Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-07-23
THE LAST CHANCE

Little girl. there Is something
troubling you" drawing down head
OF chestnut brown to MS snow-white
one.
tears, and her voice caught as she
answered, mo. no, grand-dads can't
tell you"
"Fm not asking you to ten me any
thing. Sit down. and I viii tell you
a. few things.
sat down on O. low foot stool at his
feet before the brick fireplace The
girl broke the silence, half sobbing.
Il did write to him, grand-dad;
did, really. And he has never an
swered my letter.
Never answered; well, we'll"
After a few minutes the man spoke.
/ 'Lucyi~
| The girl at his feet stirred.
Il am going to tell You my love
story. Lucy; will you listen %
Perhaps I have already heard it, |"
mo, never. for I have never told
anyone of my real love"
Lucy looked up expectantly, and he
continued:
Il only ten you this true story of
my life In the hope that you may
knowingly committing. want you
| to be benefited by my mistake.
feel that I can talk to you better
than your father, perhaps if your
mother had lived-Dut there, I won't
recall sad memories to YOU 1 want
you to-shall I say it-take my case
as a warning. For you are a Purdy,
and in every one Of us there is a
streak of foolish pride which prevents
as from acknowledging our wrongs
until it is too late
Grandfather Purdy's voice sank to a
1 ne ha ed
ed over Lucy's head, and seemed to
seek the picture of his good wife who
had passed to the Land beyond. The
rustling OF the trees brought him from
| his reverie. He went on.
| Her nam@I cannot speak her
| name-ft is better. She was the kind
that all youths love. with hair OF
| curly brown, very soft blue eyes
eyes Hike yours, Lncy, and she was
small and dainty. like piece Of Ores
den china To her. all the world was
beautiful, nothing seemed to rufflt
her sweet manner. She was 500
lovable, that is the word, for ever
the old can remember what love is IL
their youthful days.
The girl shifted her position to heaI
the words.
But, I was not the only admirer
There were score of others. 1
seemed useless for me to Join he
train of followers, but did, and on,
by one these others dropped away till
oh the joy Of it. 1 was the faEore,
one I was always at her side; an,
how happy we both were. I wante,
to claim her for my own and felt sur
she would say yes
81 remember how hard 1 tried /
ask her to be mine. but her swee
ipresence would make me specifies
Words failed me, but felt must asl
her to be my bride. so I penned tn
an-important message to her. / look
ed for an answer in person at our ia
vorite TRUSTING place but in vain.
grew nervous waiting for the lette
that never came. I would not go Z
her, because felt an answer to m,
letter was due me.
The years passed slowly. We wer
friendly, but not with the swee
friendship that had proceeded my Low
for her. 1 thought her silence wa
her way of answering. finally mar
ried your grandmother, and she CAV
me three beautiful children before sh
answered the last call. I always fan
cied that she, too, had loved anothe
in her youth, but OF our youthful day
we never spoke.
What hurt so much, Lucy, wa
that my love lived for years as tn
old maid who never had chance
wondered why she did not deny tn
accusation, but her sweet lips neve
parted in answer to the taunt of tn
village gossips. kept this secre
locked in my heart till after he