Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-19
An Old Maids Romance
He stopped for a moment.

He stopped for a moment.
You thought you had lost me, "
amended Miss Weston softly.
II knocked about a BIT over
there" he went on. "A rolling stone.
you know. Then I had a within to
come back TO England Its no
good Disgusting i'll was on the
downward path. I'd lost interest in
things-worse, I'd lost interest in my
self And then one day l met you
IN the street. You remember? The
man you remembered as Harry Dut-
ton was dead then" he said, and in
his place there was a mere shiftless
ne'er do well felt utterly ashamed
to find your eyes on me. I 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 year-ever since
that day-Ive struggled. l think I've
left the wastrel behind I'm trying
hard to be the man you thought me TO
be, and / think I'm succeeding"
And you've come back at LAST"
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
)r family"
There's mel" pointed out Miss
NJ
Have you forgotten me?"
YOU" he said IN amazement. You
don't mean"
i've waited all these years for you
to come back to me-" she replied
steadily we we're parted by ILL
chance, but was loyal to the memory
OF you, for / knew you'd return one
1ay!"
And T." 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 a 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 l only were
younger! But now I can not ask you
to marry me. I'm getting old, Pm
poor And you-you're rich, / sup
pose and you haven't altered in the
least.
Her Story.
Gently she smiled dissent.
But l have 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 tidings Of you"
Nine years ago" ne answered. 81
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 II
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 be-" he sighed. I'D like to be rich
enough to"
He paused.
ITO WHAT" queried Miss Weston
anxiously. Surely you're not goin9
20 balance riches against happiness?'
1--WE got my pride" he said, stub
| bornly.
And you've got your house" sh
said. And I'm going to move out o.
II at once You must come and liv'
| in your own house"
mo, no." he replied. unComfortably
81 shall CO." she said, with firmness
and added, artfully, thought after al
these years it'll break my heart t
leave IT,"
"Then-then let me continue a
your-your landlord. The house
far too big for me"
81 won't stay on as your tenant
day longer" she said. And it's goin
to break my heart to go. Can't yo
see what what I'm trying to max
clear?"
NO" he said, In perplexity.
can't. And yet--but no. I'm too poo
and ashamed to ask you to MARI
me"
Rubbish" retorted Miss Westol
with the most asperity she had eve
been known to show Either your
going to break my heart by making
me leave the old house, or else your
going to let me stop on as your wife
Which is it to be2''
Her unwonted briskness gave wa,
and she took a faltering step towar
him.
Harry, after all these years
she quavered.
My little sweetheart" he wills
pered. and both he and she forgo
that youth had left them.