The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-21

HtS Dty uFWN.
ing away with last nod to me. We looked
after him in silent speculation, but little
thinking that we were to see our friend no
more. We found fly at Woking station
that carried us to Betterford. Taras was
standing at the gate with Judith by his
side. As Gordon stood up in the carriage
waving his hat she ran to meet u.s. leaving
Taras. Gordon leaped out of the fly before il
stopped, and the next moment she was
wrapped in his big arms, standing on tip
toe to reach his lips.
Taras took my hands In silence-we were
both greatly moved-but as he led me
through the open gate he murmured:
"Brave, dear friend--my unchanged, I'M
changing Aurai You have come back not
to go away agains'
"Never, never" answered fervently.
"Oh, If may stay with you till the end of
my life That is the wish Of my heart, and
/ have no secrets from you now"
"Ah, you have guarded your secret well,
and l was poor seer not to guess the
truth. l could only tell that there was
something hidden; that none of us had the
true clew to the mystery. But in one thing
I Twas not at fanlt l said that you would
come back to me, and even you could not
shake my faith in that. When Judith told
me she must leave me, they would have
utlN tTtlSc IOT
stranger to fill your place. Think of it'll
They thought me mad when told them
you would come back in time. But you
have come, dear, brave, self sacrificing
friend. The luck has turned"
81 should think 1t had cried Gordon,
overtaking us, "and not a bit too soon."
Then the two friends grasped hands like
a couple Of giants and stood smiling in
each others faces-Gordon with tremu-
lous movement of the lips as he looked at
the closed eyes which used to shine upon
him and could shine no more.
Something like jolly meeting this
he said stoutly as he mastered his emo
tion. worth going to Siberia to feel like
this when one comes back, but hang me if
/ go again!''
You have no friend 10 save-that's
why" said Taras. 1.-The car is satisfied.
They'll leave me alone now.n
AYE, old chap, but we march out with
flying colOrs and can hang up our swords
with pride"
That was the only reference made to the
past.
by Jupiter, what jolly old placep,
Gordon exclaimed us we came in sight OF
the house. but what's the meaning of
all those shuttered windowsP'
THAT is the part we have not yet found
uSt luE- EIlBll UT lllllt TbuIilS lTt dDDuJ HA
many as Mere Lucas can comfortably man
age
1.-THE best part of the house is unoccu-
pied" added Judith.
1.-THE best part, do you say2 That sounds
as II it might be good enough for us What
do you think, partner mine-shall we build
our nest hereP''
Like the swallows, without asking
whether we are welcome or not" suggested
Judith
''Yes.n said Taras, 'and, like them, bring
ing happiness to the house,
Judith and went up stairs together. We
had a great deal to tell each other. Looking
from the window, we saw Taras and Gordon
on the lawn. Oh, ii was good to see them fill
ing their pipes from the same pouch, stroll
ing across the smooth grass with their
arms linked, putting out clouds of blue
smoke, and still better to hear them join
ing in hearty laugh.
at is the first time | have heard him
laugh" said Judith "His patience has
sometimes pained me. His endeavor to find
cheerful outlook in the future only proved
how persistently memories Of the past
haunted him, how tedious the present mo-
ment was. Now you have changed all that"
''Hn
''Yes, you were more to him than sight.
loss of his eyes. That he looked upon al
most as a foresecn caamity-'the chance of
war; as he says. He has always main
tanned that you would come back. The
next room is yours. 1t was furnished ex-
pressly for you. and all that belonged to
you in Lambeth is In there. Nothing vet
from my little friends he has asked some
times after / have read his letters to him.
You have always been present here to him.
felt that. II hurt me sometimes to feel
that | conld never be so much to him as
you were. | am sure that my presence ir-
iitated him sometimes, and that he was
glad to be left alone. In those moments he
was thinking Of you. Something in my
manner compared unfavorably with his
recollection of you. Ican afford to tell you
all this now, dear. At one time il wounded
my pride to suspect it, and would not have
confessed the fact to myself, but it gives me
joy TO tell you all now."