Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02
DAVID AND JONATHAN
Continued from page s


@Then, as the years rolled up, felt bit
gentler, and told myself I'd been proper
mump- head to cut off my nose to spite my
face; for here was l going down hill, and
never a 1onged-for child to take me out of
myself, and put salt to my work.
4And then you came along, the first
woman as ever 1 met to understand my
point of view. And you be fond of the
childer too, and, for reasons l don't know,
have lacked a husband and family. So there
It's; and, though childer won't be there, the
sympathy and understanding will be, and
we can share Our troubles and make light of
EN-, and when go you'll be very well-todo
and no need for work.
"But one thing It's right to add: that you
can only have the use of my money for life,
because I've ordained to leave the capital sum
to my nephews, David and Jonathan. But
you'd have the interest to your dying day.
$50 there's the offer, Joanna; and what
dyou say to it? Take your time. 1 dare
say I'm a bit 1ght-headed to think on such
a thing; but there it is. You sha'n't say
I've kindidled you, or sprung it on you. Be
in no hurry to answer, and it won't alter my
feelings whatever you do about it..
FOR sometime she answered nothing,
while he mopped his head, mended the
fire, and struck a light.
otis candle teening,' he said. Excuse
me-there's the shop bell. | won't be gone
moment"
When he returned Miss Wedlake had
risen, and was standing beside the mantel
shelf, looking thoughtfully at herself in
little glass that hung there.
otis valiant and kindly offer, Mr.. Pur-
ley; and I'm sure the thought of it be better
than sauce to my Christmas dinner. And l
thank you. But there ban't enough to you,
if you understand me. | can't be no use to
you-such an all-sufficient bachelor man,
and so complete in himself as you be- It's
only to change one silence for another; and
though do think a cruel lot of you, yet I've
got my self-respect, and won't take every
thing for nothing, as it would be here
@No wife gets everything for nothing he
said. otis give and take in marriage, like
it is in all else, and you can't get anything
for nothing even if you would. Nature
won't let e.'
@Don't think the worse of me. I hold you
very high, and I'd be proud to do you ser
vice; but there's naught here to attract any
busy and courageous woman. If you was
widower with lot of little ones, or anything
like that
He nodded SJust sol understand.
You women! A helpless widower, overrun
with motherless childer, will always be
safe draw. But bald old man like me, slip
ping down the vale as easy and quiet as a
drop of water slips down the winderpane-
why, there's no interest to him-unless you be
the low sort to run after him for his money!
She listened to him which talked drearily;
then clock struck six, and sheprepared togo.
"Goodby, and God bless you, and a merry
Christmas, I'm sure, and plenty of them,
Jacob Purley! IT'S poor payment for all
your kindness to say no to your offer; but l
feel it in my bones that this here empty
house ban't the place for me-"
"Surely to God it ban't empty so long as
| bide in it9' he snapped; but she shook her
head.
eyes, it is: empty from my point of view,
because l can't do nothing for you, and you
can't do nothing for me. We be SO used to
shifting for ourselves that 'twould gall each of
US to death for t'other to be running after us
messing about. We can't change our habits,
and unless there was something to draw us
both-some useful work for US to do
@Say no more. l understand what you
mean," he replied. 4Leave it at that Well
respect and admire each other, and live at a
distance. The times past. We be frozen
into eternal singleness and so enough said.
HE let her out, and watched her go down
l I the village street; then, as he turned
into his shop and lighted two oil lamps, a
telegraph boy entered. |