Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1901-07-20

shIne? I was going on to my sister,
to tea De you remember Ethel, the
other pigtai1? She is married now
VIII you come and SEQ If she has alter.
ed?"
Thanks. shall be pleased"
The old church at Brentwell stands
on slightly rising ground and COM
mands an extensive view of the broad
fen land.
Lord Farehaven leaned upon the low
stone wall that skirts the churchyard,
gazing at the sacred edifee, while his
boyhood memories crowded thick and
fast around him. He remembered Just
such a June evening as this-sitting
beside his mother in the old worm
eaten csk pew, listening indolentIy to
the service, with his attention wander
ing ever and again to Pleasance Green
acre, sitting on the other side of the
shyly to meet his; and a shaft of gold
en- light striking through the west win
dow, turning her long, fair hair into a
living fame. How he had adored her
twenty years ago. He wondered If
she was alive-a wife and mother per-
haps; and wondering still, entered the
iron gate and walked among the green
graves, some with stones at their heads,
some neglected and forgotten. In one
corner he came upon a little flower
covered grave, surrounded with white
stones, and having cross at the head.
It bore these words:
ITO the memory Of Pleasance Green
acre, who died on Easter Day, 1885"
The setting sun shone full upon the
stone, as in years gone by it had shone
On Pleasance Greenacre's golden hair.
It was Sunday afternoon, and Mrs.
Varney had strolled into Kensington
Gardens, preferring the shade of the
trees to her drawing-room-a view en-
tirely shared by the two fox-terriers
who accompanied her.
She found a comfortable shady seat,
and settled herself down to think; and
her thoughts were of Lord Farehaven.
She called him Hubert, to herself, be-
cause he had been Hubert when he
was her brothers greatest chum,. in
the days before he went to India.
Hubert Steele had been her ideal, and
Lord Farehaven did not fall short of it.
She had been very glad to meet him
again, more glad than she cared to ac-
knowledge-and he had seemed glad,
too Looking up, she saw him ap-
preaching, and her pulses quickened.
81 learned you were in the Gardens"
be said, seating himself at her bidding,
$50 I decided to follow you
81 hardly expected you today, or any
one, and so I brought my poor doggies
out for run; they hate London. Have
you been away. I half-thought you
would be at the opera last night to hear
Melba. Ethel and 1 looked in vain for
you"
''I ran down into the country for
day, on Friday, and only returned at 8
last evening"
She remembered the picture.
"And is it like what it WASP"
Like and unlike. 1t all seemed so
unreal-like a tale that is toId.''
81 know that feeling-as though one
had been some one else in those far-off
days. The past never satisfies me.
Some people live in the past; I think
the present is the happiest time. 1t is
a mistake to treasure up dead rose
leaves when the roses bloom every
year."
"And yet the scent of the dead leaves
Is sweet"
mot so sweet as the freshly gathered
roses from the garden"
Lord Farehaven looked gravely at
her.
eve may not ali pluck them" he
said.
perhaps it is because we do not
dare-or do not care,'' she replied soft
ly.
Gladys he said, taking her little
gloVed hand in his own. will you
show me where to gather the roses?"