Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-04

growed the old times, n I'm sartin.
TOO. won't be the happier by seein' me
agin. I may be wrong. but I've
notion she'll sorter hate TO see me-
Twas 10 keep her from feelin' 'shamed
a miserable n spoilin' her life. i've
never let her nor nobody that knew
her find out I was alive. I'm doubtin
would now 10 she hadn't larned Il
from Chip"
He relented little from this strange
and almost cruel whim a week later.
and after visiting the Riggsville store
and obtaining what really amounted to
a disguise in new garments, he an
Hounced his plans.
I've got 10 see Chip" he said. AN
see how she n Rays gittin on. I've
got to see Abby. | s'pose. I want TO.
an I don't want to, both in one Then
ag'in. these two young folks-Chip n
the boy-hev sorter got tangled up in
my feelin's. n cant rest content til
I've seen EN- settled in life I'm goin'
to Christmas Cove fer a day. Then
back here tin they hitch up. n then
wal. then mebbe I'd better go to the
woods sg'iR. amt fitted by natur fer
dressed-up folks
No opposition 10 this unseemly out
come was made by Uncle Jud or Aunt
Mandy. They knew. or hoped. the
leaven OF bygone memories and asso-
citation would change the hermit.like
impulse OF Old Cy, and all in good time
letter ending Of his life would seem
possible TO him. To argue II now was
QnnnFnrfNN A l..
his ideas as TO remain homeless
Wanderer for almost a lifetime. was
not to be changed In a month, or per
hsps in a year
Neither did Old Cy seem in q hurry
to visit Christmas Cove.
i don't look nat'ral or feel nat'raI
in them new clothes" he said to Aunt
Mandy one day. an while I want to
see Abby. I've lived in the woods so
long I'm sorter 'shamed to go 'mongst
respectable people. Then I look like.
one O them wooden men dressed up in
store Wiuder with that new rig on.
an Jest know folksll all be laughin' at
me. I've got TO go. I callste. but I'd
like 10 make the trip IN a cage. I'm
sartin sure Abbyn laugh at me arter-
wards" From which II may be seen
how hard Il was for Old Cy TO ct him
self into civilized life once more.
He nerved himself for the trip 70.
Christmas Cove in a few days. how
ever. and how he met and renewed &C
quaintsnce With his old-time sweet
heart shall be told in his own words.
Abby hain't changed near so much
as ! csllated." he said on his return:
a leetle fuller in figger. but lest the
same easy-spoken. sweet sorter WON
an / always knew she'd be. She was
lone when ! called. an fer a mint
orter we shook hands neither on US
could speak ag'in. Then she kinder
bit her lip n swallered her feelin's.
keepin' her face turned away. an then
We sOt down n begun talkin'. IL was
techin', too. the way she acted. fer she
kept tryin' 20 smile. n all the while
the tears kept startin'. II was like one
o them summer days when the rain
patters while the sun is shining.
don't think she noticed my clothes
much. either. an we sot up till most
midnight talkin' over old times. II all
turned out bout the way / 'spected-a
sOrter funeral O. old hopes with US two
Ter mourners. She's powerful consid-
crate. too. Abby is. for the time we
was talkin' she never once spoke o.
Cap'n Bemis. n / didn't II was Jest
e. II We started in whar We left on. n
skipp!n the gap between. She lowed
she hoped she'd see me soon ag'in.
that she felt like a mother 10 Chip: an
when / bid her good-by. she kinder
choked once more
Il didn't see much O. Chip. either.
which sorter hurt me Take Il all in
all. my visit thar upset me more'n I
callated. "a ! guess when Chips set
tied. Ia best 80 20 the woods n forgit
all that's past. Ny life's been a fail
ure. anyway"
And Old Cy was right; but Il was
grim and merciless Fate that made it
so, and for that he was not response
BILE
Love In youth IS a sweet song OF Joy
and hope and promise. But love that
spans lifetime. that reaches and
caresses our heartstrings once again
as We enter the final shadows. has
only the pathos OF parting and the ten
der chords OF almost forgotten melo-
dies in IT. Vainly do we strive TO en-
ter the enchanted garden once more.
Vainly DO our heart throbs beat
against its adRmant walls. Vainly do
We hope 10 catch just one more Of the
old bygone thrills. II is useless. for
none can live lie over, and once age
has locked the portals OF youth and
fGrVOF they are upvor onarad auag~