Middletown transcript., 1908-06-13

day was Warm' on1 M
walked to and from the village
store; she was rather tired. she
loosened the strings of her SUM-
bonnet and brushed back over
her forehead a few gray hairs
that had strayed against her
cheek then she folded her hands
in her lap and closed her eyes
with a contented sigh. Soon her
head began to nod, and her
breathing grew deeper and more
regular, and at last she 1ell
asleep.
She had slept perhaps an hour,
when she became conscious OF
voices near her. At first she
thought it was morning and she
was lust awaking from her
nights rest (; but gradually she
grew aware of the fact that she
had fallen asleep on her way
home from market, and that IL
was not morning but mld-a1tef'
noon.
The sun was bright and Wafm'
and she was still weary from
her walk $50 she remained sea'eo'
with closed eyes, while the voices
came distinctly to her ear. "A
youth and a maiden were con
versing just on the opposite side
of the thick hedge against which
she was resting. Evidently they
believed themselves to be alone
My little girl, it is very hare
to have to wait so long; but yor
know how it is, Alice while the
old folks have need of me it woulc
be cowardly to think of marriage
l understand, Tim.
But, dearest, the first voice
pleaded passionately, you will
wait for me?
Yes, yes, indeed l will!
Ah! the mans voice resumed
after a moments pause, | know
that I am asking a great deal
more than deserve, Alice bu
I love you very much, and if yo'
will wait it may not be long unit
I am free, and then, my dearest
I will do all in my power to max
you happy and contented.
shall be happier waiting TO
you, Tim, than I could be as tn
wife of another man.
Martha Langton brought he
hands to her ears and shut ou
the few words that followed, a
the lovers strolled down the pat
on the opposite side of the hedge
Gentle old soul, she was ashame
that she had overheard even a
much as she had. Yet her actio
had been wholly inadvertent.
Bless their foolish hearts sh
exclaimed, rising and lookin
through a break in the hedg'
If these old hands of mine coul
undo the tangle-
The sentence was never fiji
ished; for something in the n
treating figures of the lover
closed the lips of Martha Lans
ton and for a moment teok ava
her breath. Then her hand we1
to her heart, and she reeled bacl
ward with a painful cry.
It's Tim! It's my boy Tim !
Feebly and painfully she toe
up her basket and went towal
the little cottage, and her o.
hands funbled at the latch of tt
gate so long that John Langtc
thought it locked and left h
work to let her into the var
Her white face and changed loo
filed the husband with alarm.
Why, Martha what's the ma
ter? You bean't sick, be you ?
No, John +; not sick. And Ma
tha Langton tried to smile ava
the alarm of her husband ; b
the latter was made the more u
easy by the pitiful smile, an
clasping his wife's hands, e
claimed
Land sakes! your hands be {
cold.
Hush, John I!
You come right along into Il
kitchen, and I'll fix you up som
think hot to drink. This war
spell kind of makes me faint, to
And old John Langton took I
the basket and led his wife in
the kitchen of the little cottag
New, Martha, you rest yeurse
while I stir about and make u
some tea.
The tea made and drunk, al
the cup and saucer washed, dri
and put aside, John Langton S
down beside his wife, and takil
her hands in his asked if she d
not feel better.
Martha Langton was silent f
awhile. She was thinking of t
lovars-of Alice Bailey and b