The Southern herald., 1900-02-16

things. ert surely you were a 5000
friend Of ours then?"
"Friend?' he echoed. "Yes, and l
still am devoted to your interests, Aiss
Lucy"
That is good. We know few peO-
pie here, and now l must go to meet
Ellen"
You are going to meet-her-
Iow?"
"Yes."
"Well, ask her, Miss Lucy, to step
m and get the watch herself. and
don't tell her who l am, you know.
Let me have my little surprise"
Very well, will l am sorry can.
not come back with her, but have
an engagement"
Mr.. Fem, with a sudden heartinesS
grasped the slender gloved hand ex-
tended to him. "Good-by," he said.
''You came in like the spring sun.
shine, Miss Lucy"
After the girl had gone Fem sat for
some moments lost in thought. How
many memories the girl had stirred
within him! How like she was to that
ether girl-Ellen-whom he had once
known.
With a deep sigh he turned, from
force of habit, to the watch before
him. He well remembered that disa.
greeable, little monitor which had dis.
turbed so many pleasant hours His
accustomed fingers pressed the large,
old-fashioned plate which protected
the works from dust, and there fell
into his hands a folded paper, vel.
lowed with age, which opened as he
reverently touched it.
There, exposed to view, was the face
of the young man who had glanced
back at him from the mirror, and with
it was withered violet, which lightly
tiuttered out. 1t was bIown and diy,
but it preserved its freshness and
fragrance in a faithful woman : heart
it seemed-and in one other, aS he
well knew.
For a long time Mr.. Fem sat gaz.
ing at these relics Of a sunny past, his
hand over his eyes, his expression lit
tie betraying the disturbance within.
Finally he shook his head sorrowfully,
Ibid Fem look like that?" ne
thought. WAS there ever time wher
I was really happy? l have changed
in appearance"-he smiled bitterly
"and not for the better, but | havs
also grown in charity. What a young
fool l was! To have such happiness
within my grasp and then to scorn il
to throw it away-because | was tOa
proud to demand an explanation! All,
well!" He reused himself and looked
up in his old, absent-minded way at q
woman who stood awaiting his atten.
ton. Her eyes were riveted upon the
paper in his hands-she had not
glanced at Mr.. Fenn's face-while his
gaze never left her countenance dur.
ing their entire interview.
Il see," she said, in low, faltering
tones, "that you have already opened
the watch my sister brought" As she
spoke the color rose in her face in the
same dear old fashion, taking away
the pressure of the years, until she
seemed girl again in the eyes of the
man who watched her.
"YeS," he said, gently, "but do no,
begrudge me my peep into paradise
Ellen"
At the first sound of his voice she
had glanced incredulously up, her
knees trembling under her as she lis.
tened-and looked.
Edward" she gasped. "Why, II
can't be Edward!"
"Yes," he said, reassuringfy, putting
his hand over hers as it clutched at
his desk. "Why not? We were
bound to meet some day, you know"
"Yes," she murmured, 81 have al
ways felt that if you were living
should see you again" Her eyes fell
under his and rested ON the relics on
his desk. "But these things"-hCr
flush deepened-"I am sorry you ever
saw them"
"Oh, no, Ellen, not sorry, but glad
Stay, 1 will show you my treasures"
As he spoke he drew forth his own
timepiece and opened the back. There
smiling up at him, was her own face
as it had looked 20 years before, fresh
in its girlish beauty.
"All these years?" she asked. "Have
you never married, then, Edward?"
Married some one else, Ellen? You
know better-you must have known
better all the time"
"Yes," she whispered, 81 knew"
"Ellen," he urged, softly, lone day,
ever so many years ago, a boy said
to you that he would never ask you
for love again. He does not, but a
man does-now. He asks you for all
that boy threw away, because he has
wanted it all his life."
"What do you nean?" she asked.
family.
Nothing to frighten you, dear. j
want you to marry me still. l have
wanted you every day since we parted,
but 1 thought you had long ago mar
ried-there is no use going into that.
We are not children now. How do you
feel about it, Ellen? Are you willing
10 pass the rest of your life with meT'
Ellen lifted her eyes to his-eyes
that appeared young, because re-
deemed from age by the radiant light
of love within them.
81 will do just as you say" she said,
simply.
Promptly the matchmaker stepped |
out from behind his desk, passed her
hand through his arm and approached |
the astonished proprietor.
81 want a vacation, sir" he said. Il
haven't asked for one in many years,
but l want one now. My assistant |
can do all the work we are likely to
have at this time of the year."