The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-17

his people coming to see me- Perhaps he's
ashamed Of them" But looking at the
| strong, fine face this idea seemed absurd,
! SO Nan resolutely dismissed all specula-
! ton and gave herself up to the enjoyment
| of the minute.
| A letter from her mother brought this
| enjoyment to an end "You have been
! absent three weeks now" said the note,
/ $50 it's about time you were returning
! home. Mr.. Duratt will go down for you
Friday and I hope you will be sensible
and give him the answer he deserves.
! The note made Nan feel unaccountably
! depressed Her future seemed to be cut
out by certain pattern and she was con-
! fdent the patternsdidn fit. "At least
! she decided pensively, 81 have three days
| of grace and I'll enjoy them
| Returning from long ride that after
noon she met Mr. FREEDOM, who wheeled
! about and came back with her. It's
| almost my last ride she said soberly,
I'm going home Friday For min
ute he did not answer and Nan, steal
! ing look at his face, saw that 1t was
| unusually grave.
1T am sorry our excursions are almost
over he said finally with what seemed
to the girl exasperating Indifference.
| "but 1 think you haYe enjoyed your out
| Ing
'Just as if I were almost anybody"
! Nan confided Indignantly to her wheel
and she tried to assure herself that she
was really glad she was going home.
! Nan expected Mr.. Daratt Friday after
noon In the morning Mr.. Freedom ap-
| peared with his wheel. Lets take a
| good-by ride" he said, and Nan, fiat
| tered by the gravity, of his eyes, con-
| seated. She never forgot that ride. The
purple haze of Indian summer enwrap-
/ ped all the landscape and 1t seemed to
| Nan that they We're dream people, rid
ing through q land. of dreams. They
! seldom spoke, but there was an fntangi-
bic feeling of nearnesS and complete
understanding that zcomforted her. AS
they started homeward the sun burst
gIoriously through the haze and lit up
the purple and scarlet and golden land
! scape until the country round about
seemed glorified. The brightness had its
| effect on the girls spirits and in spite of
the impending departure she felt happy.
| When they reached the style where Nan
had sat that first evening they both dis
| mounted and Nan perched herself in her
old place
81 feel that I have been living pas
toral poem for three weeks, she said,
land tomorrow I'm going back to prose-
Mr. Freedom did not answer. She Won
dered if he had heard her. His eyes
were fastened on the wheel of Mans
bicycle which ne was spinning round and
round with the toe of his boot, Both
his hands were thrust deep in his peck
cts. Nan watched the revolutions of the
wheel soberly. Every turn had meant.
| for her bit of delight.
''Those old buffers, the Egyptians, You
know suddenly remarked her COM
panion, apropos of nothing in particular.
fused the wheel or circle as an emblem
of eternity
Nan was listening to him, but her eyes
| were fastened on a wheelman coming
| across the stretch of prairie: Mr.. FIRE.
| dons eyes were on the revolving wheel.
lie did not see the approaching wheel
man.
Because of its endlessress that circle
| also became the emblem of happiness,
he went on, apparently intent upon his
| own train of thoughts.
| Man. he said suddenly, drawing his
! hands out of his pocket and Selling both
! of hers. There lis only one little hand
in the world that T would ask to draw
the circle of my happiness. We have
| only known each other short while
| But love you"
There was shout and FREEDOM, glanc-
ing up, saw man on a wheel waving
his hand joyously..a at Nan He was SO
near that there was no chance for her TO
/ reply. Withdrawing her hands she
stopped quickly and traced with her
slim white finger a.. circle in the dus.
and then turned to greet the approaching
| wheelman who was Mr.. Daratt.