Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-08-19

Spring was opening. The frost had
melted from the ground which lay
ready for the farmers magic touch to
prepare it for seed sowing. Hiram.
with strength of limb and sturdy pur-
pose, was carly at mis- work With
bent back he guided the plough over
the long burrows, now and then call
ing to the horses in grLff monotone
~Hii-Get-up-thar!"
His face was brown. like leather,
from the suns of many years am his
hands were bony and hard.
Long years ago Hiram had loved
girl and had expected 10 marry her
But she had a voice tor song She
had talent, people told her, and would
make a fortune on the stage. tn;
longing for a public life, and to De-
come famous took possession OF her,
So when the offer came she went
troupe, leaving behind the love of a
strong man. And Hiram had never
forgotten. He believed that some day
she would come back 10 him. ard he
waited. But the time seemed IonS
and he had grown old.
When the sun sank in the west Hi
ram left the plough, unhitched the
horse took the milk-paI and did th''
evening chores. When all was lin
ished he went into the house and
WdSHOu HIS ldCS anu IldlAOSp "APAA5
them on the family towel. ready TO
the evening meal. His mother, old
and feeble, bent over the little cook
stove, but looked up with a smile OF
welcome as her son entered Lucille,
his sister, sat in her wheel chair by
the window She never moved from
that chair except as her brother lift
ed her and placed her on the bed for
the night. She had been thus from
early childhood vet she was Cheerful
and bright, the life and joy of the
little household. Hiram had devoted
his life to the care of these two whom
he loved.
Hiram wheeled his sisters chair
close up to the table and sat down.
himself.
Hiram" admonished his mother. in
2 sweet, mild way. Il shall be going
soon. My works most done. Theren
be no one to care for thee and thy
sister unless thee takes a wife
Many times in the last 10 years she
had said the same thing, but 1t made
no impression on Hiram.
Thee ought to mar v Cynthy," con-
tinued the old lady, n y mindinE- that
there was no reply. SIC d make thee
a good wife. She's right sensible
girl"
Yes. mother, Synth1.'s a nice cir.
all right" admitted Hiram.
I'D like to have thee marry
Cynthy,' continued his mother, and
be settled before l go, my SON. The
aged voice was pleading and tender.
But I'm not thinking O. marry in,
mother" returned her SOL, calmly"
Il know thee's a thiulin' o. them as
amt good enough for thee" was the
return. land ash never come back
Thee'd best marry Cy-tl.y. and be
content. my boy"
It was a few days later that Hiram
4 into he 70
tatoes to to buy grain. He was
standing in the postcffice, ia king
with the loungers who always con-
gregated there, when his eye was at
tracted by a big poster in flaming
colors and letters of large type The
Sylvan opera company was coming
to town! There was the name OF the
prima characterization Piper-Mary
Ann it used to be. He had heard
that she had changed The spelling to
make it sound more artistic" His
heart gave a great thump-she was
coming! He should see her and speak
with her! Oh. happiness! When?
He looked at the date-in enc week
she would be here; and he should
look upon her once mOre-One whole
week! How long it seemed to him
after all these years of waiting!
All the way home the mans heart
sang. His love was coming back
She must be weary of the life she was
leading and would be glad to accept
his love and the home that was wait
ing for her. All through the long
week he was thinking-wOndering
how she would look, if she had grown
more beautiful-planning what he
should say that would be most per-
suasive, if she needed persuading. 1t
seemed to him that she must listen
now, that Sc must long to get away
from the public life she was leading,
and the gaze of crowds. To his deli
cate nature it seemed il must hurt
her, as it would him Re had saved
little money-for heI-He could
give her a good home and make her
happy, he knew
At last the day arrived and Hiram
dressed himself in his best. He stood
long before the glass TO see that
everything was straight. an unusual
thing for him He stopped and plucked
a flower and hid it under his vest;
he would give it to her.
''Thee'S dressed I'D like SUNDAY