The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
A SWEETHEART OF LONG AGO.
prom the American Queen.)

Naomi. will you stop that clock? l
| think it will drive me mad. Is it within
! the range of the probable. not to say the
! possible. that l should go on constructing
| irregular Latin verbs to the strokes OF
| that monster? / feel inclined to adopt
! the modern pronunciation of the immortal
| orators name and say. Kik-er-oi o, l
beg your pardon. Naomi; was that your
| foot? Well I'm going out. l promised to
| run up and see Marie Leigham tonight.
| Perhaps when ! come back my tormentor
will have grown weary or run down. You
don't mind being left for little while
! alone. DEAR?
Not at all, dear" answered Naomi Ro-
| mer. cheerfully.
! Naomi is always cheerful-too cheerful,
/ golden haired little LiIliard says some
times, petulantly. But then-Naomi is
! thirty, and it is years that bring the
/ philosophic mind"
| Eighteen years ago. when Naomi was
! twelve, she had received baby Lilliard.
| her newly born stepsister, as the legacy
from the hands of a dying mother mild, u
/ who
Said with accents undcfled
/ Child. be mother to this child"
And Naomi has fulfilled that trust we'll.
| When. ten years later. their father, gay.
| debonair Ernest Romer, LATEST and most
1 charming OF men and artists. had followed
! his wife, leaving her two children utterly
, unprovided for. Naomi had quietly and
! misunderstanding Naomi does is quiet
and natural-slpped into the position OF
bread winner and house proyider. Then
| had come a lover. too poor TO provide for
| both Naomi and Lilliard; then he had
gone away to make a fortune in distant
lands. and for eight years Naomi had
never heard of him.
Now Liliard is able to help Naomi in
+ her little school. and the two sisters are
happy enough. only-Lilliard is young and
beautiful. and sometimes she frets.
, There comes a ring at the door bell. and
! little Alice Sparrow, Naomis maid Of all
work. puts in her head to say, g gen.
/ tleman for you, please, miss"
Naomi rises in surprise as a tall we'll
built man. with a sunburned complexion
| and a head of tawny hair, enters, and,
striding to her side. takes her hand.
! Naomi, have you forgotten me, Martin
| Colquhoun?'
For moment the room swims round
Naomi. but the next she has recovered her
self. and is saying quite calmly-how it
astonishes her to hear her own voice:
How do you do? l did not know you
| were in Washington
II only came yesterday, he says,
eagerly. $50 you see l have not lost much
| time. | found out your address in the
directory-what grand institution 1t is.
IL Naomi, you are not changed. An.
II"
| She smiles a little. 81 would know
you-but you are changed.
| Il shall tell you all by and by" he
| says and at that moment Lilliard rushes
| in.
Marie is out; is it not shame?" Then
| she pauses, bushing, and Naomi intro
/! duces the two.
so you are Lilliard?' says Martin Col
| quhoun, smiling Il remember you as a
! tiny girl in short dresses. who always
searched in my pockets for chocolates.
Are you as fond of them YETI
II believe / am" says Lilliard, laughing.
Then she sits down, and so does Martin
| Colquhoun. and they spend pleasant,
even gay, evening together, Martin tell
ing them all of the dangers he has passed
| in the search for fortune-which it seems
he has found-and partaking of the homely
| little supper Naomi orders with great Zest.
| Martin Colquhoun calls again and again.
| He comes in the evenings, when Naomi
/, plays, and he and Lilliard sit in the win
| dow together. He calls in the afternoon
| and takes them driving in the park and
to Mount Vernon, and he and Lilliard gen.
| orally sit together and do most of the
talking; and occasionally he takes them
to concert or the opera. And every day
Naomi feels that the trial of her life is
| drawing near.
But why should she grudge it? She
loves Lilliard. She -alas!-Martin.
| She desires the happiness of both. AS
| for her. it only means that her sky will
| grow a little greyer her life little emp
tier; but at thirty she tells herself one
does not feel the pain so keenly as at
| twenty.
One evening he calls. Lilliard is out
and Naomi alone. He looks strangely
nervous-for him-for Coluuhoun is one
| of those strong minded healthy -souled
men whose strong masculine personality
| always seems to bring invigorating
breeze into the narrow, feminine house
hold.
Il have called to tell you / shall have to
say good-by," he said abruptly. Il am
going away on Monday"
Going away" Naomi echoes. family.
Yes. for four years. My business re-
quires me. And l have come tonight to
to say something that means great deal
to me-that all my future happiness de-
ponds on. Miss Romer."
Naomis heart is still. The blow is
coming. then.
Il think I can guess what it is she
says. wondering If her voice sounds
strange and unnatural. Mr.. CoIquhoun,
will do the most 1 can. / desire your
happiness as much as-as Lilliard's."
He seized her hands.
"Then-you are willing? You have-have
thought of it ?" he asked a little unsteai-
lily.
Il have no right to be anything else. -
she answers sniilingly. IF Lilliard is will
ing, that is all that you require"
He looked at her in bewilderment.
''Lilliard? do not understand you, Ma
omi. What has Lilliard to do with it p?
Don't you understand dear that love you
as much-nay. more. thOusand-fold more
than ever? Naomi. it was not my fault
that have been silent all these years;
my letter-the last one-was returned
marked Left-no address. But / have
never ceased thinking of you, and now
want you as my wife. Naomi. Naomi!
| After waiting all these years. am / to be
| disappointed at last?"
"Oh, stop!" Naomi cries. little wildly.
| Il thought it was Lilliard you cared
for, ret me-"
"Llliard!" He grows holder then, and,
drawing her within his arms. lays tie
| sweet face against his breast why.
| Lillard and are very good friends. but
i she knows the truth, Naomi. My d3r,ing.
is that why you have been so cold TO me :?
l have sometimes thought the past WIS
| dead to you-dead and buried-you were
| so cold. But it is not so. Naomi? You
| still! love me, my sweetheart of long ago.
And Naomi's answer. though TOO low for
any ears but his to hear. is evidently heard
By Martin Colquhoun. for he bends lis
head and then and there triumphantly
| kisses her.