The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1900-11-23

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 fiutter again. You
ought TO be ashamed of yourselfv' she
said to herself. "Thirty-five years old
and acting like a girlv
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" ne 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. | want to tell you that
have been sorry for what / said to you
that day ever since the words were
spoken. But l was too stubborn to say
so then. Can you, will you, forgive me
at this late day."
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 he nothing more TO each
other?' he cried. his eyes full Of eager
ness, his face bright with hope. Il
love YOU yet, Lucinda! | 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 by"
"Are you sure you want peT she
asked, her face quite pale. Il am no
longer young. remember. Do not make
the worst of all mistakes-mistakin
pity for love"
81 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."
81 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, / take 1t,
that whatever the person who finds
ii and restores it TO you asks for you
are bound to give him. / have found
it. Here it is, Lucinda. What / 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 a culver in
it. II 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
henceforth," he said earnestly, solemn
ly, and her heart repeated his words.
81 suppose you wonder how | came
to find the lost brooch" he said as they
turned bomeward.
II was going to ask you about that"
she answered, "but before | got TO 1t i
tnOug0I-OI SOIuetnlUS elSe, Will IL
little blush, land forgot it. Where did
you find it? We have hunted high and
low for it,"
"You didn't find II because you didn't
look in the right place." he answered.
at came to me in piece of pumpkin
pie. l 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. l 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 un-
utterable thanksgiving in their hearts.
J A current on the sea Of time had
brought those lives together again, and
henceforth no wind of passion would
separate them, please God. : Chape-
rome.