The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-01-11

suddenly Il am so tlred OF roaming
in this out Of the way place, Wilfred,
and there is still so much going on, l
hear. You must have got lots Of ideas
now, I am sure" She laughed glee-
fully as she spoke. The murmur of the
streets seemed already in her ears, and
the flash of silks and jewels came over
the sunlight on the grass.
He paused a moment. "Will you not
come on a little fartherY" he asked
kindly, yet a little wistfully. There
are some lovely places in the dale, and
you would be interested In them, l
think"
But she shook her head until the dia-
monds in her little ears twinkled like
dewdrops you know l am not inter
ested," she said petulantly. 81 hate
those old people who perched castles
on the tops of hills and expect you to
climb up to see them. Do let US go
back"
They had reached the lych gate now,
and girl was entering it from the 9TH
er side, where their carriage-his wifes
carriage-with It's beautiful bays, stood
waiting. The sunlight fell on her quiet
black gown and her soft hair as she
passed under the quaint oaken struc-
ture, and then she lifted her eyes, and
a sudden light flashed into them and
then died very gently again.
The mans face grew white in the
shadow of the leafy elms, but his wife
chartered on in her high, pretty voice
and noticed nothing of his pallor. And
then, as they met, he advanced quietly
to meet the girl as quietly as If they
had never parted In bitter, bitter sor-
row, the one brave and ready to sacri-
flee herself for his sake, the other, rs
he said to himself bitterly enough, a
coward and craven. And now they
met again in the soft sunshine of the
autumn day, with the first few leaves
falling, golden tinted, from the trees
around, with the blue, bright sky over
head and the purling of little stream
somewhere near. under the old gate
way that leads to the house of prayer
She spoke to him very calmly and
quietly, and he introduced her to his
lovely wife, and she told the stranger
at once in her pretty, petulGnt voice Of
her wish to go back to town and its
gayeties, only Wilfred wouldn't, he
was so cross.
But the girl smiled so gently and
spoke so soothingly that the little la
dy's wrath melted away. and she laugh
ed like a merry child and straightway
invited her new friend to pay them a
visit in town.
1--WE will go tomorrow, won't we,
WilfredY' she said laughingly, and the
grave faced man answered that her
will was law.
Eyes; we will go tomorrow" he said
when the girl had answered that she
never went to town now. Her father
was old and needed her care, and she
was quite content with her life in the
still countryside.
81 have him, and he has me-" she
said, with her peaceful smile, and the
laughing woman before her could not
guess and would never have realized
that this gentle faced girl had loved
the man beside her with all her heart
and soul and had passed through the
deep waters alone with her sorrow to
take up her life again bravely and
well.
And then one of the beautiful horses
claimed the pretty wife's attention,
and she went hurriedly on. leaving the
two together for brief moment in the
sunshine of the old gate.
"Forgive me, Enidw he said broken
ly. "Ah, l have wronged you so. and
1 deserve your hatred, but forgive me
If you canv'
His face was haggard, and his lips
whitened and trembled as he spoke the
few strained words.
But she laid her hand in his very gen.
thy, as if to say goodby to dear, dear
friend forever. 81 have forgiven you,
dear" she said. 81 may call you that
for this one last time? l have forgiven
you everything, and God keep you,
keep you safely and lead you Alright"
She paused, and the great tears rose in
her calm eyes and rolled down the pale
cheeks. She loved him so well still,
and the meeting and the parting were
very hard to bear.
And then, with one last look she
passed on into the loneliness of the
still graveyard and the quiet dead
Exchange.