Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-12-28


felt rather than saw Marie Summer
field 60 by.
Standing a little apart from the
knots Of merry young people throng-
ing the pleasant rooms, he was con-
susous of a thread of pain running
through the last night of the old year,
touching only Miss Summerfeld and
himself.
BY he, I mean Leigh Reyburn, the
owner of the old-fashioned, low-room-
ed grange beneath whose roof the
young people of Gladbrook had gath
cred to keep a merry watch-night.
With music and laughter and gay rep
artee they meant to dance welcome
to the joyous New Year without much
thought for the staid old twelve-month
which had served them so faithfully.
But Leigh moved uneasily, sending
imploring glances after the blue gown,
all to no purpose. Marie was absorb
ed with the fascinating company Of
Maurice Davenport and was smiling
her sweetest-and Marie could smile
divinely-and entertaining him admir-
ably.
Reyburn was thinking hard, and 1t
must be confessed, uncharitably. Had
he worshiped and petted and lived for
Miss Summerfield these two blessed
sunlit years, to have hope and happi-
ness go into the grave of the frail old
year leaving nothing but memories?
What was that Marie was singing to
the sweet-toned guitar she held SO
daintily, strapped in place with blue
riband?
Ring out the old, ring in the new;
The year is dying. let it go;
Ring in the new; ring in the new"
Her voice seemed to falter little on
the repeat as it fell to a soft cadence.
Was it possible that she was thinking
of the old so tenderly-the old love,
for instance? All! well, he did not
know.
The yule log had burned out week
ago, but he had not the heart to take
up the silvery ashes from the old, red
brick hearth as yet. Ever since that
other night he had kept his vow and
closed his doors to all merriment for
two long years. But somehow the lads
and lassies of Gladbrook had lain their
sympathies on his door-stone and
worked themselves into his good
graces once more, and before he real
lied what he was doing he had given
up the silent rooms again to Christ
mas party. But no more New Year
frolics under his roof, he said; not I'M
til-well, maybe He stopped short in
his musings; still the remnant Of the
mistletoe hung in the bracket work of
the old chandelier and he remembered
now, as he looked at it, how pure and
fair Alicia Merrill looked when Her
man Montrose kissed her beneath its
potent spell week ago. She put him
in mind, o, so much, of her. Gov
ering his eyes for moment with trem-
bling hand, he went to the win
dow and looked out. White and glis-
tening as an angels wing lay the snow
on the intervening fields. Over there
was her house, but she had been away
now for long time studying music,
and he had heard, for she did not write
to him, that her voice was simply di-
vine, and as musician she was won
iderful.
Nevertheless, it was a night like
this, nodding toward the flooding
moonlight outside, that they-he and
she-had their misunderstanding. A
spasm of pain crossed his fine face as
he caught his breath little. He could
not tell just how 1t came about, never
clearly understanding, but that night
SO much like this and New Years Eve,
too marked the beginning of their di-
verging paths which came together
again after awhile!
Tomorrow was the glad New Year
again. Would its happy greetings be
only mockery to him?
Suddenly a thought, which had
smoldered in his mind for days, fash
ed up like a CLEAN of heavenly light,
radiating his whole being.
She was coming home tonight on the
late train; and he was so hungry TO
see her; only God knew how famished
of heart he wos!
He would take the down town train
get off at Rockland when she changed
cars for Gladbrook. No one could pre-
vent him from riding home in the
same coach with her; and even that
would be blessed comfort. Then,
maybe, something would come of it.
Who knew?
In fifteen minutes he was inside his
great coat, and locking the hall door,
with nervous, glad excitement steal
ing over him, like the coming of new
day. A ten-minutes' walk brought
him to the station.
Going away for the New Year?"
queried the agent pleasantly, handing
Reyburn the required pasteboard.
20, a little way" he replied, absent
ly, pulling on his gloves.
: Scarcely had he settled himself in
the outward bound train than Joe An
trim thumped him on the shoulder and
sang out: "Hullo! Going away on a
~ n