Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-04-12

50 ssaN - ~ v
49,,
The ncrt moment she tcas wrapped In
his big arms.
ing away with a 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 Working 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 ms, leaving
Taras Gordon leaped out of the fly before it
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 Aura! You have come back not
TO go away again?
"Never, never" / answered fervently.
"Oh, if ! may stay with you till the end of
my life That is the wish of my heart and
j have no secrets from you now"
'.Ah, you have guarded your secret well,
and l was poor seer not TO guess the
truth. | could only tell that there was
something hidden that none of us had the
true clew to the mystery. But in one thing
j was not at fault. | 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
had me advertise for companion-a
stranger to fill your place. Think of it!
They thought me mad when / told them
,yop would come back in time But you
have come, dear, brave, self sacrificing
friend. The luck has turned
II should think it had" cried Gordon.
overtaking us, 'and not bit too soon"
/, Then the two friends gras,od hands like
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 "A jolly meeting this
he said stoutly as he mastered his emo
ton. Worth going to Siberia to feel like l
this when one comes back, but hang me If
! go again"
I You have no friend to save-that's
why" said Taras. The car is satisfied.
They'll leave me alone now"
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 placer
Gordon exclaimed as we came in sight Of
the house. But what's the meaning of
all those suffered windowssn
THAT is the part we have not yet found |
e.. ~ b. -
many as Mere Lucas can comfortably man
age
1.-THE best part of the house is unoceu- |
pied, added Judith.
1.-THE best part, do you sayg That sounds |
as if it might be good enough for us. What 1
do you think, partner mine-shall we build /
our nest herey'
Like the swallows, without asking 1
whetherwe are welcome or notgo suggested /
Judith
YES, said Taras, "and, like them bring 1
ing happiness to the house"
Judith and went mp stairs together. We
had great deal to sell each other. Looking 4
from the window. we saw Taras and Gordon .
ON the lawn. Oh. it 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 a hearty laugh
IL is the first time / have heard him
augh,' said Judith. His patience has
sometimes panied me His endeavor to find
a 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"
"Ir'
Yes, you were more to him than sight
The loss Of you was the real grief, not the
loss of his eyes That he looked upon al
most as a foreseen calamity the chance Of
war as he says. He has always main
tanned that you would come back. The
next room IS yours. Ii was furnished ex-
pressly for you, aud all that belonged TO
You in Lambeth j. 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. IL hurt me sometimes to feel
that ! could never be 50 much 10 him rs
you were. 7 am sure that my presence fr-
ritated him sometimes, and that be was
glad TO be left alone. In those moments he
was thinking Of you. Something In my
manner compared unfavorably with bis
over Gordon's shoulder, falling in the road
with thud. lie would have been content
to lie there, but Gordon dragged him onto
his feet, and running him along al arms
length thrashed him without mercy until
the miserable wretch threw himself down
in the road again and slammed unoon-
sciousness.
Gordon declared he was unhurt. spoke
Kayanagh's rapier and won
derei how an old hand could rely on a two
penny halfpeuny sword stick Tor defense.
But when we returned 70 the house be
helped himself 20 a liberal dose 81 whisky