The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-09-04

and so lost in my walking reverie, that
I was almost opposite a lady standing in
their midst before I was aware of her
presence.
81 am glad you still love the old
scenes, Mr.. Durand," she said, without
expressing the least surprise.
[ was astonished. Here was q lady,
who, to the best Of my knowledge, l
had never seen before, addressing me as
familiarly as if we had known each
other all our lives.
"Names are treacherous things, and If
| were ever so fortunate as to have
known yours, am guilty Of having for
gotten it." replied.
"Men forget easily, l am told; but 1
had hoped to find you an exception to
the rule"
A very awkward silence on my part
ensued, and she took pity on me without
embarrassment, and continued
elias your battle with she world en-
tirely driven from your recollection all
the old school faces p
Her voice dropped to it's old, sweet,
clear, winning cadence, thrilling my
whole being with delight
"Adelina y
l caught her hand, and before knew
what I was doing had carried it to my
lips and kissed it.
"Excuse me-" l stammered; ''but I
am so glad to see you, and you seem just
the same little girl / kissed here years
ago-not bit taller; not bit older
only Adelina, always lovely and always
loved"
Then told her all about myself, how
prosperous 1 was, and the strange man.
ner in which l had been brought to the
notice of my kind employer. When l
had finished she merely said, in her sim
pie way
81 know it"
"You appear to know everything. Do
you know Mr.. Maxwell 2"
Gle is my father"
"And my unknown friend
"Adelina."
l staggered back, in my soul ashamed
that should owe every good i'll life
everything-to a woman who owed me
nothing but the poor favor of once hav-
ing united for her wretched black and
white worsted hood.
l turned away, cut to the heart, but
she put out OBTAINING hand.
'Don't go, Mr.. Durand-that is, don't
so feeling hurt; for it would make me
very unhappy if you were to go away
angry with me.
Unhappy What am I, that pain
to me should render you unhappy = an
swered, bitterly.
81 knew of noRther way in which to
express my gratitdde.V
''Gratitude, for what 2 The question
was rudely abrupt, but she took no no.
tice of my ungracious speech.
"Gratitude for the kindness given me
long ago, and which have missed ever
since we parted here by the roadside"
Are you conscious of what it is You
are saying, Adeiina ?"
"Perfectly."
Chow am | to understand your
words p
''That leave to your own good judg-
ment," she smiled, lowering her eyes.
She had an instant illustration of my
''good judgment" in the way l impris-
oned her two little hands in both of
mine, and kissed the sweet mouth for its
shyly whispered promise.
| walked home with Adelina-oh, SO
happy and when l asked her hand Of
Mr. Maxwell, he said
81 have anticipated your request by
keeping you under my eyes for more
than two years Adelina is the best
and truest girl in the world, but l be-
lieve you to lie as worthy of her as any
man living, and give her to you, conf
dent that you know how to prize the
treasure You have won"
And so, not long thereafter, l mar
ried Adelina, the love of my boyhood,
and the browning glory OF my later
years.
SUNFLOwER SEEDsoFoR POULTRY.