Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-24

I WHy, lHyrLH LaQQ. ne edld VII
 this you? 1 reckoned I was the onl,
 person in this neighborhood wh,
 hadn't gone to the fair"
 l Well, you see you are not, Jason
 l didn't go because-well, to tell tn,
 out-and-out truth, Jason, just didn'
 have anything suitable to wear. Tt
 like to have gone to the fair if it hal
 been 50 that could. But I'll tel l you what l came over for. My GOV
 is mired in that soggy place in my
 meadow, and she can't get out. St thought I'd come over and ask fl
 you would come and help my pool old bossy out of her trouble" Why, O course I will, Thyrza." T knew that you would, Jason.
 couldn't help knowing that, seeing
 that l have known you all my life
 You see, should be dreadfully bad
 on If l should lose my COW. de l pend largely on her and my hens for
 my income. You know my husband was sick so long before he died that
 1t took all we had saved to give him what he needed But I'm only grateful that we had it to spend for his comfort, and that I at least have
 my little home free from debt. I
 have thought some of selling it and going to live with my married daugh- ter over in Hebron. She wants me to, and
 Don't you do 1t, Thyrza Ladd." ex.
 claimed the old man, vehemently, al.
 most fiercely. You stick to your own little home. tell you, Thyrza, there's nothing like home O their own for old folks.'
 Jason seemed to have lapsed into a thoughtful mood. They were about to emerge from the strip of timber into the open highway, when Jason stopped abruptly, took of his shabby old hat, and held 1t as he said: See here, Thyrza, we've known each other all our lives, now, haven't we? You never knowed no great harm O me, now, did you?''
 Why, no, Jason; I've always thought that
 What have you thought?'
 "Oh, no matter" She blushed, and started on, but Jason detained her.
 Wait a minute, Thyrza." he said. T used to think that If hadn't gone over Ware way to live a couple O. years, an met the girl married there, that I would O asked you to marry me. It want no disrespect to my wife to think it. I had a good, true wife. an you had a good, true husband. They are both gone now, an we are left lonely man an wom. an. For l am lonely, an so are you. l haven't no real home with my son. An I want home O my own again. l ain't but 6S, an you are a year younger. Thyrza, don't you think that you an me could be real happy together? Don't you. now, Thyrza? You don't know how lonesome an un- happy l am, an I-I Thyrza, I feel toward you today just as I felt that day when I asked you to go to the big meetin over in Hillsborough with me. Your cheeks are just as rosy now as they were then, an r. Thyr. ga, you're lonely. an so am I. S'posin' we be compny for each other the rest O our days. What do you say. Thyrza?"
 Three hours later Jason and Thyr- ga appeared at the home of the old minister in the little village of Zoar, and when they went away it was as bride and bridegroom, pilgrims of life together"
 The newly welded pair were stand. ing at the gate of Thyrza's home when Hugh and his family came driv. Ing by on their homeward way. There was severe look on Hugh's face and a sharp note in his voice when he said: What does this mean. father? Why aren't you home milking the { cows?"
 The old man stood erect, with his I arms akimbo and a strange gleam in his eye. He threw back his head, and there was a note of defiance in his voice as he made reply: Just because I'm done milkin' your COWS, Hugh. I don't calc'late on milkin' but ,ne COW hereafter. an that one will be Thyrza's COW, or our COW, if Thyr. "a won't think it too persoomin' in me"
 What do you mean!" said Lyddy, | sharply.
 T mean. Lyddy. that Thyrza an ne have kind O stolen a march on 'ou, an went an got married. as we'd perfect right to, both bein' O law ul age an sound mind. Any objec- ions~
 He put his arm around Thyrza's waist and kissed her boldly before ldding: Now, there ain't thing to ,e said by either O you. You'd best rive on, for it's gettin' late. an 'ou'll have all your chores to do by ourselves when you git home" t
 He waved his hand as he spoke. nd Hugh and Lyddy, too dazed for urther words. drove on. There was slightly malicious smile on Jason's ace as he called out after the re- reating wagon: T never pulled a famed weed out O that flower-bed. l .yddy. an the cellar is just as you , eft it."
 They walked hand in hand up the 1 ath toward the house. between long