The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-23

gan TO think she was quite sufficiently
in love with him, though love was
somehow less strenuous and exciting
emotion than she had hitherto suppos-
ed. She was rather glad sometimes to
be Left alone at the close of an afternoon
of art and Of romance. OF course this
Sas because she was 80. There could
te no doubt that it was the right thing
this high bred passion that wooed her
with all tho resources of art. Bland had
not spoken of the future, but that must
be because he was too delicately re-
served TO approach her rashly.
At last there came July twilight.
Bland and Eleanor had been watching
the sunset together. He had been talk
ing about his theories of sunset effects.
He was always talking about his theo-
ries. They were for him the one signii-
cant and sufficient theme. Then, when
the sun had fairly gone out of sight,
Bland got up to depart also and stood
for moment looking thoughtfully at
| Eleanor.
II must see you tomorrow, he said.
"Shall it be o'clock? l have something
to say to you.
Eyes, at 3, If you WILL" she answer
ed, and then he was gone, and she sat
, musing in the waning light. OF course
| he was coming to ask her to be his wife.
| His whole manner had expressed his in
tention. She was as certain of it as il
he had already spoken. Why was she
not more exultant? Why did she always
| feel just little tired when they had
been for some hours together? OF course
| it would be glorious destiny to be
| what he had called her--the queen of
| his art, to share his ambitions, to be
the confidant of his dreams. She ought
surely to be grateful to fate, and surely
| she was At 80 no doubt the time for
ecstasy is past She looked out into the
! vague distance and saw some one walk
! ing toward her under the trees that
fringed the highway. There seemed
something familiar in the coming fig
ure. She caught her breath quickly.
Were her eyes deceiving her? No. it was
lit absolutely was-Tom Rhodes. AS
one in dream she got up and moved
forward to meet him, for he had turned
in at the gate now.
! She seemed hardly to know what
strange thing stirred in her 30-year-old
heart when no took her in strong,
close clasp.
"You, Tom?' she cried. "You?"
! "Yes, Eleanor, the same old Tom"
| "And your wife? Where is she?"
"Here, darling. if only / can wiz
her,
"whatr'
eyes. / am not Thomas J. Rhodes.
| He is my second cousin, from Connect
icut also, but from quite another par.
| of the state. / am Thomas Rhodes, at
your service, the same Tom who loved
| you years ago and has never thought Of
marrying any other woman. You made
mo feel in the old days that it would be
of no use to speak to you, and so Invent
away. But when / got your letter and
knew that you were Eleanor Gray still
resolved that if did not win you it
should not be because was too coward
ly to ask. At least you have a right TO
know how long and well have loved
you. / have done nc great things. / am
neither hero nor poet nor statesman,
| but have lived clean, honest life,
and there is not one page Of it am
ashamed that you should read"
"You loved me-me-all this timer"
| she cried. And there was a little chok-
ing quiver in her voice.
| "Yes," he answered solemnly, 81
loved you, and you only, then and now
and always, but you have not answered
me yet darling"
"Oh, 1 forgot that, but you know,
don't your"
| And indeed Tom knew, for the eyes
| that looked into his lit tho growing
| dusk with their great light of joy. and
the lips that had been strangers hither-
to to a lovers kiss yielded themselves
to his once and forever. Eleanor was
won.
After all, 30 was not old ago These
two found that they were young enough
still for ecstasy. The moon came up in
the east and looked at them curiously
Yes, they were certainly lovers. The
moon has got used to lovers, for she is
nearly 6, 900 years old, and she is not
| likely 10 mako mistake. Eleanor won
uercd tlat sno could ever nave fanc1ec
herself too old for JOY. She wondered
yet more that she had not known from
tho very first that it was Tom, and Tom
only, 20 whom she belonged.
At last she told him about Austin
| Bland
IL have been trying all summer to
lovo him, !" she said frankly. II thought
it was the thing to do. but had got q
little tired of trying. He is coming 70
SEQ mo at o'clock tomorrow because
ne has something important to say to
me"
Tom laughed, as successful man
may.
"wel. I shall bo awny inst .lnn. 5
am going TO Boston TO SET ring wlIcro.
With to fstter you TO good faith. Deal