The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-12-11
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! THE VOICE OF
hlV LAhhV Old Fools
: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

! AN EInU Old Fool. !
$Ae4%e@$$eA%@s&SeA$eoe$s&S
Out OF the window Of the old wooden
| bridge. whose hooded tunnel threw Il
dark bar across the moonllt mountain
stream, man and a woman stood
| looking Into the pine clad amphithea-
ter Of the cliffs. Which lay IN stiffness
beneath the spell of September night
| The black hollow OF the bridge. with
| Its one muonbeam sharp across the
| floor, cOntrastod with the awful Sp!en-
! dor Of the granite gorge, buttressed
| and pinnacled IN every rising tier. un-
der tile Hood of ghostly light, and If
the only object OF the couple in coming
here was 10 see tie view they were
amply repaid From their conversa-
ton since they left the hotel, which
now lay behind them hidden by Il
fringe OF the forest, 1t would have been
difficult to say that this was not their
| only object. The small talk of ac-
workmanship, friendship and even
love Is within certain limits and among
people hahltuatcd TO each others con.
ventions practically ind!stlngulshable.
Frequently It Is difficult TO decide why
the degrees should he % 50 much con
sequence to the parties
1t was knowledge of the world and
the good temper Of experience that
kept Mrs. Hugonln and Arthur Kin
nalrd on perfectly unrutled terms with
each other The conviction that he had
long ago forgiven her, gratifying rs It
once had been. was NOW Of such long
standing that it had become confused
with lIer earlier aud less justlfiable
conviction that he ultimately would
forgive her. Thus secure In vludica-
ia the lust fer which the dying Eve
hequeHthed 10 all her soy. Mrs. Hu-
gonin could without the slightest re-
Election upon her wldowhood accept
once more the companionship of man
who tolerated life rs comfortably as
Arthur Klnnair1. The imminenee of
the elimactelie which she knew TO he
threatening him was not to he read
from his figure His step WAS alert,
bis cheeks were hronzed, Ills tastes
were rational, and what more could
he desire2
She pushed back her dark hair under
Its somewhat youthful cap. and. lean
Ing her elbows ap the iodge, snNed
without speaking Mt the haunted dcfile.
Kinnalrd gave a little laugh behind her.
Margaret" he said. upon my word. 1t
seems as If we were boy and girl
again"
why. particularly? 2" she asked,
without turning her bend.
"Oh. all this summer" he replied.
She did not nsk him Ia be more ex-
pllct. at Is certainly an ideal place"
she said with half sigh YET 1t Is
foolish TO say That the htauiies of ma
ture restore ones youth one may feel
young again. but one is not really any
the less dispassiorate."
81 am moi 81 Sl-F,' Of that" said Kin
nalrd 81 should Like to urcnr the poln.
with you-if 1t could be argued
"You men are all alike" said Mrs.
Hugonin with an Inconsistent shrug OF
her shoulder You give up To logic
what was meant for conversation
Klnnalrd stroked his mustache
thoughtfully for moment. And so
you think ne dispasslonateT he oh.
served.
Your sald Mrs. Hugonln turning
with a delightful laugh. why, Ar
thur, there isn't sentiment or a con
viction to whose support society could
order you to contribute"
ar you mean that" he sold slowly,
at is quite as | feared"
"As you feared"
"You still believe me capable Of as
much mistaken self control as once
was. And" he added calmly. II don't
wonder"
Though there WAS no bitterness APP
parent In his tone Mrs. IIugonin was
startled Really. tls Is unlike you,
Arthur" she said graycly. but yet with
u sense OF amusement. You petulant
with your pastf You provoked with
your recollectlons? Indeed. have
mistaken you"
He laughed. but gently. Come" he
said, you have no right to be ironlcnl.
Though l once let you go, it was be-
cause | thought you wished TO be re-
leased"
Upon my word, Arthur" said Mrs.
Hugonln. 81 did not know you were
serious or should not have taken this
as joke"
81 am entirely serious"
"ReallyT said Mrs. Hugonin. and
she spoke with some irritation. 81
thought all had been forgotten and for.
| given years ago" Then she drew her
self up proudly. Can it be that after
all this time you have conceived the
childish within Of forcing me to a-to
an Apology"
"No-hardly that"
81 am ready to make IT," she went
on. But If do
Kinnaird moved to the window be-
side her and laid hand on her arm.
"You are much mistaken" he said, In
the undsturbed voice which so pro-
voked her. you must indeed think
that l am taking leave Of my years. |
never had much vanity. | think, but
what had when was younger ! new
er made o pet OF. Look over there at
| the rocks, a1u what do you seef"
"Rocks and moonlight. But, Ar
thur
THE rocks make me Iecollect." be
went on. unheeding, that one day
when you were about seventeen you
and climbed Lone mountain together.
And when we reached the ravlne you
insisted on going first, and ! let you
Now, | did that because reflected that
II you fell | could catch you"
! "WellY'
You see, that was my first mistake
should have gone frst and made you