The record-union., 1897-12-25

tiful Indeed she had never been
called beautiful, and most likely even
at this time we two men would have
been the only two people In the village
who would have described her in such
terms, though she was the idol Of the
town. But to us no other word could
describe her. Her skin was most beau-
tifully white, save for the two flushed
spots on her cheeks. Her rich brown
hair was coiled low on the back Of her
head, and her gray eyes seemed softer
and gentler than ever. But there was
an unmistakable look OF sadness about
her face when In repose, and as she
reached the door she put her hand to
her head and breathed a little sigh
AS the footsteps died away at our
door. my heart began to beat SO vio-
lentiy wondered how should ever get
any words OFT my lips. Fortunately,
Dick made a movement forward, and
told her he would like TO introduce his
friend. / was a little in the shadow,
so she had no time TO notice my face
at all until l came to her with both
hands extended, and when her eyes
rested on me and she realized who was.
neither of us could utter word for
a few seconds. She put her hands to
her heart and almost dropped into the
nearest chair, and / realized at once
that in my selfishness / had given her
a shock almost too severe for her 10
bear. Very soon, however. she recov-
cred herself. and began plying me with
all sorts OF questions about myself, al
ways turning the subject when 1 d.
rected my attention to her. She con-
graduated me about my engagement
and wanted to know everything about
Alice-but, strange to say, now that L
was once more near her, talking to-
gether as we did in the good old times.
l could hardly realize that any other
woman had ever existed for me. We
seemed to have gone back to a time
before the creation OF Alice, and fear
1t was almost with Indifference that L
answered her questions.
And we had SO many other things to
talk about that the time fairly flew,
and it was not until l noticed on her
face an expression Oh intense exhaustion
that l had sense enough to prepare to
leave. Then | insisted on putting aside
my character of old friend. and wrap
ped myself in the physicians cloak and
gave her what I thought good advice,
handed her over to her maid to have
my orders executed, and left, prom
Using to return the next day
At S o'clock that night we were all
seated around the open fire at home,
talking pleasantly of old times and flu
ture plans. when the bell rang and a
note was handed to me. l tore open
the envelope rather hurriedly, seeing
that it came from the hospital, and
found in it a note from Margaret's maid
summoning me at once to her mistress
bedside-she had been seized with
violent hemorThage soon after my leav-
ing her, was terribly exhausted, and
had asked for me.
/ picked up my hat and rushed off
with the messenger as fast as my feet
would take me, and in less than ten
minutes was once more at the side OF
my lifelong friend. One glance only
was needed to see that death had
claimed another victim; the dreadful
deathlike cold had already taken her
in its grasp. AS I came close to the
side of the bed her eyes opened as II
they We're searching for something they
We're longing to see. At last they
rested on me, and a smile of almost
perfect contentment rested for sec
ond on her face. Instinctively l got
down on my knees. put my arms around
her. and for one brief second our lips
met-the first time for years.
That last look had revealed to both
of us our true relation; we were not
merely friends, as we had always sup
posed ourselves to be- but lovers. For
years our love had been growing, be-
coming stronger and stronger with the
lapse of time, and now, when it was
too late, we had both come to realize
the real depth of our affection.
Why is it that man cannot appreci-
ate his blessings until they are taken
from him?
One more hour passed In watching
by her side. Consciousness never re-
turned, but that expression of perfect
peace and satisfaction remained as long
as human eye was allowed to look upon
her With her hand clasped in mine, I
sat and watched the spirit leave the
body; then 1 sat, as one paralyzed, un-
til dear old Dick came and led me away
to get some little rest Ever and anon
there came running through my brain
the beautiful lines of Matthew Arnold:
and sometimes. by still harder fate,
The lovers meet, but meet too late
Ah yes, friends we had always been,
but, alas, the lovers had, indeed, met
too late.-Florence Kirkus in New York
Evening Post