Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-05-11
Jeremiah Decides
to Be Married
By CLARISSA MACKIE

" - - = = y = = = - = - = = = = -
20, 1898. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
Jeremiah Highly never forgot the
day when he stood in the doorway Of
his store and saw Lucy Bray come
down the front walk of her home and
enter the rickety old station bus.
Lashed to one of the battered running
boards of the ancient flivver were
Lucy's trunks, two Of them, and there
was something very set ABOUT the way
Lucy carried her head, looking neither
to the right nor left.
A lump came into Jeremiah's throat.
Lucy Bray was going to the Old
Ladies' home at Bushwood.
The fiivver ratified away down the
dusty street, and Jeremiah stared at
the closed front door Of the Bray
homestead All the wooden shutters
were fastened tightly, and after the
gate changed behind Lucy an air of
desolation seemed to settle over every
thing. He wandered what Lucy had
done with Betsy, her black cat-if
they didn't allow pets in the home"
surely Lucy would be very lonesome
A woman came down the street she
was quite young, with full, colorful
face and an air of bustling energy. 1t
was Mrs VIII Bray, Lucy's nephew's
wife. She went into the yard and
around the house to the back door. In
a few moments she was back again
trying the front door, then she took
out bunch of keys and tried to at
the lock Of the door. After awhile
she ceased her efforts and crossed the
street to Jeremiah's store.
Morning, jeremiah" she painted
heavily; 81 want some letter paper
there, that wifi do, and a bottle Of
Ink"
whats the news, EvaH' asked
Jeremiah, lifting cloudy blue eyes.
Nothing newer than Aunt Lucy's
made up her mind to be sensible, and
has gone to the Old Ladies' home"
"She's young woman to be going
there" offered Jeremiah.
"She will be happier" said Eva glib
". "She doesn't need that great
house, living all alone-Will wanted
her to rent it to us; we need more
room with all of our children-but
Aunt Lucy's selfish We persuaded
her to go to Bushwood but she Is OBJ
stinate about making room for us In
the house. Perhaps she will change
her mind"
jeremiah softly beat his hand on
the edge Of the counter. His eyes
were scanning the lazy village street
that dipped down and down until 1t
ran off the dock right into the bay.
His thoughts were spanning the years
how often he had opened the old
brown gate across the street How
often he had sat In the deep old porch
and smelled the roses and the box
and touched Lucy's hand But all
those sweet old days were buried in
most unhappy misunderstanding.
They had drlfted apart; neither had
married, and to think Of each other
was like lifting the cover Of an old
rose jar and inhallng the perfume Of
faded roses.
Love had been so near TO them In
those days!
Jeremlah's goOd-looking face flushed
and suddenly his lower jaw stiffened.
His chin shot out as II used to do
when he was boy at school.
He didn't like Eva Bray. "Of
course Lucy'll be home again in a few
weeks. after she gets rested up lit
tle," he vOuchsafed
"What do you mcanr' snapped Eva.
81 mean she's Just going To the
home for rest cure" lied Mr.
Highly.
"Shes paying for life residence"
painted Mrs. Bray
Jeremiah nodded aifnbly. well,
mebee she wants 10 give It to some
needy friend It's wldder's
home, too, and some day there might
come need for It Ia the family
you might want II yourself, Mrs.
Bray"
"You are crazy" accused Eva, lum-
bering toward the door what do
YOU mean telling such tales about my
Aunt LucyT
Jeremiah lifted level eyes 10 Eva's
swapping black orbs.- u just mean
that you and VIII ought to be ashamed
Of yourselves, talking your Aunt Lucy
into going to the home You want
her house-you won't get it--no,
ma'am!"
"Why:"
lucy going to marry me-wSre
going 10 Eve there. You helped her
clean house, didn't you. Evaf That
was real kind Of you. I'll give your
Aunt Lucy your love when ! see her
tonight !"
"Rnsh! I don't believe u word you
say, Jeremiah Highly" and Eva trot-
ted Indignantly away toward home.
81 wish II was true" groaned Jere-
miah to himself, as he realized how
much he was going to miss Lucys |
sweet presence in the vlllage--her diff |
fident smile, her soft word Of greeting. |
Suddenly all his bafiied desires found |
vent I'm one explosive Idea. III make
II come true" declared Jeremiah, and |
being a man Of energy he went 10 his
rooms over the store and arrayed him
self in his best clothes His clerks
were busy az he passed through the
store on his way out, but they wlnked
at each other as he went around to
the SMALL garage where he kept his
car.
"COurtlDg, Ell, Sam"
"Betcha !" grlnned the other.
The home" reared It's picturesque
walls shove q high hedge that ran
along the road for half mile. Jere-
mlah's runabout turned into the wide