The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-10

gnOSL Oh lne past tTOuUlc JOur BUM
bers," 1 whispered to Frances, as sh'
let me out the front door.
You know 1 have entered into the
charmed age when there is nothing
more to happen" she answered
in a low key; and 1 do not know why,
for we were not demonstrative women,
we kissed each other as we said good
night.
knew Frances was watching me until
l turned the corner, which, as 1 did.
had the uncomfortable accident of run
ming into a man-not metaphorically
into his arms, but, literally, into the
man himself. l could not have done
SO, if he had been walking, for, as l
said the moon was full, SO he must
have been lodging among the trees to
be run into. OF course he begged my
pardon, and l a little surley at the
fright he gave me, granted it. In do
ing so ! looked at him--"Good heav-
ensr | exclaimed, sis it you, Miles
Middleton, or your ghost?"
"How did you recognize me after
all these yearsP" he asked, half pleas
ed, half disappointed.
"Come in" 1 said, being at my own
door. 1--WE can not stand talking at
midnight in the street."
l let my self in by the night-key, and
put up the gas light to its full power
before l turned to welcome poor Miles
back to his native village. For twen-
ty-two years his name had been spoken
by his friends with bated breath. as if
he were amongst the quiet dead, or
far worse, amongst the SHINING. In
the glare of the gas light 1 turned to
look at him. 1t was the same Miles l
had always known; twenty-five years
older, l would never guessed if 1 had
not known the date OF our last meet
ing; twenty-five pounds heavier which
was an improvement. A guilty con-
science and an impaired digestion had
not been among his evils all these
years. His hair had not lost its color.
though it grew thinner on the temples
and on the crown of his head, and his
eyes had the same frank. fearless look
in them, his mouth the same winning
smile.
"Oh, Miles," l cried, with both
hands outstretched, "why did you
ever go away and all these years make
no signP" |
Because" he answered, taking
both my proffered hands, Frances
doubted me-"
"How do you know she didP" l
asked. you gave her no chance TO
speak. Prople said dreadful things of
you, which you did not deny, but a
away"
Il did not rum" he said, holly; II
stayed quite long enough to see that
some friends doubted me; not you. l
am sure. Even thai l could have
borne if Frances had been true"
you gave her no chance" I main
tanned. do you think l have forgot
ten that miserable EVENING" 1t all
seems as yesterday: the birthday fete,
the color of the sunset clouds, the pink
ribbon Frances wore in a knot at her
Poor girl she was as white
her dress when her W father ac-
cused you Of"
''Why do you not go on and say
'teallng9" he said, sharply.
because we don't use such ugly
words nowadays; embezzling is more {
l was indignant and said
things" !
land Frances said nothing" he in {
errupted. !
"Did you expect her to get into a {
Besides, you would make no
lenial. Her pale, pleading face did L
lot move you. If they chose to be- b
ieve such things of you they might e
on said, in foolish pride.' t
"You forget how young I was, and
ow hurt L was" he answered, soften
1g under my vituperation.
II remember Frances was some .
ears younger, and frightened for Il
as well as hurt. You gave her "
o chance to retrieve a hurried first q
-ep, Dr. rather a mistaken inaction, IL
,r you went away at once-the best s.
hing you could do, some said, but the
lost cowardly, l thought, and left no u
ace for all these years" tt
~ said l would not come back I'M a.
| l could bring proof of my inno- ",
"
THAT was not necessary to those ";
no really cared for you. Besides, d
10 man who took the money con- !.
ssed he did so ten years ago. Death "
reed him to confess. But this is, / '"
ncy, no news to you" -
al heard 1T ltst week." he said, and -
added, ''You have just left her?" VI
"Yes," l said; we have been keep 81
Q her birthday" "
81 heard her speak to you at the u 10
,or. Has she cbangedp" he asked, ~
ID then looked as if he wished he 10 .
d not. w
''Most of us do in twenty years" l RI
id evasively. "You seem to have hu
G secret of keeping young. Frances q
be pleased" l added partly be- en-
use l myself resented seeing him a W.
.ndsome, middle aged man. while 90
g had fadded out of all her girlish in
stiffness, ~,
"Her voice has not changed in the
he said. | would have known DIV
anywhere. Do you think she will u,
o meP" ro,
''She must" said / with decision, NJ ~
d together we planned their meet he
{. / was to send to Frances early fao
the morning before there was any IN
of the mention of the advent MI,
- asa. ~-u -. A. -r,~I 49,