Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-11-17

PerienceS with more tnency than gram
inar. TO a group of interested listeners.
~ the next window sat "A great. stolid
fellow. surveying the scene about him
i'm grave silence. She wondered idlv
what rustic region had been his home.
and what thoughts moved siuvy-iShly
In his brain. Then she upbraided her
self for her instructive classification Of
him. Had-ke not volunteered TO fight
and 10 die. IL need BE-. for his countrvp
Aud had not that deed alone placed
him above the plane OF mer, inteileo-
tuality?
Give me your flower. lady," said a
saucy young voice.
She looked up into a pair OF laughing
eyes. The owner OF the orbs put his
head out Of the window, and she saw
that il was crowned with a wreath Of
roses. lie held a bouquet In his hand.
"NoS' she said; Il will save IL for
some poor fellow who hasn't any"
A voice sounded close in her ears as
though in answer 20 her remark.
They say that the boys in the cars
at the rear are complaining that they
don't get any attention" Il said
She pushed her way through the
crowd. still scanning the faces az the
windows The large white petals OF the
magnolia had begun 20 drOop.
The time OF the stop At Sacramento
had almost expired when she reached
/ the last car Here the crowd had
! thinned and several officers stood on
the depot platform. talking TO little
knots of people. One was standing
with his back 10 her. She stopped with
shortened breath and grew suddenly
/ white.
In moment the crowd. the cheers,
/ the music and the flags had faded from
/ her senses. She stood in a suburban
/ garden Of an eastern city. with tho
/ spicy scent Of pinks in her nostrils and
the breath OF the evening breeze on her
hot cheeks. a man stood looking down
at her with grave. dark eyes.
viii You send me away without
chance OF explanation ?" he said.
There is no explanation possible
Ehe replied. hotly. Il never want 70 see
/ you again
Then she turned and fed; but be-
hind the mock-orangs hedge she
watched him as he went sadly away.
and all her pride could not keep the
/ tears from hrimming over in her ewes.
Il had been foolish lovers quarrel;
but she had married and gone away.
and they had not heard from each other
for more than three years.
Then the young officer turned. as
though in answer TO her fixed gaze. He
started forward. and held out his hand.
"Gertru6ei" he cried.
She looked al him. bewildered: and
her eyes dropped beneath the unguard-
ed ardor OF his. Roth were oblivious OF
the people and the noise about them.
Both had forgotten the years that al
separated them They knew only that
they were together again.
Have you no word for me?" ne said.
And again his eyes were grave and sad.
as on the day he left her in the gar
den.
II have brought you this" she re-
piled, holding out TO him the dropping
magnolia.
How did you know I would be here -
he asked
Il did not know" she answered. sim
ply; "but I must have felt il. for
would give IL 20 no one else"
He took il from her hand and looked
! into her eyes with a searching. passion
ate gaze. Then he remembered. He
stepped back. his face suddenly veiisd
IN a mask.
How is jack" he asked. duly.
'Jach1' she repeated. wonderingly
Don't you know? Jack has been dead
for two years.
a fame Of color flashed in his white
face. The scream of the whistle rose
over the roar Of voices and the soldiers
/. on the platform scrambled hastily or
the train. The crowd pressed closer tc
the ears and the girls with eutograp pt
albums began 20 say good-by. But hs
had moved nearer 10 her and had-taker
her hand.
'rrudie!" he said. softly
Tears spranR 20 her eyes at the word
She had not heard the pet name fol
years
Gerald" she said. eft was my fault >
he knew 10 what she referred, and
he had TO time 10 waste words.
"It was mine as we'll" he replied. 81
should have written you the explana
tion when you would not listen. Shas
tell you now?"
She shook her head. The moment O,
, time that was left them was too pre-
cious 20 lose
You need never explain" she said
IT know that I was wrong. Tell me
what you have done since saw 20,
laaf