Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-20
NEVER TOO LATE
BY JENNIE LITTLE.

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%. 1879. BY Mcclure Newspaper synaieats.)
A comeIy. woman. nearing middle
age, stepped ont on the little cottage
porch and shaded her eyes from the
morning sun. that she might look deep
er and farther into the budding green
mysteries of q perfect day. As her
gaze wandered appreciably from the
distant hills to the nearer meadows
and orchards, their peace seemed re-
fected In her face. But when she
glanced down at her own garden q
quick frown accompanied an impa-
tient exclamation. "That pesky dog
againi / declare it's enough to pro-
woke q saint. which I never claimed
to be. II there's one tfsng on earth
more bothersome than another, it's
neighbors who don't care two pins for
other peoples comfort"
Once upon q time before Miss Ly-
dia's coming. the path from her steps
had run directly through that yard and
the next, ending at the adjoining
house and was a well-worn trail. But
a little cloud had appeared on the
! friendly horizon. at first no bigger
than a mans hand. and grew to such
proportions that the spite fence had
appeared to stop all intercourse.
However. two young folks lived on
either side. and love laughs at fences
as well as l%ocksmiths. so just where
the big maple stretched Its branches
over the top an almost Invisible gate
had beer made and many q night had
the lovers found 1t an Ideal trysting
place. But this was years ago and the
The gate was fitted now with latch
and hinges, but she had never used 1t.
as the next house had been empty un-
til lately and then she had been dis
appointed to learn that II was only
a lone bachelor who had taken b
farm.
But today with sudden determine
ton she picked up the broken tulips
and started down the path. Meantime
her neighbor, happily unconscious OF
trouble. and feeling at peace with
every man. went whistling to the barn.
Round the corner whisked a large cat,
holding a chicken In its mouth and
disappeared through the very hole un-
, der the fence that the mlschievous
pup had used. "Drat that cat y, cried
| the farmer. there goes another Of my
hest Plymouth Rocks. This thing Is
going to be stopped right now" and
he too strobe down the path TOWARD
the gate. stepping through 1t just as
Miss Lydia was about to reach for the
latch. "Dear me |" was her startled
thought. "It's himself. NOw's my
chance !" though her courage was go
ing fast, for she was a shy soul. "She's
the one this interviews coming to"
ran Farmer Johns mind. "for I saw
! her petting that ornery cat one day"
and simultaneously they spoke. !
"Ma'am. that cat Of yours"
"Sir. your dog"
Then they broke off In blank amaze
ment. A long stare, and again they
cried In unison;
"Johnl"
"Lyddy"
"How in the world?-"
"p."hat on earth?2"
And stopped again. for want OF
breath. seemingly. If so, John was the
first to recover It.
"Lyddy-tell me. have you been liv-
ing here all these long years? I left
home the day after we quarreled. just
to make you sorry but I was sure you
would send for me to come hack. And
when I'd waited as long as I could
stand 1t. and was starting home, I had
a long spell Of sickness that mighty
near kept me from eve seeing old
! Barlow again. And when I did get
there, nobody knew where you were.
I went away to work again and was
lucky. This spring I got tired Of 1t
| all and bought this farm for a change.
Just now your cat caught another
chicken. and I was coming over to
Lyddy. are you married.?
Lydia's face famed like a pink
peony. "Why. no, John. You see. mas
/ health never was good in Barlow. so
when an old aunt left her this little
place she wanted to try the country
air. And I was secretly grieving over
you. John. and wanted to come where
! nobody knew me; so we just quietly
moved away off here: and when ma
died at last I just stayed on. I hadn't
inquired your nam of anyone. and
was coming to tell you how your dog
was spelling my garden"
"Lyddy." said John softly, do you
remember the night Of the big sleigh
ing party, when you and I promised
to be pals for life? Look. I've carried
this with me always"
And he produced from his pocket
book a funny little tintype that she
had given him on that occasion.
Evil you give me a chance to make
up for all we've missed since then?
Twas all my fault we quarreled."
/, mo. mine. too. for I was stubborn"
was the quick reply; "but oh, we're
too old to marry now"
"Old !-you?" cried John. "You look
sixteen to me. and that's a fact. And
didn't our old copy books say that It's
never too late to mend?