The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-03-11

immune herself Ia the old ladies'
home.
"Na." said Bob deliberately. Il have
no friends there" lie paused. look.
iug backward as II interested in some
one occupying a seat behind theia
ncross the nisie. Then II was that Il
seemed TO Madge as II there was
something very cruel In the fate that
had made IL necessary for her 10 solve
her problem Of existence Ia the way
she had planned.
II would seem like such a confession
Of her own utter inability to cope with
things MadKe felt as II she were
1 showing her embarrassment. and sud.
/ denly she realized that Bob was as
embarrassed as she.
Presently he excused himself. "My
aunt-that little old lady I'm black is
with me-" he said. Il will Just tell
her that ] have met you. and then
may ] come and sit here beside you
for ut least part OF the tripIH
Until he came Madge's heart beat
so fast and her poor little tired brain
was In such whirl that she could
not explain just what she would say
In the event that he asked her point
blank where she was going If, for In
stance, he suggested that he accom-
pany her TO her destination in NAL
yern.
He came back and they talked about
the dreary weather, then OF Thanks
giving II suppose" yentured Madge.
for her curiosity was aroused, that
you are going to Malvern for the holt
daysY She was sure now that Bob
was going to see possible iancee.
She couldn't help being jealous.
II may stay over Thanksgiving" he
said drearily. "If they let me-"
There was a rather sorry attempt
TO talk about things In general and
then the conversation got back to the
subject of Malvern. II was only ff-
teen minutes away and each was
eager to find why the other was bound
there, though eacn was as eager not TO
tell.
II was Bob who began. 81 am really
sorry for what | am doinr-ashamed
! would be If there were any way out
Of II. Dear old Aunt Sally brought me
up. A mother could not have been
kinder to me have wanted TO make
a home for her-I hope to some day.
but she is old and she cannot be
left alone. Now / have chance To
do really big things in the West--that
is, big for me. After year I've been
promised ten thousand year. But |
can't take Aunt Sally with me. she
would be without friends. l want to
make good first. I've tried to repay
her just little for all she did for me
that is the reason why / never asked
asked the one woman In the world
TO be my wife Because felt that so
l02g as Aunt Sally lived | wanted to
live With her and | did not feel free to
ask her" Bob's eyes gazed past
Madge as If ltey were really afraid ia
rest on her, and ne looked out on the |
gray landscape without actually see
ing II.
nut iabtfs Niifh AhiEt rs Nlit !
realized what he had been saying
and then their eyes met 'Why are
you taking her to Malvern? Are you
taking her TO st. Anne'sY
yes to ST. Anne's, and II does /
sound pretty shabby TO let her 20 to
an old ladies' home-but IT is just for 4
the year. | know she viii be treated /
well there and she would not consent 1
TO my giving up this chance In the /
West just to stay East with her. Then /
I'll get little home and | can afford |
a companion for her. But until then"
They were very near to Malvern. |
Suddenly IL seemed to Madge as II the
whole world Of love and life were slip /
ping through her fingers. She felt a
boldness of speech that was not at all
usual with Madge; besides, hadn't he
limited that she was the only woman? 4
Bob, If you had married and IL
your-your wife happened 10 be very
fond OF old ladies-very tactful and
perfectly willing to be considerable
mighin't you have been willing to take
AAtf wiz anu anhA A1aAAf tAA h'NA
with you right awayl The wife would
be willing to take care Of the dear old
aunt, and having them both with you
might help you TO win out That is,
providing the one woman I'm the world
were stlll willing TO marry you, even
though you nearly broke her heart be-
cause you didn't tell her that you loved
her before"
"You didn't-you wouldn't reallyT
stmmmered Bob.
"Yes. did. Bob" announced
Mafge
"But could you share your home
with Aunt SallyT"
"Tve a reputation for being very.
very fond Of old ladies' know I'd
love Aunt Sally. could manage
beautifully with one old lady" and
there was an emphasis on the one. the
reason FOR which Bob did not under