The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-11-15


the breath OF the evening breeze on heT
hot cheeks A man stood looking down
at her with grave, dark eyes.
"Wln you send me away without
chance of explanation" be said.
There Ia no explanation possible"
she replied, holly. Il never want to zee
| yoE again
Then she turned and fed; but be-
hind the mock-ofanRe hedge shs
watched him rs he went sadly away,
and all her pride could not keep the
tears from trimming over in her eycs.
II had been a foolish lovers quarrel;
bnt she had married and gone away,
and hey had not heard from each other
for more than three years.
Then the young officer turned, M
though in answer to her fixed care. He
started forward, and held out his hand
"Gcrtrudei" he cried.
She looked at him, bewildered; and
her eyes dropped beneath the unguard-
ed ardor Of hih. Both were oblivious of
the people and the noise about them.
Both had forgotten the years that had
separated them. They knew only that
they were together again.
Have you no word for met" be sald.
And again his eyes were grave and sad.
as on the day he left her In the gar
den.
81 have brought you this" she re-
piled, holding out TO him the dropping
magnolia.
How did you know would be hsrs9"
he asked.
81 did not know" she answered. sim.
ply; but I must have felt II, for J
would give II 10 no one else"
lie took Il from her hand and looked
into her eyes with a searching passion
ate gaze. Then he remembered. He
stepped back, his face suddculy yciled
| In n mask.
"IIow IL jack" he asked. DULY.
Jack" she repeated. wonderingly.
Don't you know? Jack has been dead
| for two years"
4 flame 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 10
the cars and the Rlrls with autograph
albums began 10 say good-by. But he
had moved nearer 10 her and had taken
her hand
"T-udie," he said. softly.
Tears Sprang TO her eyes AT the word.
She had not heard the pet name for
years.
Gerald" she said. III was my fault -
He knew to what she referred. and
he had no time to waste words
ut was mine as we'll, he replied. II
should have written you the explana.
ton when you would not listen. Shall
tell you now?"
She shook her head. The moment OF
time that was left them was tao pre-.
cious 20 lose.
You need never explain" she said;
81 know that 7 was wrong. Tell me
what you have done since I saw you
last"
II went to Philadelphia to practice
law" he replied. my uncle made me
his partner"
He came closer 10 her and spoke In
vehement tones.
81 am going away" he said
Yes" she assrnted, you are going
TO Manila" Her voice broke and n
mist blurred her vision. She knew what
II meant 20 him: hardship. danger
and a broken career; and she knew
also what II wonld henceforih mean
to her.
"wln you marry me II come back ?"
he asked
The train had begun TO move and he
turned toward II instinctively. But he
looked back for her reply. Their eyes
met In flashing glance.
"yes." she whispered.
He wrung her hand: then Eprang on
the steps Of the rear platform Of the
last car 4 fellow officer slapped him
on the back and laughed.
''That was a desperate Irritation, :" he
said. But his companion did not hear
Him.
The people began TO follow the slowly
moving train. Gertrude went with
them, holding always her place at the
edge of the crowd Her eyes were fixed
on the platform OF the last car, where
the young officer stood with his ban
tering companion. With one hand he
was waving his cap TO her; with the
other he pressed the magnolia against
I q