The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-26

an eager way. Then. seeing. her cool
glance at him he said, impatiently:
Pshaw. chance resemblance. Surely.
that little barefooted island maid could
never in this world have developed into
society young lady with all the
aplomb of culture this one gave evil
dence of. The idea is preposterous."
He turned to the young man near
him, and asked if he knew who the
new arrival WASP"
Yes; that is a Miss Winters. just
been at the Teachers Convention in
Montreal. Amt she sumner"
"A friend of mine I did not recog-
nize her at first said Clarence
Thanks. I've not. seen. her for a
year or two," he added, seeing the
unbelieving glance of the young man,
also his establishment.
After breakfast Clarence walked out
on the broad verandahs, where he saw
the young lady and her friend.
Miss Winters, have you forgotten
an old friend?"
She looked at him earnestly, then said
slowly, doubtfully: II have no recollec-
ton of ever meeting you. Pardon me-
but you know 1 meet so many stran-
gers. Perhaps 1 have met you, but as
an old friend, surely you are mis-
taken'
''Ah, pardon me- said Clarence; Il
thought you were Miss Psyche Winters
of the island 1 used to visit"
$50 1 am she said brightly. Whit
ers Island was my old home; but
still doubtfully II don't remember
you. Strange, is it not?' with a COOL
clear little laugh that irritated car
ence as we'll as chilled him. Her 1rlenu
coming up at this juncture, she ols-
missed Clarence with polite httie
bend of her head and passed on GOWN
the steps to the beach.
Clarence lit a cigar and smoked vi
ciously for few moments And tho
apparently quiet, his mind was having
a conversation with himself"
Evidently she don't want to remem-
Der the DAYS she was a barefooted lit
tie girl, in love with me, too," he added
as a sort of salve to his Irritation.
How lovely she is though, and VINO
on earth educated her? 1t had known
she would have developed into such
charming girl I certainly would not
have gone back on her.
The days passed, Clarence made no
Roadway in his advances to friendship
with the charming Miss Winters. she
was in great demand. Always had es-
corts by the score. When talking to
him she mentioned her old home, ner
life at school, without the slightest re-
serve or as if ashamed of her past.
Don't you remember clam digging
with me on the island, and the chowder
we made on the beach?" he asked one
day.
No. she said frankly, 'I do not"
He made an impatient gesture as If
unwilling to believe her, but her brown
eyes met his in smiling assertiveness
of her truth in speaking. He was
madly in love with her now, but she
did not seem to notice it.
The other people looked on, glad to
see Mr.. Clyde denuded of his calm i'm
passiveness. The girls chuckled
amongst themselves and would have
patted Psyche on the back for her atti-
tude to him if they had dared to hint
az it, but she was always SO dignified,
the result of her attitude as a teacher,
rather than the unwillingness to be
leased about an impression she had
Clyde" of New York.
The hotel was built Of wood and one
night the cry of fire alarmed the guests.
Psyche heard the first alarm and
aroused many of her friends, who were
soon in a place of safety. When the
cry of "the annex, the annex has
caught sounded she had friends there,
too, and she rushed across through the
smoke to arouse them.
She had succeeded, when some one
said, Call Clyde, he is over in the end
room" Psyche ran quickly and pound
ed on his door. She was calling now at
the top of her voice, Mr.. Clyde, quick,
the house is on fire"
He heard her voice in his dreams, and
was soon with her, but then their es-
cape by the stairway was cut off
Clarence rushed back to his room,
tore the sheets and blankets from the
bed and telling Psyche to open the win
dow he soon had knotted rope ready to
lower her down first, and then go him
self. Her presence gave him courage.
He tied the improvised rope to the stout
bannister and then said, "Now"-He
bent quickly over her and kissed the
red lips. saying f'for life, dear, remem-
Der I love YOU She did not shrink
from him but returned his kiss with
soft pressure of her own lips. And
grasping the rope with both hands she
swung out clear, of the building, thirty
feet below her was the ground dimly
seen through the smoke
Clarence steadied the rope as she
went down, his heart praying wildly
for her safety. She reached the ground
safely and called out in an agonized
tone:
Mr. Clyde, come quickly
He caught the swaying rope to safety,
but when nearly down the rope gave
way, either owing to being burnt at
the fastening or from the strain, and
he fell ten feet, breaking his leg in the
fall and being rendered unconscious by
contact with the ground.
He was carried to a place of safety
and everything done for him, but it
was weeks before he left his ROOM
Through his delirium and fever he
had a soothing sense of Psyches pres
ence, and once felt soft little kiss on
his forehead, near the wet cloths put
on to abate the fever.
The day he first left his room he
asked about Miss Winters, and if she
was still there.
Yes" was the reply, but she leaves
forever next week.
Forever" echoed Clarence, what do
you mean?"s