The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-28
INTO THE UNFORGOT-
TEN LAND.
"Madge Carol" in Arthur's Magazine.

Arthur Okill sat in his deceased friends
office, perusing, in the capacity of executor
an epistle directed to Joseph Laux, and
signed EImyntrude Southwayd. Although
addressed Familiarity Dear Joe," and over
flowing with sentimental "reminiscences, it
was business, not love letter, else he would
not have read it. 1t appeared that the
writer's father left Thornton twenty years
previous, owing Joe-who had then just en-
tered mans estate-money for house rent.
Having but recently discovered this fact, the
lady, being now possessed Of considerable
property, desired in justice to pay both
principal and interest.
Such was the sum and substance of this
letter, read in the golden after-glow of one OF
June's fairest days. There was, however,
one line over which Arthur Okill pt ndered
seriously. 1t ran thus:
"The story so sweetly begun and so sadly
broken Off under that roof you know well"
Yes, of course, Joe Laux knew. When
queenly Ermyntrude Southmayd broke her
engagement with Arthur Okill all the gos-
sips in the village got hold of this racy bit OF
news and rolled it like some toothsome morsel
under their tongues The elders remembered
it to this day, although the discarded lover
had at different times honorably wooed and
won two Of their daughters and had buried
them and children with them, under the red
and white clover bloom in Thornton's little
green graveyard. Folks seldom forget
things of this sort More's the pity. From
his rose-draped window he could see across
the way the moss-embroidered caves under
which they parted so sadly and SO coldly long
ago.
Since that memorable evening he had
written all sorts of hard and bitter things
against this beautiful, imperious creature,
and had closed and sealed the pages time and
again, only to open them once more and re-
write, although for nearly twenty years her
light step had never crossed his path
Now at last as the day died in amber reds
along the gentle slopes of Thornton. he fell
to reading between these fiery lines penned
with his hearts best blood and to wondering
whether if he had but refused to have taken
that rash girl at her word she would not have
been touched and have melted like wax under
loves indomitable fame. Sitting there in
the crimson and amber sun-glow, with white
and pink rose-leaves floating in at the open
window like scented, tinted snowfiakes, he
wished, vaguely, that this thought had &C.
CURED to him then, and that he had acted
upon it. As it was it was too late. Even
the ashes Of that old love were scattered. He
would sooner expect to behold those whom
he had kissed and laid away come forth in
fleshy habiliments than to find that
annihilated passion clothed anew and dwell
ing in his bosom.
What in the world are you doingT ex-
claimed Mrs. Seth Okill, opening the door Of
the office from her parlor adjoining. 81
thought you were going out"
mo, I'm attending to a little business" re-
piled her brother-in-law, hurriedly Selling
some legal documents and making believe to
look them over. Say, Cad" recalling her
as she was about retiring, ''you remember
the Southmayds, don't your
"To be sure do What was that beauti-
full daughters name2 Glenwoodi Elem
hoodi No, that don't sound like it either"
Try Ermyntrude," suggested Arthur,
drily.
"Sure enough. Ermyntrude. I used to
name all my prettiest dolls after her. Nice
family, but awful poor and proud, weren't
theyi What about themr'
"She's written to Joe from Jersey City,
and is coming to see him on business"
poor Joe! And he dead and buried this
two weeks" sighed Cad Okill. shes
pretty old now, isn't shell I'm twenty EIGHT,
and she was grown up when l was a little
girl"
shes thirty nine" replied Okill, running
his shapely fingers through his own thickly
powdered hair and beard, wondering the
while how Empress Ermyntrude's" rare
auburn braids stood the test Of time.
Thirty nine and not married." exclaimed
Mrs. Okill. as II comprising the round OF
human misery. rs she after our dear old
bachelor joel"
Nonsense! You know all about Joe's love
Affairs Any way, she always held her head
too high for such as he, or, ind d, any one,
for that matter. Now that she's rich, she
doubtless holds it higher yet"
Eyes, recollect, she was called the En-
press, wasn't shei She was so beautiful and
seemed to be so grand, l really thought she
ruled kingdom, and often shed | could
slip into the house and see her crown and
throne. When is she comingf'
Tomorrow noon"
The morrow's mid-hour found Miss South
mayd alighted at the pretty vine engarlanded
station, and rapidly pursuing her way toward
the well known intersecting streets, on one
corner Of which was Joes Office, and upon
another the rambling, tree girdled structure
she once called home.
Despite the changes nearly twenty years
had wrought, Empress Ermytrude," al
though she pulled her gray travelin :: veil
over her face half determined neither TO see
nor be seen, recognized familiar residence
and bit Of woodland green and emerald
sward. She had not come with any intention
Of remaining even for one day. There were
painful memories connected with the
place other than those interviewer with
cloves young dream" Then, too, there was
really no one she cared or dared see, except
ing Joe Laux The remaining meInler of the