The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-28
AFTER LONG YEARS.

Hasland stood on the crest of the hill an6
looked across the waste of tangled gorse. He
wiped his forehead with his handkerchief
and stretched himself at full length on the
sun baked turf.
What weather" he growled, fumbling idly
with his sketch book. 'Too hot to live, al.
most, and only May! That girl must be as
mad as myself to think of walking on a day
like this"
He glanced down the winding path with
apathetic curiosity, unbuttoned his coat an6
famed himself vigorously with his sketch
book. Then he lay still for fully ten min.
utes
"Halloo!"
The ejaculation stihed a ponderous yawn
Tasland sprang to his feet, pulled off his
coat spasmodically and faced the girl with
@ fush of embarrassed pleasure.
Miss Thornton!''
II had almost abandoned all hopes Of
eve seeing you again." he began. You know
I was away when you left, and
And what you doing here in the will
derneSs? ?"
Trying to kill two birds with the proven
bal stone" he answered lightly. "Endeavor
ing to- earn living and get some fresh all
at the same time, and faring badly on sbotf
sides. It's too hot to work, and the heat
went give the fresh air3a1chances 81 suppose
you're staying in the village, Eth Miss
Thornton?"
Yes; at the manor. I have situation
there for the summer"
She looked down at her dusty shoes ant
Hasland realized with a little pang of pity
that fortune was still unkind to her. She
was wearing the same plain white dress tha
Ghe had worn the first time he met her, two
summers before.
And do you like your new position?" he
ventured.
"Oh, yes" She raised her head with e
start. Il am companion to a lady, and She
1s generally very good to me. I have not
great deal to do, but sometimes
i"Well?" asked Hasland, with eager inter
est
SHE is very irritable at times. Poor soul
she is lonely, and I think she has had lo
OF trouble. have been here nearly foul
months, and have never had a visitor
She lives in London during the winter, anc
I think her niece, Miss Colnnore-"
Hasland was busily engaged in filling hi:
pipe, but both pipe, and tobacco pouch slipped
from his fingers and his teeth closed together
with a snap.
Miss what?" he gasped
"Colmore. She was at the last drawing
room, you know, and they say she is en-
gagged to be married to Lord Fiskerton She
Is coming to stay at the manor for a few
weeks"
He rubbed his chin and gazed away pen
sively toward the river. The girl held ou
her hand, but he did not notice it for a mo
n1ent.
Il must really go, Mr. Hasland," she said
1T is almost 4 o'clock I cannot tell yol
how pleased 1 am at having seen YOU again
hope you are selling plenty of pictures ?"
Il shall see you AGAIN." he questioned, fur
lively evading her glance. st am staying a,
tn, inn. o, yes, 1 am doing fairly WELL ht
went on, hastily. There are some charm
ing@bits of landscape down in the valley: it,:
regular artists paradise. But, Ethel-Mis:
ThcInton@"
s"Gcod-by."
'Au revoir, them" he answered reluctantly
raising his cap. Il shall see you again one
Of these days.
Stretched there in the sweltering haze. hi
unused with half-closed eyes over the day.
ne had spent in the shabby-respectabl Lon
don boarding house. Every morning at 9:2
o'clock precisely. the plaintive creaking OF
the implanted gate would draw him cautions
ly to his window to watch her set out cheer.
fully to meet that monotonous unchangine
round of toll.
sPcor little girl" he said, rising and pick
ing up his sketchbook. And what a CO.
incidence! If I can see Kate the fates may
teke it into their heads to smile. after all
PIE descended the hill whistling, and cross
lrT the common, reached the dusty road lead
ii,g &c the village. 4 rumble of wheels and ,
rattle of harness made him turn his heaf
tEft' sitiEelJ, and then a scene almost iden
dcal wit!i the one that had taken place on