Drusilla with a Million

rierly

answered it by telegraph-an answer that brought a

k by letter.

John

o had been to see him in Cliveden, and when he arrived at the house he

want to look at you, and

ed very cozy with its fire in the big grate and

or a man-no woman could ever get out of it without hel

he luxurious room in

Drusilla-I can't understand

you feel. I felt that way myself for the firs

place your

st want to talk to you and about you. You want to smoke, don't you

lau

ant to

me pocket and filled it

tched him i

-sort of-dead-with just me a-creepin' round, and James and William tip-toein', and the hired girls never speakin' except to say, 'No, ma'am' or 'Yes, ma'am.' Why, sometimes I'd like to hear somebody drop somethin', or

into the f

failure. Your mother was right; I've

leaned to

a dreamer and a democrat, I can stand it. I never

ooked

dn't, D

e look in his face and

h-

rusilla. When I got you out of my heart enough

Drusilla asked, to turn the co

few years-sit quietly by and

messengers. That's meetin' them half way. I believe in bei

old, Drus

. Why I've jest took to raisin' children, John, and I'm goin' to watch 'em grow up; so I can

ed at her

breaking out now, and-and-" laughing, "I like it, John-I like it. Why, when Mr. Thornton stands up so stiff and straight and makes his mouth square and hard to say, 'Impossible!' why-why-my toe

ough to live on in my little

u can't live w

eft, Drusilla. All m

n't got no one that draws your heart

the world

into her chair and gav

of ever sence I saw your nam

been a-dreaming

ments, looking thoughtfully into

You are alone, John, and I'm alone. As I wrote you, we are both two old ships that have sailed the seas alone for all these years, and now we're nearin' port. Why can't we make the rest of the voyage together? I have a home too big for one lone woman; you have no home at all. Years ago your home would 'a' been mine, if you could 'a' give i

Drus

near me. These rooms are a man's rooms. I want to s

Drus

e. But why shouldn't you live here, and me across the hall; and evenings, when the time is lo

a, I couldn't

John? Couldn't y

sn't

what

ldn't accept eve

we were young together, I'd 'a' give you all my life. What is a roof and the

Drus

est; and there's some things I can't buy, John. I can't buy companionship and friends, John; and that's what we are, je

, staring into the fi

could be happy here, send for your books and call this home, 'cause remember, John," and she went up to him and sta

ttle hand with one of his for a moment,

rned and le

e gallery studying and discussing the pictures. The armor room was John's especial delight, after the library. He found a book

oane home. John did not want to go where the

re shet up all day with nothin' but w

n old man,

still women. You'll see how they'll set up and take notice; Miss Lodema'll smooth back her hair as soon as you step on the porch. I want to give 'em some

big cakes as he can, and put lots of frostin' and chocolate on 'em; and I've sent to town for twenty pounds of candy-the real fancy kind, that'll quite likely make 'em all sick,

ement did not equal that of the old ladies when Drusilla was seen

s like a group of children at a visit of Santa Claus. After lunch Drusilla announced that five of th

teeth, so's she can chew a bone if she wants to, and I want to take Grandma Perkins. She's never been in a motor and she

The women were awed at first, and rather uneasy, some of them a little frightened. Drusilla watched Grandma Perkins, to see that sh

asked, "how fa

rusilla said. "We

an hour, the cha

scares you, Grandma,"

looked at h

was only wonderin' if

lla l

when I first rode in th

cadam road. The old lady settled back among her shawls,

to the dentist, and Drusilla had the other ladies taken

they sta

a," Grandma Perkins began to whim

looked

ment. "I'll ask Joseph; he always knows everything." She turned to the waiting

idently at a loss as to what would pleas

to a moving-

t's

a kind of

the old ladies, who were waiting patiently to learn of their

at?" came

self, but it's a

hat it is, we

Drusilla; let'

good moving-picture, and if the actors could have seen the delight of the box party they would have felt they had not toiled in vain. They sat for two hours entranced by the scenes tha

they should be leaving, as supper would be rea

me, Drusilla; le

anyway," said anot

ld eyes looked at D

st a little while lo

e had not finished for the afternoon. They rose with a sigh and left the theater. When

t to ride with t

you'd catch cold,

ie fer a sheep as a lamb, and I won't never git no chance again

Gran

red, and the eyes

squshed up with a lot of old women where I can'

to the other women, and t

shield so's she won't catch cold, and you

Twice on the way home Grandma Perkins was seen to lean towards the chauffeur and the car jumped forward until it seemed that they were flying. Wh

leave, Grandma Perkin

go to Heaven; but I've changed my mind. I'll go any time

Drusilla-as angry as she could be with a woman

ladies will be

, hearing i

l be sick; but, the

with those words r

ivin' after wind; but the preacher didn't know muc