Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-03-16
|. THE DIN PAST.

It was a pretty place, the farmhouse
where they met. IL was exactly the spot
tcs. n romance, and they realized it. With
white clouds dappling blse sky and or
chards abloom with peach as a setting,
two we'll bred young persons must re
alize what their part Is He was pretty
busy, of course, for the surveying he was
doing for the company that proposed 20
establish "A railroad across the country oc-
eupied good many hours each day. But
the long evenings, while the afterglow
fingered In the west and the chilly twi-
light settled over the two hills, were all
given up to the enjoyment of Marian
Smiths society.
One evening they had been playing
checkers under the watchful eye Of Mrs
Dutton, who frequently stated that SIZE re
garded Miss Smith rs daughter, when
Gray remarked:
"Do you know, Miss Marian, there Is
something about you which reminds me
of some one whom have known, but |
can't make up my mind whom. IL Ia too
elusive and subtle a suggestion TO some
former friendship. THUS ON the whole,
that l believe with the theosophists. l met
you IN the past existence.
"Perhaps," answered Marian, carefully
l shall take you up"
"Ar right" said Gray. "You may beat
me a. numerically as you please, provid-
ed only that you II say you think We knew
each other In "A previous life"
"Crown my man, please. Yes, doubt
less we did know each other cons ago. In
fact, it's beginning TO seem as though we
had known each other decade or two on
this sphere. Let's see. It's three weeks
since you came, isn't iti"
~ have forgotten to look at my calen-
dar since have known you, gallantly TO
piled the young engineer.
"You cannot move. have you corner
ed" announced Miss Smith In reference
to the game. "No. I don't care to play
another game. Don't you know, I'm hero
to rest, and you'd have me excite myself
with cheokers A fine way that would be
to get over the effects Of seven years over
work No, must be all well by June.
So no more ma addening dissipation tonight.
I'm going to play q hymn now on that
miserable old piano. You may listen to
that II you like"
He followed her into the stuffy little par
lor and smiled at the look Of ecstatic hap
piness on Mrs. DuNon's face as her 0nest
opened the piano. The old lady said she
would like 70 hear "Beulah Land, F" and
Marian's sweet, low voice began. Gray
watched her. He felt strangely thrilled
by hsr presence in the gaunt room, by her
sweetness to the old woman, whose own
sons and daughters had gone away, and
by the vague feeling of familiarity he had
with her. He felt a sudden rush OF ten
derness. He could almost have given up
everything and lived there In the bleak,
barren farmhouse forever, provided the
shining haired, sweet voiced woman lived
there with him.
''6ing that first verse again." pleaded
Mrs. Dutton, and Marian's voice rang out;
"rve reached the land Of corn and wine,
And all the riches freely mine"
Gray had q sudden longing to break In
upon the hymn, to ask her-he knew not
what. He left the room and went to the
piazza, where he called himself names. A
white moon was travelling across the cloud
less sky. The blossominR osehards slept
in the moonlight. Across the hills one
warm, ruddy light shons trSm distant
farmhouse-a home light.
Marian's voice was silent. BY and by
the door opened, and she stood In the min
gled lights of the house and the night. He
went toward her.
"Marian," he said.
She did not seem surprised at his man
ner or at the name. She turned her faoe
inquiringly toward him. And there, with
the pale moonlight and the yellow glow
from the house about her. he told her that