Evening journal., 1899-12-08
SPRING MEMORY.

only April IL might have been u day
in midsummer The ill-clad woman on
the beuch shut her eyes aud lay back
In momentary content. She drew in
deep breaths of the soft wind, laden
with perfume from gay beds OF hya.
cinihs and walltiowers, and felt re-
freshed as with wine after the close
atmosphere OF the small garret in the
narrow back street where her eyes
rested on chimney stacks that appear
ed ON all sides through a thick haze
of smoke. and her cars were assailed
by harsh voices of poyerty.cursed NOR
tails, whining children and the whistle
of the railway hard by.
Now she opened her eyes and drank
in the beauty of the scene before her,
the sky clear and blue-hecked here
and there with soft baby clouds, the
trees just bursting into leaf, their buds
of freshest green, the grass 50 smooth
and trim and restful 10 eyes wearled
with work and tears and dotted about
with waving datfodils and blue hya-
cinths. There was n suggestion of ma
ture untrammeled and free in the dow
er-scattered sward that pleased her
better than the symmetrical beds with
their carefully arranged, blue-hued
blossoms; yet these were lovely, too,
and, oh, the scent.
just opposite where She sat, and fac
ing the park garden, was row OF
houses, tall and commanding, with
high pillars and carved balconies and
ilOwer-wrcathed windows. She was es-
pecialiy interested in one OF them, for
IL was the home OF the lover of her
youth aud ne was dying. She had heard
-. s.H..
the gardens that bright afternoon,
moved by strong yearnlng 10 be for
an hour or two rs near 20 him as posi-.
bic. For in the heart of This nalc-face-l
woman there was a memory green and
fresh and fragrant after long years
the memory OF a shOrt-lyed romance,
OF sighs, of parting and tears. That bit
of her life stood out in strong relief
. the rest was not pleasant to remem.
Der. for 1t had been filled with sin and
shame, ana latterly with broken health
and grinding poverty. But that time
SO long ago. when She was beautiful
and pure and sweet, and he was still
youthful, and only beginning 10 give
promise OF the fame that came later
that was n cherished memory. and fol
its sake she had come to watch beside
/ him, and to breathe out In the spring
sunshine a prayer for the passing soul
Some parting words of his came e
| her mind and she murmured them
/ half audibly.
Dear little Loo, ivmember, if yot
are ever in any difficulty or trouble
write to me, and II I am able | vii
help YOU"
Something had always kept her from
taking advantage Of that promise
some half-conscious desire that hl
! should always think Of her as she ha,
been then, and not as she became later
Besides, men forget; IL is only womel
who remember.
! There was a sound Of carriag
wheels; she looked up. The vehicl
stopped at the house, footman ar
peared with rugs, and presently a lad
got In and was driven away.
She remembered that he had bee
! married about a year ago to a rich an
beautiful girl, and there were rumor
that the domestic relations of the tw
were not happy.
IL ! had been his wife l would nc
have left him alone to hired peopl
when he was so Ill"
Then she gave little scornful laug
rs she spread out her coarse, re
hands on her lap. Once they had bee
so fair and soft, and he had praise
them.
a pretty girl l was then" sh
thought sadly, "hair like ripe corn an
eyes like forget-me-nOts. l remembe
him saying so the day we went to III
picnic in the country, and he painte
me sitting by the broOkside with m
lap full of flowers. Good LOrdl wh
would think It TO see me nOwy and "
somehow [ feel as II thinking abOr
him makes my soul come back to III
likeness Of that time long since.
only one could get rid of this ole
tired. ugly body and start fair again
Il never told n soul about him an
me-" she thought wistfully; ut migl
, have done him harm, for they woul
not have understood. It's strange IN
thought so much OF him lately, but no
b I'm old, and poor and tired, and Z
manor woman, either-will ever eve
r pretend to care for me again. 1t seen
to make a happier look come Ov'
everything when l picture him as
was i've and twenty years ago, brigl
. and gay and loving, and eyes thu
looked at me so kindly, and such di
ferent look to-ahi God have mere
} on him, help him in his trouble. II
could bear his pain for him / would
2 oh, so gladly-for he is the only man
ever loved-and l think he loved II
- once"
The sunlight was fading, angl
| clouds were coming up and "A col
S wind bent roughly The tender stalks
S the daffOdil. The woman sudden
shivered and looked paler than befor
] for she had looked again at the wi
r dows. and one by one the blinds we
- being pulled down.
{ Il was an hour and a half later,
s the warning bell Tor the shutting
e the garden gates was ringing that u
y carriage containing the pretty your
v wife returned. The shabby womt
paid 10 attention 10 either sound. Il
e she seemed asleep-her head sunk {
!. her chest ON Of the attendants Of Il
( gardens came along and roughly la
e his hand on her shoulder. She vi
[ dead