The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-08-03

~ --eI,S and this was a
T0M>z.Ss-s- .~inYS%SS favorite occupa-
yG9FS.WSo = ton of mine
Had I been
younger, might possibly have in
dulged in dream of the time when
riches and luxury should be mine,
when the inner circle of society should
be my world; but / was 10 longer
young. At sixty one is contented with
sufficient, and wealth loses much of it's
fascination. L have found it so, at
least
There was block for two or three
minutes, and the occupants of the car
. riage which was standing just in front
OF me arrested my attention. There
were two ladies and gentleman
h1sband and wife and daughter took
tlen to be. The man, who was about
my age, was exceedingly good-looking,
and the young lady was pretty, but it
was the elder lady who particularly in
terested me. Her hair was quite white
and her face pale, but so handsome,
aad so exquisitely sweet in expression,
that In moment my old brain VI rs
weaving n romance about her. Many
people looked at the carriage aud sew
eral bowed. Evidently the occupants
We're people well known.
You seem interested" said man,
touching my arm, as the carriage
moved on.
eyes" answered, shortly. L have
rooted aversion to entering into con-
versation with strangers
The man looked Mt me curiousy,
with smile upon his face. He was
tall and thin, only fairly we'll dressed,
but of gentlemanly bearing, and there
were deep lines under his eyes and
about his mouth.
II have been looking for you for
two months past" he said.
''For me! You have made n mis-
take, 1 think"
"You have changed little, Mr.. Har-
graves; l must have changed much,
or you would remember me-
Certainly I have forgotten you,' [
said, politely, hearing him call me by
name.
''Robert Denmore.
For a moment [ was silent-Den-
morel
"Ofcourse-yes. We met in Vienna.
didn't we?"
He nodded and we shook hands.
Vienna-twenty years ago." / said.
GLOW time hiesl What have the years
brought to you?"
ga living DEATH, was the strange
answer.
] looked inquiringly at him.
True, he said -"Come to my
rooms and renew our old friendship.
L haven't a friend left in the world ex
cept you; and 1 cannot let you go now
have found you. L have been look
ing for you for two months-two
months tomorrow. I can fix the time
to an hour"
Robert Denmore had always puzzled
me-he puzzled me now. AS + walked
home with him, my mind slipped back
twenty years. He and I had met in
Vlenna, aud finding our tastes agreed,
had travelled about together for few
months. We became very good friends.
but he told me little about himself
He seemed TO have done with the past
altogether, and thought very little
about the future. / remember him
saying once, ~ never think about
what 1 did yesterday; / don't care what
happens tomorrow; to-day is all /
trouble myself about, " and he cnr1ied
this system of existence to such an ex-
tent that arrangements were often mn.
set. No doubt there was secret in
his past life, but ! found him m inter-
estIng companion, and his secret did
not concern me.
Ate. dinner that night we sat and
smoked.
~ does me good TO soc YOU again"
he said. "The fact Of the matter ia
that want to tell you n story. Were
you never curious about me in the old
days."
Eyes, often"
well, I want TO tell you my his
toy. / was a disappointed man then.
} j avn y broken-down one now. without
frien Is, almost without money. OH
am not going TO borrow. You re-
IN member when ! left you aud returned
TO En2land?"
II do, anil You promised 20 LOOK me
mp in London, which promise you
never kept"
mo; but you received lettsr from
me telling you that L was goinq
abroad?"
YES"
That letter was n lie have moi
been out Of the country since. 7 knew
] was not going when + wrote chat let
Ter.
lie spoke rs if the statement was
tle keynote 10 his whole history. Ills
Ianper quite startled me.
lyon wonder why 7 took the trouble
30. tel you n lie? Well, ! wanted TO j.,
forgotten; did not want yJu to try
to iird me"
And yet you have scent the iaHtyo
monshs looking for me-" | said.