The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03


there's literally no end to her. I find
myself saying at intervals, Thank God,
I've lived to cross the Atlantic Ocean,
and what's more, TO cross II in float
ing Waldorf-Astoria,' for SO 1t looks to
mel"
you are fond of the water. them"
said Helen, surprised at her own ana
bility, but on the whole too wretched
to care for risks.
Well ma'am I've, so to say, some
little experience. I resided formerly in
Norfolk, Virginia, and went round to
Baltimor, Maryland. on several trips
by sea. Know Baltimo, ma'am? Can't
exactly compare 1t to New York, 1
reckon, but still It's a fine city. Cele-
brated for its monuments, canvas backs,
and pretty girls. the saying used to
be- Worn't dead stuck on canvasbacks
myself, though; got overfed with them
on my fathers plantation when / was
lad. preferred bacon and greens any
day in the year. But I'll give in to
the praise of Baitimo women TO my
last breath. Married one of 'em, in
fact, an IL God ever sent an angel
into mans life. twas She
Miss Carstairs. TO her surprise, de-
tected simultaneously with a tender
adoring look coming upon his withered
face. a suspicion OF moisture in her
interlocutor's eyes She sat up, felt
that here was something SO out of the
way as to verge upon improperly, made
movement to depart. but finally con-
cluded to remain where she was
yes, aam, she was too good for
me, or any man. Born among the best
as the saying Is. and l, one of the
small potatoes in the heap. 'Tisn't any
wonder 1 should be thinking of her 90
day, the way she wanted all her life
to go to Europe and never dreamed OF
managing to get there"
II hope this thought won't spoil your
own pleasure In the journey" Helen
said, embarrassed to find an answer.
..Oh! no, ma'am, no chance of that
Why, she's been with me in spirit ever
since we parted, ten years ago, an
always feel as IL she was sharing
things. Shed need good deal to make
up to her for the hardships she had
with me. You see, was first leftenant
of infantry, just come out o. the war.
N bout as bare O. money as when l
came into the world, reckon, when
met her first off in Baltimo. where
was lookin for a job. was bred up
as drug clerk, and so was glad to
take place in poor little store, n
we began life together in one room of
boarding house, n hall bedroom at
that! She, mind you. was a generals
daughter OF the real old Maryland first
chop stock, but as poor as me. After
her father was killed at Gettysburg,
you see. her mother went to pickling
for q living, n twas hard work, with
two other daughters on her hands.
neither one o. them likely to marry
much, being the kind the Lord makes
homely for reasons of His own. My
/, wife, now, was a beauty, no mistaking
her! never understood how she came
to take up with me, n when l asked
her why, she said she was just tired
O. pickles, anyway! That was only her
fun, ma'an; we had to have little, to
make the wheels go round Please eX-
cuse me for taking the liberty OF talk
ing so socially. We Southerners have
that way, l reckon, and besides, 1t
seemed like my heart was SO full of
wife to-day, l had to say something
to somebody, or break trace"
Miss Carstairs hesitated. then gave
way to an unusual impulse, arising as
she spoke.
II must thank you, rather. for hav-
ing reminded me that all men don't
forget / am sure you deserved all
the happiness you had with her, and
/ hope there is q great deal of it still
left in lifeefor YOU"
well, now, ma'am, that's beautifully
said. But / won't let you so without
knowing that, though I've come to 1t
by hard long way, my luck has
turned at last, and the only trouble is
that she's not here to share it. Tho
long years after we moved south to
Alabama (where I'd an opening, and
after while SO. up for MYSELF, when
wife toiled and moiled for me-when
we lost all the children that were
born to US, but the last one-how she
used to sit in the evenings and read
about English cathedrals and Stone
henge, and the like! She didn't seem