Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-04-14

was IN bold, manly hand: To Hee-
ter; June 2S, 49," / was lghast at
such an act of impertinence. and
glanced at auntie to see If she would
resent 1t; but she had probably not
noticed 1t, for she made no sign.
Inc congregation began to dispense.
and we went out. but We were scarce
ly In the street when the major spoke
to auntie.
Madam. I am going to ask you a
very singular question, but let me as
sure you that 1 have deep personal
interest in asking it. Will you tell me
how you came by that red prayer
book you use?"
ly-given answer, but could tell by the
faint flush on her usually pale face
now deeply she was moved.
You gave it to me. yourself. Ma
jor Blake. years ago.
Surprise, delight and incredibly
struggled for the mastery in the ma
1or's face. He took of his hat and
stood bare-headed, and that one littl
gesture told more plainly than the
have done. that the old love had been
kept treasured and sacred thing. !
think, from the smile on her mouth, as
she looked at him, that the same
thought came to auntie.
And you are Hetty! Yes, I know
you now" he said.
You had forgotten the eight years
Major Blake. l knew you from the
first"
And would you really have let me
go without a word?"
why not? How could 1 know you
would wish to be reminded of old
times?''
Reminded! l have never forgotten.
| tried my hardest to forget and
couldn't. Although you preferred an
other
Another! What other?"
Didn't you marry young Sandys?"
Il have never seen him since"
At this stage of the conversation il
struck me that l was de trop. Major
Blake, side by side with auntie. was
walking slowly homeward, and on
reaching convenient street corner. l
went off for stroll in an opposite di-
rection. When 1 reached home 1 found
auntie and the Major sitting in the
courtyard under the trees. The Major
lifted his hat at my approach and said:
Miss Danvers, your aunt and I are
very old friends: indeed, many years
ago We were engaged to be married
but an unfortunate misunderstanding
separated US. We have lost many han
py years, but l hope some still remain
to us. l trust we shall have your good
wishes"
looked from one to the other.
"You dear. darling auntie, then you
really are going to be married after
all? OF course I wish you JOY. and
Major Blake too, from the very bot
tom of my heart!"
I don't know how the secret oozed
out, but before another day had passed
every one in the house knew that the
handsome English major had met an
old love in the person of the gentle
little lady with the sweet smile and
the soft gray hair, and that after a
separation Of eight years they were en-
gagged to be married, and they were &C
| cordingly promoted to all the privi-
leges of engaged lovers.
l must pass over the homeward Jour-
ney and the establishment of our
| friends at Fairfield when auntie re-
turned engaged to be married. Some
| few OF them had known Major Blake
| but to most of them he was q stran-
ger. Many were the questions and ex-
plantations before everything was &C.
counted for to everybody's satisfac-
| ton: but it was done at last. And
then came the preparation of the trous.
seau; and at last the happy pair have
been made one, and auntie is off to the
Isle of Wight to spend her honeymoon
Before going she called me to her
| room and said:
| Ruth, dear, am going to give you
| this little red prayer book as a part.
| ing remembrance You know how
have treasured it, and you won't value
it the less. l am sure, for having beer
SO dear to me. And if, when Mr.. Right
comes, Ruth. you are tempted to be
willful or hayward. OF to pain a hear
that loves you truly, think of your
| Aunt Hetty. and the faded leaf, for no
every mistake in life ends as mine dit
on Easter Day"
4