The Florence daily tribune., 1899-04-05


and believe
"Whare is lie now2' the boy inter-
rupted
II have never seen him since. You
know 1 have been abroad tor years, but
he lived in yuur town
She rose TO leave the room
~ think - be hurst forth indignant
ly, but she placed her haud over his lips
Not word. dear One night he
told me there was a tradition in thr
family that he should marry cousin
of his They had loved ench other in
calm. friendly way aud were engaged
/ do not regret that summer. Reg Now
gondhv When next you see mo She
waved min udieu n she left the runu
Shuitly afterwnru a man came in
unanutunccd and unexpected He was
tail aud wrll built. not strictly hand
sone, bit with u face one would moi be
art To forget There was look of de
ci-icn atout the mouth aud chin In
tGp eyes a shadow lurked lie was Regi-
maid Ridpath : friend, und the hoy felt
huumed aud gratihcd that this nan
suno ten years his senior. had gwen
him his friendship
Who're did yol come frnmy | thought
you we're m Canada. Reggie said
$50 ! WIS II few days ago, but on
my way homo made II convenient to
come by here You must return tn the
city. Reg, ut the first breath OF fall
and We VIII give yuu no end of good
time 60 pay You for tins summer =
pam. -
Hou must not pity me too much,
old man, the fact is And he then
told INN OF the girl, his mother guest,
OF hor kinduess to him. of the approach
iug dgncu and the story she had Just
cuniided to him
De you think | have broken faith,
old munY' Reggie sat up and looked
anxiously at his friend, who bad stop
ped su.okng and was listening to the
stury with queer look ON his face
II wouldu for the world you know.
Hndl couldn't have told any one but
You My case is hopeless, but If you
should go ont there and see her stand
ing SO stately and beautiful. receiving
my mother guests, perhaps you would
forget your old love, and--and"-
I he mnn looked from the window
Rerlie, lying there propped with pill
lows, sCenlud very far away He saw
instead u room. poorly lighted and hare,
with a sea of eager faces that were ias
tened ON u slender, stately girl who
swuyud thon Mt her will The scene
shifted in au instant to "A garden where
lilies like the one ho gazed upon. riot
cd, aud to summer house where he
stood ttside the girl and babe her good
by lio remembered how the roses bent
until they touched her hair Some were
rcd with passion. some were white
with pam and they were intertwined
Reggie, II gay voice called. may
| come iny May Lady Macbeth Gomez
She stood Tor moment in the door
way The room was in shadow, but the
light from the hall Tell ON her tall.
1.-THE figure, the lovoliness OF her face.
the bravery of her attire.
Don't you like me this way, Req
She stood still the color coming and
going IN her face, Tor tins man, Reg
gie's friend. was coming nearer and
nearer He greeted her with n formal
ity that seemed almost reluctance so
great was his effort nj self control He
took her hand and stood looking down
at her The color poured into her ears
Reegle had lifted himself from his pill
low oxcitcdiy. his voice quivering
with emotion.
"Elizabeth, can finish the story. A
year after your story ended this man
who had been released from his engage.
m0nt, went back. but found no trace of
you You had goue abroad He could
learn nothing else, and that is why the
so'ahrr light Turks always in his eyes
There cumo a sudden light into tho
girls face, a smile just touched her
sweet mouth AS his eyes passed from
her face to her gown she said softly
1T is the first time | have ever worn
gown like this since the old days. -
May we not return to them?
His voice was almost whisper.
MY children, Reggie called from
his pillows II give you my blessing
and dismiss you
He waved them from him with gay
little laugh AS they left the room
something like sob rose in his throat
but he uhoked ii baok and lay there
alone in the daikening room, smiling
bravely Sarah Lindsey Coleman in
Chicago News