The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-13
The FATE OF A ROMANCE.

Visitors day on the Massachusetts,
Lieutenant CrandaiI, pacing slowly past
the mouth OF the 13-inch rife in the after
! turret, watching idly the swarm Of Curl
| Gus humanity that clustered black and
| ant-like against the battleship's white
ness, let his thoughts wander across the
| busy, busting harbor TO where-under q
! splendor Of the afternoon sun-a tiny, old =
fashioned farmhouse nestled Tar away
! among the New Hampshire hills
Vivid and clear, the familiar scene
came back to him. the rugged beauty
/ Of The rocky upland pastures, the shad-
ow Of the mighty mountains stealing
over them; the faint, sweet smell OF the
hay and the measured clank OF the cow
ben.
In memory's picture there was not
wanting the image Of a bOy-the lieuten-
ant smiled involutarily as he thought Of
hin-barefOot and tanned, filed with
vague, overpowering longing for some
thing grander, nobler than the old farm
he hardly knew what, staring with all
his restless soul in his eyes al the beck
Oning mountains.
Before him. like a star in darkness, rose
a girls face. strong and earnest, every
line Of it speaking eloquently OF city
birth and breeding; across the years came
the unfOrgotten echo OF her voice as
they stood together watching the darken-
ing west. Try, Larry; you can be some
one If you Will am sure OF il. Moth
ing is gained without effort, and I know
it is hard; but I viii get father 70 help
you. He made his own way, you know
he was once 4 country boy, and as poor
as you. You mustn't think of failure.
She had gone out OF his life-the girl
her summer vacation al the farm over;
but grimly, determinedly, he had striven
TO be worthy Of her friendship and her
faith in him, and true TO her promise,
through her fathers assistance he had
won Annapolis.
He had realized. Of course the wide
gulf that separated the Woodworking en-
sign with only his meager pay for fortune
and the beautiful daughter of Senator
North. the reigning belle of Washington
society, and through pride lest he should
betray the secret in his heart. he had
left unanswered the last OF her friendly
letters, and for three years past his only
knowledge Of her had been stray but
treasured items in the newspapers.
Dogged effort win tell IN time, however.
and, thanks 10 the special knowledge
thai made his brilliant exploit at San
tiagO possible, he stood today lieutenant
Of enc Of the best ships in the United
States navy, and, moreover, Dame For
tune, in one of her inexplicable aprices.
had suddenly made him a comparatively
rich man-through the discovery OF a GER
tain medicinal spring on the old farm.
He could go 70 Edna North now, he
thought, proudly, with the love that had
grown with his growth. and strength
ened With his strength, and tell her like
a man that all he was. all that he had
achieved, was because of her, and the love
he bore fer her.
A voice at his elbow recalled his wan
dering fancy; Il beg your pardon, lieu
tenant" the speaker said. but my niece
is very DESTROYS Of going inside the tur-
ret; is it permitted?'
Crandall opened his lips to reply, but
of a sudden speech forsook him. Beside
the elderly lady who had addressed him,
taller, older, her clear-cut face showing
the fulhllment of its girlish promise,
was standing the girl Of his reverie.
He had pictured to himself many times
this meeting that was to be- and now, at
its fulfllment, a quick disappointment
mastered him. In the gray eyes looking
into his was no sign of recognition; the
girl of his dreams had forgotten him.
I'm afraid not" he said, when at last
he found his tongue; you haven't time.
The signal has just gone TO clear ship;
I am very sorry" He wondered mechan-
icaIy If she could hear his heart beat;
it seemed to him as If every fiber of his
being was crying aloud: Don't you re-
member me? Don't you remember me?'
As he cOurteously escorted the two la
dies to the gangway a tumult of emotion
surged UP within him; how could he let
her go like this? He might not have
another chance for months He must
speak-must tell her that
Miss North turned at the rail while her
aunt descended. do you know. lieuten-
ant" she said, uncertainty. you remind
me very forcibly Of someone I used 10
know, a country boy whom I have not
makes me think Of him and the summer
I spent at his fathers farm in New
Hampshire. 1t was his ambition TO be-
come what you are. I wonder If he sue
ceeded?" with little sigh.
Yes" cried Crandall. vehemently. TAX
ing step forward. He did. and he has
waited years FOR the chance to tell
you"
He stopped abruptly. setting his teeth
ere the love that wellCd uD IN his heart
at the sight of her burst all bounds.
For second the girl regarded him
with surprised eyes. and then they light
ed up with sudden recognition. You are
Larry" she cried, putting out her hand
impulsively: how stupid of me not to
have guessed Il. on, how proud and glad
am for YOU: I can't begin TO tell you
how much I-yes, auntie,' impatiently in
answer TO a call from below. Il am com
ing. 7 must go now" 10 CrandaIl but
surely I shall see you again soon? There
is so much I want you to tell me about
yourself. Can't you come and see me to-
morrow on shore? We are stopping at
the Majestic; I want you TO meet my
husband: he viii be pleased to see the boy
have talked about so much. You wiz
come. won't yOu?'
As her smiling face dropped below the
level Of the deck Crandal turned away,
and it seemed to him. as he watched the
gray shadows stealing in from the sea,
that ali the brightness and the hope had
gone out Of his life forever with the fad
ing light Ct the sunset.-Boston Post