The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-09-17

people forget, we do just what we please
Robbie and |. Robbie has just gone
over to the village, but he'll soon be
home. This is our twenty-ninth we'd
ding day, and we're moving to the sea.
You know, when we were first married
we wanted building site on the beach,
and we couldn't afford it. Now we can,
and so we're celebrating" She paused,
looking curiously at Comics face,
which was turned away from her.
When she went on there was a soft
laugh in her voice. I'VE couldn't move
without our house, of course; it's too
much part of us-and, anyway. when
we die our shell may feel more at home
if it's left On the beach,
The girl tried to join in Mrs. Hill
dreth's laugh, but when she parted her
lips low, passionate sob came through
them. She fell on her knees and bowed
her head in Mrs. Hildreths lap. Her
words came in a gasp. This was to
have been my wedding day" she said.
Mrs. Hildreth put her arms around
her, murmuring: MY child"
Yes the girl answered, in a hard,
dry voice. I'VE decided to have no one
but mamma and papa with us, and then
to announce it and take you all by sur
prise-now we shall surprise you in an
other way, for it will never be at all"
She was trembling, and she caught Mrs.
Hildreth's dress in her hands. ut was
my fault, of course" she finished; "at
least you will think it was my fault"
The joy of her long, happy years
shone before Mrs. Hildreth's eyes until
they were blurred. She lifted the
girls face between her hands. Con
ME Bainbridge,' she said, gently. you
and Jack Houghton are not common
place, foolish children who quarrel for no
cause. Tell me all about your trouble,
from beginning to end"
Il couldn't bear explaining it to mann
ma" Connie cambridge said "and |
meant to say nothing to anyone, but
when you spoke like that of your we'd
ding day''-her voice broke into the tone
of one whose heart yields itself to sym
pathy or love. "Ah, | can tell every
thing to YOU" she cried, for no one else
on earth would know so well what
have thrown away"
Along the street which led from the
center of the village to the old Hildreth
place the great trees interlaced theirrest-
full shadows, letting only the smallest
leclls of sunlight sift between them in
the perfect silence of the idle summer
afternoon. 1t was strange that the
very shadows did not stir and change a
little when a sharp thudding of hoofs
and the swing of a horse broke through
the air. and a young man came riding
at a gallop beneath the trees. He held
his head high, and his lips were com
pressed in way that had nothing to
do with the swift, easy motion of the
horse, and there was frown above his
eyes, which were looking straight ahead
with sort of bitter challenge in them
for all they saw or did not see. He
drew rein abruptly at the Hildreth
gate. The crape-myrtles were wait
ing for him as usual, and the sweet
odors OF the garden spread out to sum
mon him, but the straight path led to
vacancy.
They'll be uprooting the roses next
and carrying them after the house, -
he went on, turning his whip against a
tall bush which he loved. and sending a
shower of pink petals to the ground.
He tramped across them ruthlessly,
bowed his head under an arbor of honey
suckles. and whistled note or two as
he walked along the paths. "I1l be
glad when the whole thing is torn up
he declared; sit would be useless to
try coming back here any more" lie
started to whistle again, but broke off.
'Perhaps," he muttered, harshly, you
think you can stand seeing the Hill
drcths, when the garden is too much for
YOU" He stood quite still, and set
his face against the inroads of a change
which left nothing in his life I'M
touched. The knowledge of all that had
gone before him seemed to rise like a
tide above him, until his physical bal
ance was unsteadied by it. and he leaned
against a tree and shut his eyes. In
that moment of relaxation his senses
were no longer guarded by anger, and
he felt the soft, perfumed air stealing
over him in a caress. There were many
sweet odors in it, but one Of them was
more like personal message than the
others. He smiled family. and opened
his eyes. 1t was the little acacia tree
he was leaning against. He reached up
for one of the yellow balls. and as he
felt it between his fingers a memory of
Joy came into his face. The little thing
was like love itself, and it was so laden
with sweetness. lie kissed il more t..an
once, and then, putting il in his pocket
with a tender Difference. he turned
back along the path and followed where
the house ~yas reading toward the sun
lit vista of the gulf
Robbie Hildreth had returned from
the village and was working among the
creoles. but he hurried forward as the
young fellow came up. Hildreth was
an elderly man, whom time and the
sun had touched so often and so low
ingly that they had blended all the col
ors of his hair and face into a tone of
silvery gray, out of which his blue eyes
glanced humorously as he shook the
young fellows hand. Betty and |