Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-12

still young, Augustus had been wise
enought to marry a rich girl who
had lived but a short year after her
wedding day and had, in turn,
left all her money to her husband.
Yes, success had come easy to this
man. He had been widower now
for ten years, and until lately had
seemed to avoid the numerous girls
in the neighborhood.
Really it was proof of how at
tractive Jane was, the father now
reflected, that the man should seek
her out. Then he remembered what
Maria had said two hours ago.
But she don't love him." she had
Could she ever love him2 the
father asked himself. And MS
though he read this unspoken uues-
tion' the man at his side began to
talk OF himself and his plans-ten-
tattvely, "as IT," Ezra Thought.
trying to find out the lay of the
land"
Augustus Find
Life Rather Lonely,
said. I'm finding my life at the
house up here on the hill pretty
lonely? It's ten years since 1 lost my
VINE, and it's six years since ma
died. For while I got along pretty
good = but lately I've begun to
like I do.'
rs that SOP" his companion
auerled mildly. 1t appeared at the
'iitie the safest remark to make.
Yes, that's the way 1 feel about
IT. Augustus continued. "And I'VE
ABOUT made up my mind to think of
marrying again"
Ezra was no diplomat and he cud-
geled his brains in vain for some
suitable reply to this speech. Then
ne ieii back once more on his last
unoriginal, but cautious response.
is that so?" he said again.
BUT this time his sentence was
ignored. Augustus Reeves was we'll
launched on talk of himself, and as
long as there was somebody to lis
ten TO him nothing else mattered
Tor the moment. He explained TO
Ezra that he has always led an ex-
emplary life; that he was a regular
church member and church worker:
that he gave largely to the church !:
that t the minister had often told him
hiG
most important, if not the most inn
portant, parishioner. He had a good
~ sum laid aside in various banks
reeves went on. Any woman whom
ne might care to marry would be
comfortably fixed"
lie paused as if for comment at
last. '''
Il suppose she will" Ezra OBJ
I've been thinking" resumed An
gustus after prolonged pause.
that I'd rather marry a real young
woman one can teach my ways.
rather than woman near my own
age. Forty-five is young in a man
but it's not young in a woman"
NO, it's not" Ezra admitted. He
felt suddenly frightened. Was this
man going to tell him that he would
IKE TO keep company with Jane?
III So what would her father say to
MIN! The notion of Jane as Angus
tus Hardys wife did not seem SO at
tractive now to Ezra as it had a
while ago. The idea of his child
being taught and trained by Au-
gustus!
"A young girl the widower had
resumed, who married me would
be safe from poverty. In these times.
when moneys tight and so MANY are
looking for work, it's a great thing
lof person to be sure of having a
good home and enough to keep them
always"
Ezra Switches OF
to Safer Topic.
Yes" assented Ezra. Reeves's
statement contained a painful truth
which he himself had often dwell
upon in his thoughts of Jane. But
he could not trust himself to think
of ii now.
Have you noticed" he said irrele-
vanity, how high the corn is in
Smiths field. Now, my corn's kinder
backward this year. What do Won
suppose ails it?"
The question was well chosen. for
1t gave Augustus Reeves a chance
to express his opinion on the cul-
uVatlon of corn, thus sparing his
listener further speech upon a deli
cate topic.
Edward Sanderson, seated on the
Hardy porch, discerned the two men
approaching far down the moonlit
road, and he rose to his feet.
I must be going" he announced.
Il have to catch an early train in
the morning - and here comes Miss
Hardy's caller" He laughed. shook
hands with his two hostesses. and
took his departure.
The girl turned impulsively to
her mother. "Oh," she murmured,
this evening has been too nice to
be spoiled by talking to man
who bores me. Just say to Mr..
Reeves that I'm tired and have
gone to my room - won't Won,
dear
And, kissing her mother quick
ly she hurried into the house.
Thus it came about that Angus
tus Reeves, greeting Mrs. Hardy
for Jane was told that the child
had come home from church tired
and had gone to bed.