The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09

ten me. Mr.. Carstairs?" said the girl as
he stood before her.
Il ought to know the eyes" responded
Harold. but am ashamed TO confess that l
cannot"
Cannot recogniz. the girl You vowed TO
love. and cherish. and protect. when she
grew NJ: Not know the maiden You were
To make your wi~fe-squaw. I think you said:
our home was TO he on the bounding
prairie, I remember. Is there nothing LEFT
Of the scraggy child you fshed out Of the
pond. put your jacket around and carried
on your back to the house,
"Hilda Raybould. by all that's wonderful.
What an ass I am, But you know"
He halted lamely. but the admiring COM
prehensive look must have been quite read
able and satisfactory TO the girl
My name IL Hurst now" said she.
Harold looked at her blankly. Married"
said he. with a falling infection.
Neither married nor likely to be. though
l am a rich woman. An uncle in London
died. and I had to lake his surname with
the money"
oh" said Harold. Frightening. relieved.
he scarcely knew why.
Now tell me all about yourself" said
she: and. nothing loath. he did. seeming to
drop easily into the old childish confidence
with his former playfellow. Blu their pleas
ant Capitalization was broken by the vot-
ing. Hilda was out OF IL all; she was re-
Gently down from London. knew nothing of
the nature OF the function. and. as 4
stranger. wore no badge. Mrs. Odsll car
ri.d of first honors with Round the Red
Lamp"-which every one had thought to be
Moths: but. although Harold's blank card
which meant No Name" had not been gen.
orally understood. the booty prize went
to Mr.. R1msden. owing TO the champion
ship Of the mortified Miss Singleton. whom
many people wished TO please.
Mrs. Odell came up JubiIant. and Harold
introduced the two ladies. which ended in
an invitation to Hill View for Hilda and
an eldery cousin. who was playing the part
of chaperon. Harold was enthusiastic over
the girl as he escorted his sister home. and
this lady. mindful OF her last failure. heard
him patiently. but gave no advice
TIL. acquaintance thus made and renewed
ripened into friendship all round. for the
Odells sincerely admired the frank. high
spirited girl, whilst the cousin. Miss Martin,
was no soured old maid. but a pleasant.
cultured woman who would have been a
welcome addition TO any circle.
A for the young people themselves. they
fell naturally into the old life of comrade-
ship. save that there was now no talk of
sweethearting. for Harold was no fortune
hunter. and accepted the altered conditions
without grumbling at his lot. There were
picnics. tennis parties. drives. and he
found these amusements delightful in her
company, but their great pleasure was TO
take train to Oakle Street. walk to West |
bu~ry-on-Severn. and there hire a boat -
ride the broad waters II the river past the
hamlets In which their early holidays had
been spent: or TO cross TO Longney by the
ferry and wander amongst the orchard
lands there. now glorious with ripening
fruit. |
But who could experience these remini.- |
on.z - 49,. N,-nx. na.r -E,l-., III i
the full spirit which the scenes suggested? |
not two high-sDirited young peo- |
pie with an undeterminate future, and |
without binding home ties. particularly |
when the man was a traveller with the |
mystery OF foreign lands and adventure |
Represented all that is charming in the NO.
man OF leisure. |
When the truth forced itself upon Harold |
he was looking upon HiIda with some |
thing more than the eyes OF friendship. he |
comforted himself with the idea that his |
book might bring him fortune. and 50 put
him out Of the category Of lovers whose /
are believed to be entirely mercenary. |
But IT did nothing of the kind. Afessrs. /
the publishers. brought out the
work on the royalty system. Il IS true. /
but 1t hung fire. somehow. and Harold saw |
before him but another exile to
a land where he could put his shoulder to
AZ "hec ~ cLnpioy LhcHtS ifupOSSIOtc IN MS l
native land. |
The idea OF departure. not the idea OF la
Dor. made him dispirited and gloomy. and
he girl was not slow to observe the change.
are you looking so rueful about.
she asked. suddenly. one day.
Got to go into the world again., said
he. ito try gold digging. stock drovins. OF
equally romantic-in talesLbut
precious prosaic when you leave behInd you
all the places-and persons-you love hest"
OH said the girl. the color leaving her
lace. and there was a painful silence for a
space. Then she said: What about the
book: think 1t charming. Those descrip-
ions Of the ancient ruins. unmentioned by
travellers. are enthralling. to say
of the pains you have taken to OBJ
the rites and customs of the NatsbeIe.
he specimens Of their. language you give.
md the fauna and fora Of the country"
THANK you. Hilda. you're q brick. But
he public don't take to the book. I'm
lfraid. There have been one or two good
49, 49, -