, 1899-01-26

ana l belleVe
where is he now" the boy inter
rupted.
II have never seen him since. You
know l nave been abroad for years, but
he lived in your town."
She rose to leave the room.
81 think''- he burst forth indignant.
ly, but she placed her hand over his lips.
mot a word, dear. One night he
told me there wal a tradition in the
family that he should marry a cousin
of his. They had loved each other in a
calm, friendly way and were engaged.
do not regret that summer. Reg. Now,
goodby. When next you see me- She
waved him adieu as she left the room.
Shortly afterward a man came in
unannounoed and unexpected. He was
tall and we'll built, not strictly hand
some, but with a face one would not be
apt to forget. There was a look of de-
cision about the mouth and chin. In
the eyes a shadow lurked. He was Regi-
maid Ridpath's friend, and the boy felt
honored and gratified that this man,
some ten years his senior, had given
him his friendship.
"Where did you come from? Thought
you were in Canada" Reggie said.
$50 I was a few days ago., but on
my way home l made it convenient to
come by here. You must return to the
city, Reg, at the first breath of fall,
and we will give you no end Of a good
time to pay you for this summers
pain"
You must not pity me too much,
old man, the fact isl And he then
told him of the girl, his mothers guest,
of her kindness to him, of the approach
ing dance and the story she had just
confided to him.
"Do you think l have broken faith,
old MANI" Reggie sat up and looked
anxiously at his friend, who had stop
ped smoking and was listening to the
story with a queer look on his face.
II wouldn't for the world, you know.
and l couldn't have told any one but
you. My case is hopeless, but if you
should 60 out there and see her stand
ing SO stately and beautiful, receiving
my mothers guests, perhaps you would
forget your old love. and-and'-
The man looked from the window
Reggie, lying there propped with pill
lows, seemed very far away. He saw
instead a room, poorly lighted and bare,
with a sea of eager faces that were fas-
tened on a slender, stately girl who
swayed them at her will. The scene
shifted in an instant to a garden where
lilies, like the one he gazed upon, riot
ed, and to a summer house where he
stood beside the girl and babe her good
by. He remembered how the roses bent
until they touched her hair. Some were
red with passion, some were white
with pain, and they were intertwined.
Reggie, a gay voice called, may
I come IMP May Lady Macbeth Gomez
She stood for a moment in the door
way. The room was in shadow, but the
light from the hall fell on her tall,
1.-the figure, the loneliness of her face.
the bravery of her attire.
Don't you like me this way, Reg?'
She stood still. the color coming and
going in her face. for this man. Reg
gie's friend, was coming nearer and
nearer. He greeted her with a formal
ity that seemed almost reluctance, so
great was his effort at self control. He
took her hand and stood looking down
at her. The color poured into her ears
Reggie had lifted himself from his pill.
low excitedly. his voice quiverin2
with emotion.
elizabeth, l Gun finish the story. A
year after your story ended this man,
who had been released from his engage
ment, went back, but found no trace of
you. You had gone abroad. He could
learn nothing else, and that is why the
somber light turks always in his eyes"
There came a sudden light into the
girls face; q smile just touched her
sweet mouth AS his eyes passed from
her face to her gown she said softly,
''It is the first time l have ever worn a
gown like this since the old days"
MAY we not return to them?"
His voice was almost a whisper.
my children" Reggie called from
his pillows, II give you my blessing
and dismiss you"
He waved them from him with a gay
little laugh. As they left the room
something like a sob rose in his throat,
but he ohoked it back and lay there
alone In the darkening room, smiling
bra v Sarah Lindsey Coleman in
Chicago News,
Mrs. S. "A. Fackler, editor OF the Mi
canopy (Fla.) Hustler, with his wife
and children, suffered terribly from La