's likely a stranger and a-weepin on the wrong grave
 The woman turned as Tom ap- preached. She was not weeping, but her sweet, womanly Face was grave and sad.
 Were you looking for some par ticular stone. Madam"
 Yes" quietly. this one The de- sign is beautiful I think" It was a rough block of granite, one small space being smoothly polished | and in this space was carved half opened rose.
 q think 1t is Mir. Palmers," said Tom. courteously. did you know him?"