Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-07-05
would know to cerralnty whether

AAooSS UhuoA I1iC AOCuSlS on ne side
street, where he had spent so many
happy hours. His thoughts had been
there all day, but he had purposelv
waited until the hour when he had
been accustomed to go to meet Mabel
AS he went slowly along he remember
ed how eagerly and with hurried stems
he had always trodden the grassy path,
and how he had always found Mabel
waiting for him on the steps of the
old porch. With bowed head he walked
along, and it was not till he reached
the familiar gate and lifted the latch,
that he raised his head and looked
about him.
Some one was sitting on the steps,
and at the click of the latch she
sprang to her feet in startled way.
i beg your pardon" he said, lifting
his hat. II thought this house was
vacant, and was so absorbed in my
own thoughts that I did not notice
that any one was here
"Claude!" exclaimed the woman on
the steps, holding out her hands to
him.
Mabel" he cried, mabel! can it
be true that l have found you here?"
and he sprang forward and caught her
in his arms and kissed her again and
again. Suddenly he recovered him
self, and releasing her he said, 81 beg
your pardon, Mrs. Hastings. I was
so overcome by memories Of the past,
and so surprised to find you here that
I forgot you were another mans wife.
For the sake of past friendship, will
you not forgive me?'
Mrs. Hastings!" she said, looking
into his face in a puzzled way. 81 do
not understand you. am Mabel Cur
tbs. Have I mistaken you? Are you
not Claude Murray?"
In a moment his arms were about
her again.
as it true? Have found you
again, my Mabel? Oh, it has all been
a wretched mistake! Tell me, sweet
heart, that I need never lose you
again. Do not send me away. l could
not bear it now"
| She laid her head against his Shout
der with a little sigh of content.
"Nor could l bear to have you &C"
was all she said.
Then they sat down in their old
place on the steps to consider their
strange meeting.
you have not told me yet why you
called me Mrs. Hastings" she said
inquiringly.
For answer he drew from book in
his pocket a we'll worn slip of paper,
which he placed in her hand. In the
bright moonlight she read:
Married-By the Rev. John B. Cur
tbs, at Sharon, Iowa, May 10, IS,
Miss Mabel Curtis and Mr.. Harry
Hastings.
"Oh!" she cried, "and you thought
that was my marriage notice? That
was my cousin Mabel. Father mar
ried her and l was bridesmaid; but it
never entered my head that any one
would think I was the bride. And
you have carried that all these years
| Oh, Claude!"
The tears were shining in the eyes
she raised to his, and he felt called to
kiss them away.
81 shall never lose you again,
DEAR" he murmured in her ear. eve
will be married here in Vernon and
take our wedding trip out to Our home
| in Los Angeles. Do not say no, Ma
BEL" and he bent eagerly for her
answer.
"Home!" she repeated. II have had
no home for three years. And a
l0me with you-oh, Claude, it will be
happiness beyond words!"
He drew her nearer to him, and his
heart leaped up in sympathy for the
sorrow that thrilled in her voice.
You have not tod me of your trou-
BILE, Mabel" he said, gently.
No. l forgot it all in seeing you
Three years ago my parents both died
l came East to the college where
graduated and obtained a position as
teacher of the de1sarte culture there.
! My summers have been spent at the
college or visiting in the homes OF
friends. This summer, for the first
time in ali these years, / felt an un'
comfortable longing to come back
here and visit the old home. I had in
tended to go elsewhere, but the feeling
was so strong that l could not shake
it off, and so last night I came"
Last night" he cried. ION the
evening train south?'
"Yes," she replied.
81 was on the same train and we
did not know one another! Did you
see me get OFF,
NO." she answered, Mrs. Andrews
was expecting ne and met me at the
train. So l did not look about.
How did you happen to come here
tonight, then?" he still questioned.
81 wanted to come alone just at this
time because felt as if you would
seem nearer to me. l did not see you
until you entered the gate, because
was so utterly carried away by the sac
memories of all that I had lost since