Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1900-12-20

BOTH WERE TOO BUSY WITH THOUGHTS OF
THE PAST.
good" she answered and went up
stairs after her bonnet and shawl. Her
heart was all in a f1utter again. "You
ought to be ashamed Of yourselfv' she
said to herself. "Thirty-fve years old
and acting like a girly'
For some time neither of the two
spoke as they went up the hillside road
side by side. Both were too busy with
thoughts of the past.
Suddenly Robert paused and faced
her.
Lucinda" he said, and his voice was
not very steady, perhaps we can new
er be to each other what think both of
us hoped years ago. but we can, trust,
be friends. l want to tell you that I
have been sorry for what 1 said to you
that day ever since the words were
spoken. But was too stubborn to say
so then. Can you, will you, forgive me
at this late dayT'
/ 81 was as much to blame as you
were," she answered. II would have
told you so long ago if you had given
me the opportunity to do SO. Let us
forget it all and be friends and in our
friendship make up for the loss If we
can"
"But can we be nothing more to each
other?" he cried, his eyes full of eager
ness. his face bright with hope. II
love you yet, Lucinda! I have loved
you all these years. If you can over
look the past. If you will only let me
try to make you as happy in the days
to come as we might have been in the
days gone byv'
Are you sure you want mer she
asked. her face quite pale. 81 am no
longer young. remember. Do not make
the worst Of all mistakes-mistakin
pity for love-"
II shall make no such mistake as
that" he said. Don't be afraid of
that, Lucinda" sudden smile break
ing across his face. "You are not the
woman to make an offer and then re-
fuse to live up to it."
II don't know what you mean," she
said, looking at him wonderingly.
"Don't you remember that you said
when we were eating dinner that you
would give anything to find your lost
brooch? Now, that means, I take it,
that whatever the person who finds
1t and restores it to you asks for you
are bound to give him. l have found
it. Here it is, Lucinda. What l ask
as reward is-yourself. You will keep
your word and give me what l ask, l
hope. Will you, dear, or won't you"
your logic is not to be contended
against" she answered, with a little
laugh that somehow had culver in
It. IT suppose you want me, Robert.
II you need me and insist on having
me, why, take me-"
He put his arms about her and kissed
her.
MAY nothing come between US
benceforth," he said earnestly, solemn
ly, and her heart repeated his words.
81 suppose you wonder how 1 came
~ find the lost brooch" he said as they
turned homeward.
81 was going to ask you about that"
she answered, "but before I got to it
tbought-of something else" with a
little DluSQ, AIfu kOTSOt IL VhCAO oAo
YOU find It? We have hunted high and
low for it."
"You didn't ind it because you didn't
look in the right place" he answered.
at came to me In a piece Of pumpkin
ME. I have read about some one who
discovered pearls in the wine she
drank, but had no idea that ordinary
people Of today favored their pies with
articles of jewelry. / think fate had
something to do with it"
In the twilight of that November
day the man and woman whose lives
had drifted apart for ten long years
stood side by side and looked out upon
the white world with thoughts of I'M
utterable thanksgiving in their hearts.
current on the sea Of time had
brought those lives together again, and
hanceforth no wind of passion would
senarate them, please God. = Chape-
rome.