The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1906-12-27

( repairing OF late. III fanned his anger
into new and fiercer fame.
AN there's gran'pap's old clock
was a.goin' to give her. just because
she sets such a store by old things!"
| he burst out Here I've been a.work.
in my daylights out to get in runnin'
in good shape, an she not carin'
enough to invite me to the weddin'!
I'll Earn EN-! I'll Earn EN- how old
an decrepit | am"
lie rose and stalked wrathfully out
of the house. In times of stress such
as this the wood-ple was his greatest
solace. and thither he went now.
All the morning Martha heard the
drone of the saw and the sound Of
the ak on the chopping block, but she
wisely refrained from interfering until
the midday dinner was on the table
Then she put on her overshoes and
her hood and went across the back
yard.
You better come into dinner an
stop actin so ridiculous" she couu.
seled. THE idea Of you bein' out
here with your coat off, never
heard Of such thing in my life,
You'll get the rheumatism all over
ye."
In silence he followed her into the
house, but once in the kitchen, his
eyes fell again upon the stand in the
corner.
He strobe over to it and stood re.
garding 1t with narrowed eyes.
Too old to git an invite TO her
weddin', am II" he mumbled. We'll,
if that's so. I'm 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 the floor He kicked
the debris viciously into the corner
and slammed the table. bottom UP,
on top of it,
Maybe | am too old TO go to wed.
dln's! Maybe | am! But | amt so
old that I amt got some spunk left
yet. Now lei S have dinner"
All the afternoon the old man sat
by the kitchen stove, pretending 20
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 growing resentment to.
ward the thoughtlessness of the
Thorpes.
Il shouldn't "a thought they'd "a
forgotten him." she told herself. II
declare, it's too bad of Ellie. He's
takin' IL 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
sisters voice exclaiming. Come
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 the pain and disappointment
in'his face, but something in his tones
told her of trouble. What's the mat.
ter Uncle Amos? she asked. Aren't
sou well?"
oh, I'm toler'ble, toler'ble," the
old man replied with a reserve that
she had never seen in him before.
Il came over" she said, especially
to bring you this She thrust thick
white envelope in his hands.
He took it and fumbled ia awkward.
ly, turning it over and over,
WHAT'S it?' he asked, haltingly.
ITS 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 It 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 1t in the same bold hand. He
coughed weakly.
I'm much obliged, Ellie, much
Obliged" he said. Frightening UP per-
ceptibly.
And you're coming, aren't you