The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-22
The Girl He Left Behind.

THE good ship Tamar was bearing up
i channel before brisk southwest
wind. The passengers were gathered on
deck, conversing in little groups, as they
stood watching the green English shores,
lying bright and still in the afternoon
light. But one stood apart from the
rest, leaning over the stern taffrail gaz-
ing with fixed eyes and thoughtful face.
He was man of about forty y-five years
of age, of somewhat spare build, with
ample brown beard and bronze tanned
cheeks. A near scrutiny would have
revealed something of sadness in his eyes
at the moment, as though the prospect
of again setting foot on his native land,
from which he had been absent for many
years, was not wholly one of pleasure.
George Herder had then looked for
ward to returning to England with
somewhat different feelings from those
which he was at present experiencing.
Instead of thought of wedding bells, he
was coming back with no deeper senti-
ment in his heart than a desire to see
once more the friends and home of his
boyhood, before finally settling in the
country of his adoption, where he had
formed stronger ties, he thought, than
any that now existed for him in the land
of his birth. And yet dimness gather
ed his eyes as the past came back upon
him, and his memories were neither
gloomy nor misanthropic.
On the afternoon of the following day
the lamar dropped anchor off Graves
end. Most of the unmarried men on
board went on shore at once, and among
them George Herder. On reaching
London he took a cab, and gave the
man the address to drive to. He was set
down in Heresford Road, Bayswater, at
house in a terrace. He gave the SER
want who opened the door his name,
and, following her up stairs, entered the
room into which she showed him. AS
he did SO a man rose from the table at
which he was seated, glanced for mo-
ment at the stranger, and then came
quickly forward, and grasped him by
both hands.
George, old man, is it you. Welcome
back to England. But I can't tell how
glad feel at seeing you again, old fell
lowl"
"Did you get my telegram ?' asked
Herder.
eyes, got it. 1 have been talking to
the landlady, and she can let you have
bedroom here, if you like, and we can
share this room in common. The ar
rangement might suit you for the pres
ent, at any rate. What do you say 2'
"It will do capitally," answered Her
der. "It will be convenient our being
together, for we have much to say TO
each other. I'll need to be piloted about
London, too; I've forgotten my way
greatly, and find many of the places
changed
II thought of that, too. / am not
very busy just now, so we can have
good deal of time together. shall be
free every afternoon by four o'clock"
Fred. Hammond held a position of
some responsibility in the civil service.
Next day George Herder's time was
chiefly occupied in looking up the few
friends in London with whom he had
kept up an acquaintance by correspond
ence. Hammond and he had finished
dinner in their lodgings, and had pro-
duced their pipes, when the former said:
''I've got an engagement for this even
ing, which it's too late now to think of
getting off. Some very good friends of
mine, who live in a square close by,
have sort of musical party and conver-
sation. am on quite such terms with
them as to be able to use the freedom of
taking you with me, If you would care
to go. Lcan't promise that you will be
greatly interested among a lot of people