Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1901-07-20
LIKE A TALE TOLD.
BY H. sAvILE BARrHRoP.

in the beauty Of the day, the vast blue
ness above her. and the hum of NOV
ing life around; she was one of the
women who enjoy life and love to bask
in the sunshine. AS they passed an
| imposing looking club, a man standing
on the step, raised his hat. In response
to Mrs. Varney's signal the carriage
drew up to the curb, and he came
across the pavement.
''What a glorious afternoon" she
said, after the first greeting, land l am
going to spend an hour Of it under a
roof"
"Any particular roof?"
"The Academy"
won't it be stuffy?''
"Will you try the experiment with
me, or are you lerwise engaged?"
81 am at liberty, and shall be de-
lighted"
He took his seat beside her, and they
drove on once more.
~ was so pleased to meet you
again" she said, with a ring of genu-
ineness in her tone.
"And I am glad OF this opportunity
for quiet talk; it was an impossibility
the other evening. You have been
abroad ten years-what are your i'm
pressions on returning? 1t must be so
very interesting to go away for such
long time.'
1t was not always interesting"
1.-THE coming back must be-meeting
people again and drifting back into the
same current once more"
Yes. find it pleasure in seeing
things-and people,"
She flashed one of her bright smiles
at him.
4 was girl in the schoolroom when
you came to say good-by; it seems
centuries ago."
You had a brown plat down your
back"
"My pigtail! Oh, 1 discarded that
soon afterwards. 1 came out that win
ter, you know, married Mr.. Varney the
following spring, and have been a wild
oW four years. It represents a life
IND e. doesn't it? Have I altered very
T4uch?"
He looked down at the beautiful,
smiling face.
"If it were not for the regrettable abb
sence of the pigtail, should say not at
ALL"
"How nice of you, but, really, have
altered, Of course. And you look
older"
81 feel older"
There was something of sadness in
his voice.
81 was not very young man when I
went out, and India-especially that
little city on the pIains-does not tend
to rejuvenate one.''
81 wonder why you stayed
81 was the fifth life from the title,
and poor man."
ST see. How strange it all isl
The carriage turned into the court
yard of Burlington House, and they
alighted.
''You have not seen the pictures yet,
Of course" she said, as they went up
the stairs.
mo, my time has been fairly well
occupied for the two weeks have been
home"
-"rhen I must show you all those
that are talked about, and one or two
like, that are not talked about. And,
Of course, the portraits. You will meet
most of the originals during the sum-
mer. wonder if you will recognize
them"
How unkind!''
"Well, when one sits for ones pic
ture. one naturally dresses and poses
for it, and the pose is almost unrecog-
nizable at times; but you are expected
to gush about it when you meet the
original, so be very careful, and-'when
found, make note Oft"
cit may lead to frightful complica-
TONS"
81 believe it would, if you were not
very discreet"
Conversing lightly, they entered the
rooms, and Mrs. Varney drew her COM
panion's attention to the picture Of the
year, showing good knowledge Of her
catalogue, and amusing him with with
cisms.
AS they entered the third room a
small picture 'on the line" caught his
eye, so that he went forward, almost
abruptly, and stood before it.
Number 2237," Mrs. Varney said,
consulting her catalogue. THE Old
Church at Brentwe1l in Norfolk"
81 spent my bo5hood there-and left
it behind me-
His voice was very grave, and tired
look had come into his worn, brown
face, so that she checked the idle words
rising to her lips and stood beside him
in silence while he gazed at the little
picture.
Perhaps her greatest charm was that
she always understo cd.
He turned in a moment or SO.
Il t was very good of you to bring me
her e." he said
81 49, 1-Ia5 49,, 7,oxze J>ao1 f,,ka~aSfo5