Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1898-01-20

since grown famous in the world of
thought or action.
At length he reached his own wear;
but large heavy frame, containing a
map in relief of ancient Italy, hung on
the spot, concealirg everything be-
meath it. Reaching out pair of strong
hands Hope lifted down the weighty
obstruction, and, as he did so, his own
name seemed to start out to meet his
eyes.
Suddenly girlish voice soundedits
music over his shoulder. thrilling him
as he had not thought to be thrilled
by a woman's voice again. A deli
cate, indefnable perfume, like that
of flowers in the dew of evening, float.
ed on the air, and he was conscious Of
n crisp, silken rustic OF feminine
draperies.
A shadow hand from the past seemed
laid with Almighty hold upon him, and
he stood still and rigid, waiting for the
voice to speak again.
''Oh, father, do look at this" it
came once more, in the unforgotten,
softly modulated accents, young and
sweet, as those that had first made a
boy turn and gaze at Ethel Stuart,
one summer day, long years ago.
''Here's the name Of your wonderful
Colonel Hope. Isn't it interesting,
now that he's grown SO famous?
You'll dearly like to look at it. know.
I would give almost anything to see
! him.
! A mans step answered the words,
and Wilfrid Hope felt strange tremb,
ling shake him from head to foot, such
was like spell cast upon him from
| the past.
t If he could, he would have got out
| of the room. rather than turn-only to
break the charm. perhaps, and to face
! the ordeal OF a meeting. The blood
| beat in his ears, as though he had been
eighteen instead of thirty eight; but
it had come.
| Moving almost mechanically he
wheeled round, as though in obedi-
ence to some unseen and supreme
commander. In spite Of him self-in
spite of the stern habit of self lfcontrol
which the years had, he thought, made
second nature-a slight exclamation
broke from him
Before him stood tall lily Of girl,
the living, breathing image of the
Ethel Stuart who had cost him his
best friend and all the light-hearted-
ness of his boyhood It was Ethel,
but Ethel with different soul, look
ing out through the clear wells OF the
beautiful young eyes!
Fire leaped to his, and she flushed
and paled again under the flame of it..
Well did she know lis face! for she
had cherished On ideal, and even her
father had never seen a certain por-
trait she had cut from magazine and
looked at sometimes in the secrecy OF
a white girls room.
An exclamation echoed the soldiers,
in the voice of man, only deeper than
Henry Raeburn the boys had been.
"Wilfrid'' he said unsteadily
"Dear old chap, don't you know me?'
His hand went out, half hesitating,
MS if in doubt of its reception; but
there was no hesitation in the grasp
that sprang to meet it.
Like a man in q dream, who fears
the dream may fade, Hope clasped
the hand of Sir Henry Raeburn. Al
the touch of the warm, eager fingers
all the old bitterness fell away, like {
discarded mantle The eyes of the
two men met and dwelt, and there
was a stinging on the lips of each.
rushing tide of memory flowed back
of Joyous schoolboy days, hopes and
fears shared in common a Thousand
intimacies and helpfulnesses - the
very day when Wilfrid 8 name had
been carved. with Henry looking on
After the first words neither spoke
for moment But the heart OF eacl
was overfull. Time had done its heal
ing work and it needed but such {
chance for the love that had slept
though never died, to wake.
.'To see her makes me young again,
Hope answered, still in the dream.
"Oh, but you're not old.' cried th'
girl; then blushed at her own words
She looked up shyly and something
=. in her face brought a shock that wa
half-surprise, half-pleasure to he
father.
IF there should be way Of atone
ment?' he thought
In the heart of the soldier there
:, was a tumult.
"Can be such fool!'' he rebuket
himself. lis all the old misery to b.
lived through again?'
But the girl asked no question Il
her mind She only knew that he
l hero had come. and that she must &C
cept her fate,
Perhaps he will hate me- sh
: thought for once. in moment OF con
fidence, she had heard something G
the old story from her father "Per
: hads he will go away
But he did not go. All the rest c
that day they spent together. An
this year AUNT Ethel" sent box I
+, Eton for two adoring nephews, with
l note reminding them TO look some