Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-19
:: An Old Maids Romance
He stopped for a moment.
TODAY's COMPLETE SHORT STORY.

| He stopped for a moment
You thought you had lost me-
/ amended Miss Weston softly.
| Il knocked about bit over
| there" he went on. a rolling stone
| you know. Then I had within to
come back to England. Its no
good Disgusting 1T was on the
downward path. I'd lost interest in
I things-worse I'd lost interest in my
self. And then one day ! met you
IN the street. You remember? The
man you remembered as Harry Dut-
ton was dead them" he said and in
his place there was mere shiftless
neer- do well. / felt utterly ashamed
to find your eyes on me. | saw you
still believed in me, long after / had
lost faith or belief in myself And
and ! resolved to try again to live my
life straight"
And now?"
For close on a year-ever since
that day-rve struggled. ! think I've
left the wastrel behind. I'm trying
hard to be the man you thought me TO
be, and I think I'm succeeding"
And you've come back at last2'
Yes, | wanted to see you again, not
as | was that day you met me, but
as am now. ! wanted to win back
little OF your respect"
"And-and you're going abroad
again ?"
quite soon I've no ties. no wife
or family"
There's mel" pointed out Miss
Weston, with unprecedented boldness.
Have you forgotten me?'
"You?" he said in amazement. You
don't mean"
"Ive waited all these years for you
10 come back to me-" she replied
steadily. I'VE were parted by ILL.,
chance. but was loyal to the memory
OF you, for ! knew you'd return one
1ay!"
And l." he said. have been true
to you In word and deed, because all
my love was with you. Other wom-
en"-he dismissed them with gesture
You were always the only woman
IN my thoughts"
Il knew IT," she said simply. and
told him how mischanCe had led their
paths apart those many years ago.
"Ah. II the past could but come
back again" he said. IF | only were
Younger But now I can not ask you
to marry me. I'm getting old, I'm
poor And you-you're rich, I sup
pose and you haven't altered in the
least.
Her Story.
Gently she smiled dissent.
But ] fave something to tell you"
she said. Uncle George left me all
his money, but he left this house to
YOU. Nine years ago he died, and
we inquired about you everywhere.
| We advertised in the papers, too, but
could get no tdings Of YOU"
Nine years ago" he answered. q
was up-country, then. ! stayed up
country three years. That was why
was undiscovered"
We'll, nine years rent is yours, -
| she told him. I've been keeping 1t
for you, waiting for you to come back.
SO you see, you're not quite so poor
as you thought"
! And rot quite so rich as Ia like
to he" he sighed. ia like to be rich
enough To-"
He paused.
ITO what?" querled Miss Weston
anxlously. surely you're not going
20 balance riches against happiness ,"
I've got my pride" he said, stub
! bornly.
And you've got your house" she
said. And I'm going to move out of
II at once. You must come and live
in your own house"
mo, no" he replied. uncomfortably
| 81 shall GO" she said, with tirmness
and added. artfully, thought after all
these years it'll break my heart tc
leave IT,"
"Then-then let me continue as
! your-your landlord. The house is
| far too big for me"
Il won't stay on as your tenant a
! day longer" she said. And It's going
/ to break my heart to go. Can't you
see what What I'm trying to make
clear"
No" he said. In perplexity. 90
can't. And yet-but no. I'm too poor
and ashamed to ask you TO marry
me"
Rubbish" retorted Miss Weston
| with the most asperity she had evel
been known to show Either you're
| going to break my heart by making
me leave the old house, or else you're
going to let me stop on as your wife
| Which Is 1t to be-"
Her unwonted brtskness gave way
and she took a faltering step toward
him.
Harry, after all these years"
she quavered.
i My little sweetheart" he whis-
pered. and both he and she forgot