The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-23
IN THE DIM PAST.


white clouds dappling n blue sky and Or
chards ablOom with peach rs setting
two well bred young persons must re-
alizo what their part is. He was pretty
busy, of course, for the surveying he was
doing for the company that proposed to
establish n railroad across the country oc-
Gupied good many hours each day. But
the long evenings, while the aftcrglow
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.
button, who frequently stated that she 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 l have known, but
can't make up my mind whom. 1t is too
elusive and subtle suggestion to some
former friendship. think, on the whole,
that believe with the theosophists Imct
you in the past existence
Perhaps" answered Marian, carefully
studying the board You forgot to jump.
l shall take you up.'
"All right" said Gray. "You may beat
me as numerically rs you please, provid-
ed only that you II say you think we knew
each other in previous life"
Grown my man, please. Yes, doubt
less we did know each other cons ago In
fact, it's beginning to seem rs though we
had known each other decade or two on
this sphere. Let's see. It's three weeks
since you came, isn't it?"
81 have forgotten to look Mt my calen-
dar since l have known you, !" CALAMITY re-
piled the young engineer.
nm nnr ,Nt II Ia,
ed" announced Miss Smith in reference
to the game. "No. 1 don't care to play
another game. Don't you know, Pm here
to rest, and you d have me excite myself
with checkers! y 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 maddening dissipation tonight.
I'm going to play n hymn now on that
miserable old piano. You may listen to
that if You like
He followed her into the stuffy little par
lor and smiled at the look of ecstatic han
piness on Mrs. buttons face rs her guest
opened the piano. The old lady said she
would like to hear 'Beulah Land" and
Marian's sweet, low voice began. GRAY
watched her. He felt strangely thrilled
by her 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 Il 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.
Sing that first verse again" pleaded
Mrs. Dutton, and Marian's voice rang out:
i've reached the land of corn and wine,
And all the riches freely mine"
Gray had n 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. \
white moon was travelling across the cloud
less sky. The blossoming orchards slept
In the moonlight. Across the hills one
warm, ruddy light shone from 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 Mt his man.
ner or at the name She turned her face
inquiringly toward him. And there, with
the pale moonlight and the yellow glow
from the house about her. he told her that
he loved her He was rather incoherent
uuo ~ uiuctli til;it nc IelJ an unQcrcurrcnt
of surprise at himself.
"Oh, you may smile,' he burst out
when he saw CLEAN Of amusement on
her face. ~ know met YOU only three
weeks ago and altogether by chance. But
tell You it WAS predcstined Three weeks?
tell you, since the beginning of time this
has heen planned. have known you al
ways have waited for you always Mari
an, we have always known each other
He came near, but Marian slipped back.
There was n strange look on her face that
staid linn.
"Not always, WILL" she said, and his
heart beat quickly to hear his name from
her. Not always, but for quite n time,
acknowledge. Ten years ago last sum
mer it was 1t was at the shore. then
my first summer out, and you Were Just
through the institute. Don't YOU rcmem-
ber now that have given your memory
jog? OF course my unfortunate name
was against you recalling it, but assure
you it was an awful blow to my vanity to
discover in You not the dimmcst recollec-
ton of that little, youthful romance. /
suppose woman does remember much
longer, and then you were my first, which
means quite n lot. Let you be my last?
Alas, poor boy, | can't Pm to he mar
ried i'll June Good night. You were right.
you see. We knew each other in a past ex-
istence. ''-EXchange.