Ellsworth American., 1875-11-25

!
gray. Her observations seemed to be con
fined TO the capers of pair OF sparrow.
who hopped tamely, and cooked up Their
little round heads at her, while she stood
stili by one of the trees. To this person
Mary gave pitiiul smile aud wave o
polite dismissal. and returned to her pres
EFT self Atter moDenrary hesitation
she crossed the green and went out by the
farther gate. IN just 90 by It," she said,
"and then return to Cousin Ann"
Presently she came in sight of "A lonely
little stream. spanned by handsome
stone bridge. newly dated. II was chang
ed there, she found. but still the view down
the river must be The same. Yes. there
were the high palings. the hedge. the roof.
and chimncys OF Edward GrafIon's place
.'Ay the. ay me. with what another heart,
In days far off. and Sith what other eyes.
| lu,ed TO watch-if he she that watched"
| Mary murmurrd, her whole soul stirred
with some recollection that changed her
face wonderfully. She felt drawn by In
visible threads toward that place and
walked steadily by the orchard. garden.
and ca riage drive. The gates were wide
open; she heard the stamp OF the horses in
the stable, and saw the stable groom go
ing 10 aud fro; but the house was silent.
its doors and shutters closed. The lawn
! WAS terraced. and piazza ran across the
| front OF the house Some temptation led
| her by the terrace. Looking up through
the spaces IN the shrubbery. she caught A
| glimpse OF man lying upon a settes. Hi.
arms were under hi- head. his feet were
crossed; she thought him sleeping. he was
| so mot ionless
III that j, Edward Grafton" she thought
why does he not divine that stand near
himI What about that electric chain
] -
sm. Mary sage, 90 back 10 your cousin
| Ann. aud behave a. You are expected to
| behave. The i1ea OF incoming after dead
romantic episodes at MONDAY. because
| railroad companies will not accommodate
/ each other. i too prrposterous. Yes. I'll
| retdrn III just walk by, and come back
/ on the other side OF the street Who would
| have thought oi INV opportunity of seeing
| old Chcl-lord again. where took music
| lessons, and had such gay summer: And
now mother j. dead. and am dead-an
| old maid. ! mcan-And life is iire~om
/ ialsrhund She wa. walkin. swiftly, uu-
| aware of her footsteps. \ clock struck
the wind brought it, slow strokes to her
ear an hour HAD passed since III, lcft the
station. aud her heart had countcd every
/ happy day she had ever spent Ia that time
| A. slic passed aion. on the other side OF
the WAY she looked At ia. srttee again.
I Ine sleeper had changed his position; he
Was sitting up. his hat was pulled over hi>
| forcarad. ana his head was bent 10 list
| ening attitude. An uncomfortable wish to
| zee this mans face seized Mary and almost
| lnToluntariy She turned again and crossed
/ over below the terrace.
| Suppose do @ani To see him she
| argued. Grossly. Il atm the one 10 be hurt
! | iutrnd tn wrtfe book. aud call IL the
] a. upI lug4h.s. ri
| appointment through Emoi.oR-and that
| covers a ground As big IA. ilumbold's
| Cosmos" Stepping by The terrace a. noise
lcssiy NJ possible, for fear OF being heard
She had come close to the lawn gate. ard.
with feeling OF forlorn hope. raised her
| eyes and met those she wished to meet.
| Their faces were not far apart. hers below
/ his abOve-earnest. sad faces now; deep.
! inqulrng gray eyes. For moment they
were speechless, he amazed. She breath
! less
MARY Sage, Is il your"
| Yes, Edward Grafton"
! Come up here, come in :" lie urged.
Mo-
''ihy are you here in his strange way?'
| because the Old Proyince train won't
come In. Are you railroad conductor 2"
Where have you been all these years
aud why should | never have seen you.
MARY 2 he asked. with a rising irritation
she did not reply al once, but looked ut
him. Indeed. they measured each other
| with profound wonder and curiosity. How
well she still looked. he thought. Her
complexion vas brilliant yet. her eyes beau
| tlfu as OF old. Aud she thought how little
lie had changed His hair Was n tnfe
gray under his hat, and he was bigger
than ever hs eyes were absolutely the
! same.
Il wonder" she AZ length said, In a
dreamy voice. 'if all these years might
have taught US "A right understanding OF
! each other"
Was ii wrong understanding always?
'On my part, yes"
Quietly rnlatchins the gate. he held it
| open.
MARY wish you would come in. am
glad TO see you"
1T is impossible. for must return to
my cousin, who waits for me at the station.
You know what freaks the Imagination
plays. When found myself at Chelstord,
after so many years absence, | thought
would test my bump of locality"
Have you passed the terrace more than
onceT' he asked, abruptly.
She blushed redder than rose. Il
! wasn't quite sure" she stammered.
''Oh, | see &; another experiment"
"How curiously things do turn up
she wisely remarked.
Very, indeed"
Il suppose must 90 now
Where did you say you were going?'
TO our town. Walton
Your cousin is with your
"ies-Aiss whitlow. Have you lived
| here ever since?'
On yes, except few years abroad"
We'll, good-norning.
! 'Good-InorniDg."
Dizzy aud confused, .he sprany forward.
bur at The end of the path looked round. like
lots wife. lie was gazing at her with
| all MS might. and. woman-like. she wa ked
1 straight back To him. and cried. You
looked so always. Edward Grafton. know
now how few were the words you spoke to
me, and vet thought had numberless
| memory"
You said as few. judged you as |
supposed you judged me. Our eyes were
said TO be alike. Was there language in
them for me? Was dishonest to let mine
tell my story? What could say, thens
Ny circumstances were patent. There
came fine day and your mother swooped
down on you and bore you OH. | acqui-
| ssced. because yoL di.l.''
For the first time Mary looked at the
windows
''No one there but my mother" he said.
D.. Questions crowded upOn Mary's mind.
winch she dared not ask-could not bring
herself to ask.
MARY. let me zee your left hand" She
held 1t toward him, and he pulled off her
glove.
''Ah," was all he said, and kept the
glove. Mary wished that it was nor a
mended one. The longer she stayed. the
more silenced she felt. and that was the old
spell; but somehow she believed that she
might now learn to master this man. Why
could she not have been thirty-fve when
she was seventeen!
Things do come round curiousiy!r he
repeated, with quiet smile that made her
color deepen again. IL never felt more
lonely than did an hour ago when heard
the clock strike its dismal knell. 1t has
bekn striking my life away hour by hour.
anil have not rebelled. Am not q pa
tient country lout, biding the arrival of the