Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-07-15
REUNITED.

AVA ~ ~ = hlDs
1t had been raining for two days, and
now the change to east of the wind had
brought sleet, and the moisture was
freezing in thin, dangerous ice on tho
pavements.
George Witherspoon swung the cor
ner into Pine street. His usually erect
body was bent against tho strength of
the wind.
such weather for tho last of April, "
he muttered as he went up tho steps Of
his house, and as no put tho key into
his door vision came to him of tho
April two years before--a vision Of long
lanes, with blossoming lilaos and horse
ohestnuts and daffodils and Of tall and
radiant woman always at his side. He
entered tho house and went slowly mp
stairs How clearly 1t all stroamed out,
enveloped his mind, his senses He had
first seen her at table d'hote In Paris.
He had followed her over half of Eu-
rope and had finally met her at Baden
Baden. She had "a doting old father, but
ultimately the two had gained his re-
luctant surrender of his only adored
daughter, and they had married.
For just year they had enjoyed su-
preme, OVERLOOKING happiness. Then AL
ice became jealous. A batch Of old let
tiers had come to her from an unscrupu-
lous woman her husband had been fasci-
mated by In his extreme youth at college,
and she resented with all her intense
passionate nature anything which could
come between them and their exclusive
love for ono another. She had spent one
long night alone lashing her bitter envy
to madness, and the next morning she
had gone to him with marvellous calm
ness and told him Of her irrevooablo de-
termination to leave him forever. Ho
was proud. He had met her with dis
dainful Indifference, had considered self
justification unnecessary, and they had
separated.
They both had lived quietly. They
went nowhere, for their friends were
common Ones and they avoided all pos
aible annoying meetings. He spent his
time on the board Of trade, ut his clubs
or In his home, which no could not
bring himself to give up, and she had
40 restricted her life that he scarcely
caught glimpse of her. Only at the
theater or mt some concert did her pure,
proud profile suddenly start out from
tho crowd, and then emotion would 10
powerfully sweep over him that he
would have to leave the building.
Only ono bond still existed between
them. Alioo's father was old and an
invalid. His time was spent ut water.
ing places, mostly ON tho other side,
and it had seemed simple and dutiful
kind Of fdlseho0d to weave around him
veil of ignorance IN to the real state
Of affairs and leave him with tho happy
feeling Of Alice's JOY and completed
love. So they wrote to him regularly,
filling their letters with sweet plans
and ambitions, unconEGiously embodying
in them their fondest wishes and most
heartfelt desires.
George Witherspoon was dressing
himself carefully. Three cravats were
thrown aside before no had tied ono to
his taste. He never looked 10 we'll an In
Tuxedo, Alice had always said. He
could hear her voice now, her low,
thrilling voice, saying az she came to-
ward him across tho hall, my big,
stunning sweetheart" and Just before
she put her arms closely around hia
neck. Dear, dear, how love you'll"
He shivered with desire for her.
Would no never recoyer2 Would he
never forgetf He thought no could al
most feel her face pressed softly against
his-his nostrils were filed with the
| sweet, subtle smell Of the sandalwood
her laces were put away In.
Hush--a knock at the doorl The
mans heart swelled with feeling. III
forget everything, the intervening year,
the awful bitterness, the loneliness, anG
he softly opened the door, drunk with
ono dominant idea His man Chamber,
stood without.
A lady TO SEQ you SIR" he said.
Her manner" Witherspoon asked.
"She says it's not necessary TO tel
1t, sir, " answered the man, "but it'
On important business she wants you
sir, and she will keep you only min
ute. "
Witherspoon's whole being was vi
brating. What was this strange premo
nitionf Was IL sorrow coming or did HI
feel dawning joy2
"I'll DO down in "a moment, 3" no said
He walked up and down the room rap
idly several times. II was their ami
versary. He had remembered and KIP
ii 30 rigidly. IL was barely possible /
had come over her ~ strongly the hap
piness they were missing from thei
lives, the incompleteness Of their vapi'
present-and perhaps she had come I,
him. He was almost running down tn
stairs In his eagerness He held bacl
the portieres and there she stood bofor
the fre--straight, tense, her Slime
accumulated by her velvet coat, ii
wilderness and delioaoy Of her ia,
starting out exquisitely from the lao
at her throat and from under the b
black hat. As no approached her no n
ticed the nervous tapping Of her foot
p the fur Of the rug. the tense pressu
Of her olasped hands. Was 1t dream
L Alice In her home again, q years. mi
cry Cancelled in moment? He held o
both hands and noticed her eyes In /
mirror they were facing az no said:
- And have you come to me agai
To Alicer"
. She started visibly and then slow
TUNED.