Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-09-26

And they parted.
Doyedale was a small and primitive
village, boasting OF no vehicle except
wheelbarrow and n donkey cart. Con-
sequenuy Dan Courtney. on taking
leave CT his rival. set forth on foot in
the direction OF Sweet Briar Farm.
Courtney encountered few folk on his
pleasant road to the farm. couple
OF farmers-a rosy-cheeked child and
an old woman were chiefly those who
crossed his path. The old men bade
him good evening; the little girl smiled
at him, and the old woman as she
passed let fall with q clatter the
bundle OF sticks she had been gather
ing in the wood. She was very bent,
very cray, and very wrina>ed: her iace
encircled in big rusty black poke
bonnet. She was mutterIag and moan
ing strange things to herself Us Dan
Courtney passed her by.
But as her mutterings grew more We
| hement. he halted. threw her coin
and 81 passed on again.
Had he glanced round at the old
withered poke-bonneted woman, he
would have seen thai tear had glis-
tened in her eye.
II am very tired" she mumbled
and the bundle is so heavy"
Permit me TO carry IL for YOU" said
voice, some minutes later in her ear
Walden, for 1t was he. stopped and.
Notwithstanding her protestationS
raised the bundle TO his shoulder.
Where do ycu live?" asked Waldoh,
keeping pace with her feeble steps.
Near the wood" came the high
pitched. sing-song reply. Near the
wood"
You are too old To work"
Bread must be baked and fires must
be made"
do you live a.one?"
Granddaughter Mary lives with me
now.
Granddaughter Mary ought TO as
sist you TO gather the fuel for your
fire"
Mays young and goes a-sweet-
hoartin'."
when you were young did you go a
sweetheartin'?"
She rodded assent and hobbled moro
briskly forward.
SHOW me where your home is" he
said. Il should like to inform your
granddaughter Mary that IL would be
more profitable TO her II she cared less
for her sweetheart and more for her
grandmother"
'rwould be little use" quoth the
grandmother. She's young and it's but
nat'ral."
Natural to be thoughtless?" queried
OF Dovedale?"
She shook her head.
Then Dovedale is your world" He
drew long, long breath. as though
the idea was sitting.
-Four walls and bread to eat. a hus-
band. and children to rear" cried she.
What more do a woman want?"
And you have been happy"
Never so happy as now" exclaimed
clear. ringing voice. and before Wal
don could recover from his astonish-
ment the old dame, with a truly mar
Vicious agility. had whittier
! he could not say.
"Phrygia!" called Walden. finging
the sticks into a hedge and following
the narrow side path Phrygia must
was small wicker gate, and passing
through it Walden came unexpected.
ly upon a low, matched, rose covered
cottage.
After waiting several minutes the
door opened and some one came swift
| ly towards him. No other, indeed. than
/ Pnrygia-no longer wrinked, old and
! bent; but in her most captivating of
summer attire; the simplest OF hats
upon her bronZe-gold hair and the
| daintiest of blue ribbons around her
slender waist.
Miss Dean" exclaimed Walden,
bowling low. when will you cease to
be everything that is bewildering and
enchanung?"
Mr. Waldon," answered Phrygia,
with n responding obeisance. when
VIII you learn to be anything but chiy-
alrou9 and manly? What have you
done with my kindling wood"
II threw II away to follow you"
ITO follow me?"
ITO the end OF the world" he added
earn ostIy.
She ooquetted a moment with her
ribbons and laces.
M Courtney must have arrived al
the fam by now" she said IL hope
Iavin.l will entertain him nicely.
Shall We not 20 10 Sweet Briar, TOO ?"
Walden hesitated
"On one condition" he said.
Which is-2"
THAT Dan Courtney returns TO town
this evening with Harry Bond"
Is that what Harry intends ~ do?"
demanded she.
rs he not a wise MANI
Very she acquiesccd. why do
you not return also?"
Il lack his wisdom truly, but I can
not"
bat = Il IS my wish"
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