Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-14
TWO ROBERTS.


And One Gathered the Others Roses.
Singing softly to himself. Robert Edbury rode
cover dale and over down" in the sweet still
ness OF the July night. Hardly a breath of all
was stirring In the branches OF the tree, Now
and then an Invisible night bird pipe1 a solitary
note 10 Keep him company and soft waves OF
light Streamcd over the hills as the uIeaniy
moon. well attended by her guards. rode ind }
irEtlF down the broad highway OF heaven. The
niue dome tO0rlnT Soft a velvet, was. like the
tabled pain of love. StTOWn thcSIy with the
golden kisses OF the stars. AShe gained The las
hill. whose summit gdZed on The little Wdterin
place which was Tor a few veehS to be his daSti-
nation, lie Involuntary drew rein and SAT 81
lent moment enjoying the III lJlight scene
bH his lefJ an O!d-fa>niOaed b.lcN-h0uSe relr1l
its twisted chlmneTS aIOft 80 close VAS he To
II that its sharp gables seemed 10 cut the air
over his head. AM oIlF Il strip OF green lava,
bIrdefeT 10y hur,e-cdestHut trees separate
him from the windows, cleaning in the moon
light.
Seeiter aud crowE Ia fling them deSr.
II / might 80
Robert EdbIry hishei his song when he per
ceiVeoi- for the FIRST time. III, very close pr0Xin-
it, 10 the house and the windows
The substantial home OF some substantial
farmer, he sad TO himself. Il had bette
move on; or his daughters may think am scre-
mailing them
Too iate. Just then a window was opened
softly overhead, and IafE-s face appeared a;
H. In the rush OF bright moonlight Rubnr,
caught sight OF the long ripple of gO!t-glpamtngr
hair. and was sure that Jht. face was lovely. AZ
any rate. he voice was
- Robert, dear. il il you
For half 4 minute Robert Edbury WAS mile
with surprise and made 10 answer
:. IL Is You, Robert. Why don't YOU speak,
He spake. then. low. and with hesitation.
d" How do YOU know il was I?''
Of course knew Il was YOU" There was a
dash OF petuance in the sweet voice now
Who else bur YOU would be riding and sir GIN
10 that absurd way at this hour OF the night,
and haltinT before the house! Have YOU Il
R0DpFTr voice fro,
what 1t usually does
Perhaps IL IS the night air. answered Rob
crt, wic&edly. and getting his wits partially
together ''OT may have cracked 1t with siDT-
ing But still he spoke In the most sIb1Ied OF
tones Il did not expect the pleasure OF speak
ing with YOU
back at this night hour You know You on ilt
not TO be out. Why did YOU DIT, Where are
you going? Into Spatie!d,"
= But what FORE
- To see friend
Who is ito came the quick response. Not
not Nelly Cameron? with a shade of jeal-
ousy in the tone now. Are the CameronS re-
Cetving this evening"
Not that know Of" returned Robert Ed
oury, promptly. Il swear 10 you | was not
going 10 see Nelly Cameron. Ihaye not spoken
SELF
Poor Robert, and little laugh rippied
lightly on the air. But, do go. You Know
what Your health is. and that You have no
business 10 De riding at this time OF night You
ought to take better care OF yourself. You Will
DE taid up Tomorrow; your voice already
sounds strange and altered. GOODNIGHT
''One moment" cried Robert Edbury earn
estly, as he leaped from his horse, fastened the
nrldle 10 The gate and stepped inside beneath
the WlndoW, where CLEANED that mysterious.
enchanting face. Wont you give me a
noWer-yOu can easily reach that clustering
vine by your easement. PerhapS-perhans /
sh.tll Wish 10 ask you some time 10 forgive HE
N-nrI S-fx-.
Hover for a tOken?1
How strangely you talk. or course would
give you flower; but these are only honey
each other nothing but roses But sfay"'-the
pretty voice caught itself. II have bunch OF
,loiets on my table. Would you like them?"
ADythlng-anythlng that comes from your
he always spoke ~
The bright face disappeared a moment from
the window and then rcturDed-a whita hanJ
CLEANED in the moonlight
There, take them, ana now YOU must -.
SucS; near some one stirring. suppose il
should be mamma. Good night. dear Robert >"
The window was softly closed. and in an in
Stant-after Robert was cropping for the Viaiets
IN the wet grass. He found them where they
EEL But, as they We're falling. the quick ewes
OF ROcerf Edbury had disceTned something
bright as star. falling too. The small Strfn OF
grass where he had stood was entirely In the
shade, hidden from the light 10y the large horse
chestnut trees. and he had to grODe in the dark
Tor the giittcrtng thing. An inSJant'S Sa3r,,l
revealed il 10 he what he Suspected-a lady'S
bracelet; II was slender circlet OF gold stud
Gea Win cry stat The quick movement hal
uhciaSped II from her arm; and Robert. with a
smile, put il side by side with the WithernI
bunch OF Violets in his pockets as he rode away
Scertre and crown IL fling them (lown."
sang Mr. kdoury as lac rode swiftly on in the
pCrpie dusk OF the trees. ''$Ccptcr and crown
II had them. I'd fling them down Tor the one
pare chance OF hearing that lovely voice once
again
lie was alone: there was no one IN sef him
aud taking the yioletS 0ut OF his POCKET he
kissed them tenderly. IL was most absur,lly
silly Of him TO do 1t; bus who of Us does not do
silly things In the heyday OF our Youths morn
lug: silly things That we blush for afterwari
perhaps; just rs Robert Edbury bllshed when
putting The VioletS again quickly away.
IiSSe lia;.l,. and crown IL fins them down.
But his song got no further than that: it dieI
away IN thought.
Passing arm-in-arm down the crowded dane
hS-r0Om OF the spa the next evening. with his
TREND Norton, Robert Ed0ury's quick ear was
caught by a note which at once arrested his az
tentlon. He had said that he should Know
Ia v%a, aiSin9 voice again, hear IL wherever OF
whenever ne might. and he was not mistaken
say misbelef. ~
WIS But SUI, who could it have been, Robert ii it
Hds not you! IL iriShtenS Inc 10 think OF il
In was somebody OF your hight and tiy;lr,.
IL ni D,,, nav Deen yourself, Robert
IKE 10 Know Who IL was
lie was gentleman. | am sura'-vIth a
stress upon the word. You need NOT ha M
out Robert" " pa
Robert Edbury turned and saw close h,.iia
him, leaning on THAT other Roberts arm a
young girl SURPRISINGLY beautiful RISE,
mingled with the bright gold OF her hair snone
In the bosom OF her dress. and bunch OF the n
was somehow interxincd with the Sleader gold
wrist-chain attached 10 her fan.
MIR. Edb'lry caught his breath, aS. turning her
face the girls soft yiolet-blue eyes rested Tor a
UDrfcNpniyiDOlV
mo Is she? he whispered eagerly TO his
friend. GLOW lovely She is, What Is her
name? BY heaven. never believed In divine
iovelineSs before; but here II Is, pure and unde-
bled- What is her Nance
IT Is Miss Chassdane," was the answer.
Sne anu ner mother live at the Grove, half 4
farmhouse" remarked Robert.
NO, IL Is not. IL looks not unlike one They
III introduce you IL you ike
Hall an hour later Robert Edbury was bend
Ing over the young ladys hand In the pretty
6Seiufied gloom OF a yipe-Wrearhed wfn,fou