The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-10
BY THE OLD SUNDIAL

But Mrs. Martin. was obdurate.
Though riches had brought her I'M
happiness. she still desired them for
her daughter. and at last John West
took stand.
II love you better than anything
else in the world. Angela" he said,
but as long as your father accuses
me Of wanting your money / cannot
marry you"
Angela turned pale Then YOU do
not love me-" she said
She turned and left him. and after
that the sundial heard no more bliss
full plans. No more notes were tuck
ed into the concealed niche. Angela,
growing thinner and paler every day,
wandered through the garden alone.
The flowers faded and dropped. and
the cold winds Of autumn blew the
leaves from the trees All the world
seemed as gray as her own heart
At last she gave in to her fathers
wishes She would marry tho man
he had selected, and would try to be
happy. Her mother, troubled n little
at Angola listiessness planned a
trip to the city to buy the elaborate
outfit worthy OF her position
So on that last day. before the. left,
Angela wandered out into the garden.
The wind blew from the east and
there was a drizzie of rain which
made tho garden wet and sodden. She
sobhed TO herself softly, remember
ing the summer days of happiness.
she had not had a line from John
West since he had gone away, His
pride still stood between them. be
fore she went back into the house she
gave a little letter 1nto the keeping
Of the sundiai Probably John West
would never get It. but at least il
contained the outpouring o, her
hearts misery.
The next morning she and her
mother left for the trip 10 town. Her
father stayed behind in the big and
empty house.
On the following Sunday morning
the rich and self satisfied maker OF
patent medicines wandered. some
what disconsoIately down the terrace
toward the sundiai. He was lonely,
and the memory was upon him of the
Sahbaths of years ago. when he and
his Wife had gone 70 church with lit
tie Angela, and had come home to the
good dinner cooked By the mistress
of the household. To-night he would
dine on mahogany, and there would
lie eight courses, but there would be
no JOY In IT,. He leaned his elbow on
Trr EuuCiiaf and locked tieteCtediy
downward. The wind came up and.
circling round about the stone pedes-
tai brought forth the rustic Of paper.
Martin ha3st 40 l@ak, asa found the,
letter in the niche. AS he recognized
the handwriting a frown dsrkeued his
face Then he opened 1t and read.
1t was the cry Of young heart
for it's mate. Angela had said TO
John West that which" WAS the truth
"a nf he
desires
The man raised his haggard eyes
to see standing on the other side
OF the bridge the youth for whom
the letter was intended,
Look here he said hoarsely al
did not know she felt like this" He
held up the letter to John.
When he had read it the boys lips
were set In a grim line. II you
think that am going to let her be
unhappy" he said. you are mis-
taken. do not want your money,
but | do want Angela"
You Will have a nice time getting
along on a thousand a year theI
older man growled.
There were sparks in John Vests
eyes. We will have a nicer time
than you are having on many times
that amount"
suddenly the old man saw the truth
Of that returt What was he getting
out Of life? WHAT was his wife get
ting? What was Angela getting?
Look here" he said. suddenly: II
believe YOU re right. Wed all be "A !
lot happier out on the old farm. I |
could have finer house and more |
help for the women folks than we |
used Ia have. We could live the !
same life and go 70 our same little |
church on Sundays. and everybody |
would be happy"
The world said that old man Mar |
tim WAS mad when he gave up his |
town palace ana went with his wife |
and daughter an son-in-law back TO
the old place which they had called !
home