The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-30
OLD FLETCHER.
4 STORY OF UAgLFEAMSS AND ENDURING Love,


WINGED that this particular feast had MT
been spread for his delectAtion, he laxily
lapsed into his own thoughts, while hi
eyes roamed about among tho heads and
shoulders in front OF him,
What struck his fancy tonight vas 20
trace the roles which people assume and
play 20 long that they tell Thorn even "a
their unconscious attitudes. There Wa
fellows, the sanity young theologue, with
nas long smooth hair ripping TO his cost
expression chaste devotion to every iote Of
truth presented. There was modest Doctor
Strong. hugginR himself together out Of
pcople's way. and oven winkinQ apolooeta-
caliy. There was intellectual Mrs. Strong,
MS ;n ~. wife. her head on ono side her tne chin
There was aristocratic Miss Jones.
bolt upright, nostrils soofinQ the
common air. There was benevolent
Maas Green: disporting. q gracious smile for
Frank Fletcher, that self-constituted critic.
OF Me. ably equipped truly. as the disap-
pointed actor always is. With a ehruo Of
his shoulders no jammed his hands into his
Just look q old Fletcher. He is ds.p.
pered Dr: Hopkins, behind him. Thu 10
young Clark, whose passionate soul vas
divided between the strain Of hid M mu-
sioal composition and the charms az NIT
Icsry, the lovely Young EnRlish violinist.
.wheseY" said Clark, aloud, starting m
and looking around. with the amiable in
tention Of confirming his friends propoai.
zion, and settling back again. with his eyea
on Miss Terry's hat brim.
stranger was there to night, Fletcher
presently noticed. He could always einale
out the stranRers, and was given 10 spscu-
lating whether they would reappear. 8 ~
Of the colony life, or whether chew ~
but Hitting travellers. This ono somehow
attracted his eyea long. 40 she cat NTH ~
cloak unclasped and fallen away from her
graceful vomanly shoulders. Here, sc last.
was no anectation, no assumption. Evil
Now she eat thinking; now her face ,', ~:
turned. The full profile What ma mn
penedy 8. Where was he, Fletcher?
Ine race VI his old love !. Like and
yet unlike ahe used TO look. Az abe looked
too. g dreamY Would Il now dissoive2
Would they all vanish-his love, the preach
or, and the rest-in a strange phantasma-
Roriat Would he awake to the etrikino
city CLOCKS? the dawn at his window? ia
buried his face in his hands. No; shs Wa
Helen Beverly, was there, the lights fallinr
hand. - S.'''''
The sermon was ended, the benediot;or
was pronounced; and he stumbled out into
the street.
On, on, on, through the ] ohanna parr orA
beyond the Nuns' Meadows. On and ON on'
God bless her! God bless her!'' The mist
was gone. the night was cold, the mn
We're bright in the frosty sky. Her ~
was always before him-her clear ma
beautiful face. And the words they used
to sing at home were ringing throneh IN
brain; Al
And thou shalt walk In pure. clsar light.
With kings end priests sbrcad;
Az Up so he :h si: sa y 3ss high in bliss
And oh, for the end! Oh, tor the weakness
and woe Of earth to pass like the mist from
before the stars! 80 $3.50
He Thought Il was midnight vh,. -
reached his lodgings again, and. exhapated.
csawled mp the stair. But il wis only nine
O'Clock. Frau Seidl, lowering about g
though waiting for him. followed hin INTO
.she was down here tonight" said the
woman, in her usual whisper. ssShe afood
in the hall AZ / came with the lamp. Snd
she said, Is this his room7' And she came
ma after me- on indeed she Is nne lady.
walked around and looked at the pictures
and the books. Ithought g. her 81 vour
slippers straight, and your dressing Gown
over the back of the chair. But she e Won-
derful fos order-always strsiehtsnina
VAAAAAD IA VAC yOOAk AuWu E0Om 0U46ANf1.
He Is an old friend Of mine she M
And then she laid this bit Of card hero on
this book you were reading, and went an
suddenly; ! was afraid You might MOI
Thank you. Good night" said Fl.s.her.
When a ne heard the door close he turned and
There came 9 knock. He could not an
swer IT. The door opened. He could not
move. He saw her stand there, and he prt
rp one trembling hand a though to ward
She stood a moment, calm and bs.u4;sn,.
"May come IMP" she said. Il couid III
wait Tor Tomorrow. Frank"
Her voice qutvered through him. The
weight OF the long years, silent without that
voice, smote upon him. and tears ran down
his face. -
She crossed the room to him. She knaiA
beside him. Her arms wefe about him.
How strangely weak hs felt! That Shis
might he tho end! s5S 4 =,
Helen he said, family, II have lsarned
70 wait; but it will be good 70 hays Il
eyes, II ID over" shs answered. Thers
vas such Joy in her voice that iii hsart ~ ~
again, and he sat mp and looked into ~
glowing face and eyes. & i, =
And We need mot die either, Frank.
though you did look like II . moment AGO.
Perhaps y was wronR for me TO como 10 yoa.
in the chapel. And how could wait any
longer2 YOu must not deny me. You nnnsz
not ray anything. decided before. snd
vas right then. and am right now. Have
not been Harold's console noe keeper thsas
years? Though the boy little knew what
he was doing When he filled his lotters With
you. But u had not heard one thinQ
about your life here. to rs you-as have
already whom you did not know itee I do
now. would be enough. Oh, my love, you
humtliate me: You have gone beyond ~.
Teach me, Frank. All my life shall vent
to kneel here, ~ ann kneeling now"
That was touching little wedding In thu
American chapel, every one said, THOUGH
Just why II was 30, or what made oyery ono
cry %, perhaps no one could have explain-
ed. II was hard to have Fletcher 90. dear
old chap-that was clear. Il came at -
like q shock to all. s. (
And the reception aftsrward, which ths
people insisted upon giving them 6 ~
Hotel dc Prussewcll-that vas hard uton
Fischer. He was such modest fellovi m
wandered about really bewildered; oouldnst
aeem to make out. But his beautiful vifs
enjoyedoit, and we'll she might, With 800
man and woman pouring into her ear 1870
new story about her husband. How ~
Germans did gesticulatel The AmeKieena
Were mournful. Do the best thoy oo1ld
their eyes followed his gray head evSeg-
whore. They couldn't eeoIn 10 give hira n
Well, the colony will wait long befofo ~
other such comes. Curious, tn. 49,
there are hosts Of good people ard IIn1
people. Bnt, somehow, no one ol1o. Nhnm
srSsoduann and kiu1s,nau v.a,,e, Sv.,fA-.x.