El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-28
A SWEETHEART
OF LONG AGO.

golden haired little Lilliard says some
times petulantly. But then Naomi is 30.
and it is years that "bring the philosoph-
ic mind"
Eighteen years ago, when Naomi was
II, she had received baby Lilliard, her
newborn stepsister, as the legacy from
the hands of a dying mother mild"
When, ten years later, their father,
gay, debonair Ernest Romer, LATEST and
most charming of men and artists, had
followed his wife, leaving her two chill
dren utterly unprovided for, Naomi had
quietly and naturally slipped into the
position of breadwinner and house pro-
wider. Then had come a lover, too poor
to provide for both Naomi and Lilliard.
Then he had gone away to make for
tune in distant lands, and for eight years
Naomi had never heard of him.
There comes ring at the doorbell, and
little Alice Sparrow, Naomi's maid of all
work, puts in her head to say, "a gentle
man for you, please, miss"
Naomi rises in surprise as a tall, we'll
built man, with a sunburned complexion
and head of tawny hair, enters, and,
striding to her side, takes her hand.
Naomi, have you forgotten me-Mar-
tin ColquhounY'
For moment the room swims round
Naomi, but the next she has recovered
it astonishes her to hear her own voice:
"How do you do? 1 did not know you
were in Washington"
Il only came yesterday" he says ca
gerly, $50 you see 1 have not lost much
time. 1 found out your address in the
directOry-what grand institution it is!
Naomi. you are not changed. Am II"
She smiles little. q would know you
but you are changed"
ssT shall foil Vol, oil NJ and nv - no
says, and at that moment Lilliard rushes
in.
marie is out. Is it not a shame?"
Then she pauses, blushing, and Naomi
introduces the two.
$50 you are Lilliard?' says Martin
Colquhoun, 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"
Il believe 1 am" says Lilliard, laugh
ing. Then she sits down, and SO does
Martin Colquhoun, and they spend n
pleasant, even gay, evening together,
Martin telling them of all the dangers he
has passed in the search for fortune
which, it seems, he has found.
Martin Colquhoun calls again and
again. He comes in the evenings, when
Naomi plays, and he and Lilliard sit in
the window together. He calls in the
afternoon and takes them driving in the
park and to Mount Vernon, and he and
LilGard generally 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 loves-alas-Martin.
She desires the happiness of both. As
for her, it only means that her sky will
grow a little grayer, her life a little emp
tier; but at 80, she tells herself, one does
not feel the pain SO keenly as at 20.
One evening he calls. Lilliard is out
and Naomi alone. He looks strangely
nervous.
Il have called to tell you 1 shall have
to say goodby," he said abruptly. 81 am
going away on Monday"
"Going awayv' Naomi echoes family.
eyes, 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.'
Naomi's heart is still. The blow is
coming, then.
81 think l can guess what it is" she
says, wondering if her voice sounds
strange and unnatural. Mr.. Colquhoun,
l will do the most L can. L desire your
happiness as much as-as Lilliard's."
He seizes her hands.
lnen-yOu are Wllnng! GU have
have thought of 20 he asks, a little I'M
steadily.
Il have no right to be anything else,"
she answers smilingly. eff Lilliard is
willing, that is all you require"
"Lilliard? l do not understand you,
Naomi. What has Lilliard to do with it
Don't you understand, dear, that l love
you as much. nay, more, a thousandfold
more, than ever? Naomi, it was not my
for hot Ill
years. My letter-the last one-was re-
turned, marked Left-no address, But
1 have never ceased thinking Of you, and
now l want you as my wife. Naomi,
Naomi, after waiting all these years, am
1 to be disappointed at the last?"
"Oh, stop!' Naomi cries, little wildly
'I-I thought it was Lilliard you cared
for, not me-"
"Lilliardp' He grows holder then, and,
drawing her within his arms, lays her
sweet face against his breast "Why,
Lilliard and 1 are very good friends, but
she knows the truth, Naomi. My darling,
Is that why you have been so cold to me?
have sometimes thought the past was
dead to you-dead and hAried-you were
so cold. But it is not so, Naomi? You
still love me, my sweetheart of long
ago.?
And NaomIs answer, though too low
Il. any ears but his to hear, is evidently
heard by Martin CoIquhoun, for he bends
his head and then and there triumphant
ly kisses her.-American Queen.