The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-15
IN THE SHADOW.

But you KNOW" said Kate Howard
with an air of saucy frankness ths
would have been intolerable insolenc
in any one less piquantly beautifr
than herself. you're only the villag
schoolmaster. Mr.. Fairgrove!"
Mr.. Fairgrove stood leaning agains
the rustic bars with folded arms
tall. fine-looking man of six or seve
and twenty.
"Yes," he said quietly, II know I an
only the village schoolmaster,' bu
what of that? Am never to advanc
any further in the world, or does tn
fact debar me from aspiring to any o
the gentler feelings of humanity"
NO. said Kate. but village school
masters can't give their brides brown
stone houses and carriages and cash
mere shawls. and those are precisel,
the things that are essential to my
happiness"
81 did like him a little" she said
half aloud. as she rose up finally. "ant
IL he had only been rich-but what
nonsense! I thought was too practi.
cal to spend my time in foolish dreaml
like this!"
And Kate Howard strolled back to
the house--the antiquely-built farm.
house where she was getting back the
roses that a season In New York had
temporarily stolen from her cheeks.
| A hooitfv n ha11o oho !,
at her highest market quotation, and
had no idea OF sacrificing herself on
any altar that was not inaid with
gold!
Herbert Fairgrove walked until mid
night In the old woods. asking himself
what he had done. that thus his life
was blighted.
II will live this down." he NUT
tered to himself. II will rise above It
but, Oh! If she had only given me
word Of hope!"
The next day he went to take charge
Of school in Vermont-and when he
returned in the autumn time. Kate
Howard and the roses had vanished.
1t was several years subsequent to
the scene under the apple boughs, that
Fairgrove was sauntering up Broad
way, Village schoolmaster" no long
er, but New York lawyer, brilliantly
successful in his profession.
He turned into a side street, and,
pauslng at boot and shoe store, Are
those boots done?" he asked, with
good-humored nod to the knight Of the
last and leather, as he sat down at the
counter.
Eyes. sir. expect EN- in every min
ute-please to wait just one second.
SIR"
All right" And Mr.. Fairgrove
took up the evening paper and began
to glance carelessly up and down Its
columns.
Here's them shoes as was left to be
mended," observed a leather-aproned
youth, rising out of trap-door like
demon on the stage, land II they's
sent to be mended many more times
there won't be much Of the 'riginal
material left to work on
1--WE don't generally do this kind OF
work, sir" observed the man, as he
saw Fairgrove's glance; "but it's for
young CONAN as binds shoes for us,
and has pretty hard work to get along,
because Of bed-ridden father"
He had scarcely more than reached
the middle Of the second column when
he heard voice, sweet and low, and
familiar in its accents:
Are the boots mended? Oh, thank
you, sir! l have brought the bundle of
work, and"
She stopped suddenly. recoillng a
pace or two, for Kate Howard had rec
ognized Herbert Fairgrove.
AS beautiful as ever, while the red
cheeks, trife paler and less dimpled
than Of yore, we're all that betrayed
the cruel waste of time and trouble.
Herbert rose and took both her hands
In his.
p '"You remember me, Kate?"
"Oh, Mr.. Fairgrove, l could not
blame you II you had forgotten me-"
Your boots are done, sir" said the
offlcously interposing, and
Fairgrove sat quietly waiting until the
asst conner had transacted her whis-
,ered business and received bundle
If fresh work. Then he reached out
ais hands for 1t.
Let me carry 1t for you, Kate?"
"You don't know what poor place
live in now, Mr.. Fairgrovo!"
And don't care. Give me the par
eel, Kate!"
She obeyed, but the color went and i
anne in painful tlushes on her cheeks,
IS she walked beside him.
"You are poor. Kate?" he asked, af-
err moments silence.
"Very!"
"And your husband?"
II am not married." she answered in
low tone.
Then, Kate, I have come back to
'ou just in time. am no longer q
'ilage schoolmaster!"
do not remind me Of my arrogant
oily" she said, slightly wincing.
But on the contrary" he went on,
I have grown rich and prosperous.
Kate, will you let me lay my wealth
nd fame at your feet once more?"
She stopped and looked with wistful
ntreaty into his face.
do you love me still, Herbert? or is
only pity that prompts your words?"
Darling" he whispered, so low that
he words floated into her senses on
he merest possible tide Of sound, II
ave never ceased to love you since
We parted under the old apple tree!"
And the little boots never came back
o be patched any more, and the hun