Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-04-27
Coming Back
to Maria

photograph attachments. She could
manage anything-anything; but when
all her energies were bent on man
aging one poor man, why naturally it
was too much fierce white light for
any weak human being to bear. 1t
shriveled me up. Believe 1t or not"
Mr.. McCurdy's eyes took on far-away
reminiscent look and he nodded
gloomily, but l wasn't just Mrs. Nc
Curdy's husband, was her door mat,
her kitchen mop. / was getting 30
that | ran and asked her II l could
walk up the road piece. Pretty
soon she'd have been feeding me
with a spoon. &c. one day, just
walked out, leavin' her most all the
ready money l had; KNOWN all the
time that she was smart as lightning
at her Notwithstanding Well"
he shifted his position slightly, after
that, l drifted around quite little,
made and saved some money, and
then went back there to settle down
on the ranch and look after my prop
critics.
well, sir. do you know what? Liv-
In there on Beehive, and studying
over things-life and nature and what
mott got to be quite philosopher. !
found myself''-this with tremendous
mpressiveness-T remember the day
when 1t came over me-just like a
revelation. I was hoeing in the melon
patch, and suddenly / Strengthened
myself up and threw down my hoe,
and / seemed to swell up as big as the
universe Why, / almost shouted: i
amt afraid Of Maria amt afraid OF
Maria any more, not any more than l
am of those darned industrious ants
yonder, which she's like
80 not long after that I saddled
my horse and rode up the mountain to
Maria's cabin; first time I'd clapped
eyes on 1t since the day I left. felt
kind O. funny when I walked up that
path, you bet. Well, Rosy came to
the door and let me in; said her moth
er was at a missionary meeting but
would be home soon. That suited me
down to the ground. I thought I'd get
things all arranged before Maris
showed up. So, broke It to Rosy
with good deal Of pathos, If do say
1t myself, that I was her long lost
father"
He shook his head gloomily. "But
1t didn't CO. Rosy's a beautiful girl
beautiful but she's got no tempera
ment. All the time / was talking to
her and anybody'll admit that I got
a persuasive way with me. she looked
as II she didn't believe a word / wal
saying, and when l finished, she sal
there with her eyes down and never
opened her mouth. Embarrassing
| wasn't 1t?
IT was feeling kind O. foolish and
not knowing what next to say wher
there was the sound OF a key rafting
| In the lock and the next minute Maria
| walked in.
Then, would you believe it?-Rosa
lie, a beautiful girl. beautiful, but nc
| SAVIOR fair, says right off, like this:
Mother, this is Mr.. McCurdy, he says
he's my father
For a moment that seemed to de
prive Maria Of her power Of speech
so took my chance.
Eyes, Maria, it's me- said. After
all these years spoke kind OF touch
ingly, you know, as II overwhelmed
with thoughts too deep for tears
Yes I've come back
"'What for? says Maria, like that
Make anyone jump. Sort of detonat
! ing, like bullet fred OF close to your
ear
MARIA said firmly-and friend
Of my better days, leave 1t to you, II
you ever knew any man that could be
flrmer than me, not prsising myself al
| all, you know, but just stating facts
you had your own way for q good
many years. and you certainly took it;
but you amt the only one that's had
their own way. I've been having II
right along down to Beehive Ranch
and here / spoke very slowly and inn
pressively, -myself-down-
there. and I'm not TO be bulldozed, OF
cowed, or crushed by anyone that
walks the earth
Now II you talk to nine women eut
Of ten just that way, they'll knuckle
down; but I'd have bet my last dime
on Maria. l never yet saw any terms
Of speech that had any effect on her
She wouldn't hesitate to give a piece
Of her mind to St George and then
turn round and sass the dragon
never vet saw man, woman, thing or
| situation that she was afraid of. So
you may imagine how the earth seem.
ed to rock when l heard her say, as
gentle as a cooling dove:
Il can see, now, Henderson, that
you amt been treated just right I've
always felt that there was only one
side to our story, and that was mine.
Oh, how she sighed! But you've
made 1t plain to me now that you've
got side as we'll No. she shook
her head slowly back and forth, you
haven't been treated right; but no
one and she drew herself up like a
queen, no one has ever accused Maria
McCurdy of not doing the best she
could to set right her mistakes. SO
Henderson and here she extended
her hand with a sort OF royal gesture,
I'm willing to make 1t up and let by
cones be bygones-start life anew "
American Magazine.
Largest Spring 10 In Arkansas.
Arkansas has the largest spring In