Middletown transcript., 1908-06-13
FOR TINS SAKE
BY DON MARK LEMON

NO, JOHu uOb US. bub II q
lad and q lass love each other,
like we loved each other, John,
fifty years ago, amt it the same
as parting them for two old folks
to keep them from coming to-
gether ?
Ireckon it be, Martha, I reckon
it be.
And the Scriptures say Thou
shalt not put asunder those whom
the Lord hath joined.
John Langton took off his
glasses and bowed his head in
solemn confirmation. Well, Mar
tina ? he finally queried, after a
long silence on the part of his
wife,
John Langton, came the dread
full accusation, we are breaking
the commandment of the Lord
Yes, John; you and me. We are
keeping our boy Tim from marry
ing the lass he loves. We two
useless old bodies are keeping
him at feeding and clothing and
sheltering us, while all the time
he ought to be making a home
for himself, like we did, John,
fifty years ago.
John Langton hedged uneasily
| in his chair. But it bean't you,
Martha ; it's me. If it wasn't for
keeping me, Tim could marry
some good lass and bring her
here, and you three could get
along together just as comfort
able as-as- John Langton's s
old blue eyes appealed to his wife
for figure to complete his sen
tence; but Martha Langton was
not woman to allow her por
, ton of blame to be shifted upor
another.
Stuff and nonsense, John Yor
amt a bit more to blame than
, be. Yeu amt SO much to blame
cause I'm spryer than you, though
you do be man.
Yes I be, Martha, stubborn!
maintained the other-yes I be
Il Hush, John, and listen to nae
I've got something to tell you
, Our boy Tim is in love with 1
lass-old Bailey's daughter, a
r good lass as ever lived, John
O and he'd marry her tomorrow
US old folks were off his hand
p for good. But, John, while he
+ got US to keep and provide for
he's not the lad to think of takinl
h a wife, Tins not
That's the Lords truth, Mar
! tha! But how do you kno,
6 Tins taken with the lass?
n With her husbands hand
clasped in her own, Martha Lang
o ton told all that she had over
D. heard as she had rested on he
way home from market !; an
4 when she was through the tw
old folks looked into each other
!. eyes and understood each other
\. heart, as they had for fifty year
8 and always would.
r. Yes, they must go away; g
v away somewhere together an
It leave Tim to marry the lass b
r. loved, and make a home for hin
self and wife, as they had whe
they were young. But wher
k could they go? To the count
4 poorhouse !? No Tim woul
d promptly bring them back hon
"a again. And should they 90 ava
n to the city, they might perish
is want, for they had grown too ol
! to gain a living by their ow
k labor. Besides, should they Sc
cfetly run away, Tim would NOV
{. heaven and earth to find then
All! where could they go?
Tim had just lighted the 81
:, tlng-room lamp and drawn U
Johns and Martha's chairs, Whe
, there came q loud knock at IL
front door of the little cottag
Tim hastened to answer it. A
II he left the room, he did not NJ
tice the old folks turn pale an
clasp each others hands.
The visitor proved to be
' sleek, clerical.looking man, VII
c requested to know if John Lans
ton was at home. Tim replied
u the affirmative, and admitte
r him to the sitting-room, whel
W the old folks were still standin.
T. John T,anpton + halieyn ?