The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-05
The Globes Daily Short Story

taking the Ridge school. Bess can turn
housekeeper.'
wen, seriously, then, L think you
would better stick to your drawing. Your
talent lies ir that direction, and the
Ridge school means hard work and poor
wages AS to the debts, they are all
Paid, and we have small sum in the
Felix
Yes. The last one was paid six
months ago. Did you think I could ar
range for a jollification with anythine-
like. that hanging over us? Now if the
Maine woods do their duty I shall
come back q new nan and be ready for
the fall campaign"
THE falI-what?"
Campaign, my DEAR he said, coolly,
enjoying her amazement. You did not
know that my name was up for senator.
IL mas been kept secret for certain rea-
sons, but today / had intimation thar
they were ready to go ahead, and with
every prospect of success
Butt did not know that you took
any interest IN pOlitics?" she said her
voice trembling with eagerness and
wonder.
Nor have I-much'' he replied grave.
~ never dreamed of such a thing
until | was approached on the subject
L thought my ambition was dead but it
seems / was mistaken. 1 felt almost
frightened at the tumult the possibility
awoke in me. And it pleases- YOU. too.
silence
More than I can tell, she replied with
glad light in her eyes. II have felt
worried about you lately. It seemed so
hard that after all these years there
could be no future for you but the musty
Office. 1t seems almost like the ending of
one Of your stories. 1t is rather late,
cut you are not very old.
Not very old! The words rang in
his ears long after he had gone to his
room, He had olmost come to regard
himself as an old man, but, after all,
he was not very old. He was scarcely
in his prime. A long future was be-
hapS-
From the open window the sky pre-
sented a picture of rare beauty and
brilliancy in contrast with the dark
groupings of hills and forests Millions
of stars looked down, and away in the
northeast could be traced the path o
the Perseids Somewhere under the
line of shooting meteors he imagined
was a country mansion, and in the
mansion was fair girl with deep, tender
eyes.
This is one of the dreams he had left
behind. But the past few weeks had been
restoring much which he thought was
lost, and this came up with the rest. If
there was to be q future for him this
should form a part, and q deep flood Of
thanksgiving Welled up from his heart as
his eyes gazed into the majesty Of the
night.
Thinking of the sweet possibilities, that
parting on the bridge grew very near.
He could feel the soft touch on his arm
and hear the quiet voice as it said:
Felix, your work is at home-and we
are very young. When it is right you
may come for me. 1 win be waiting"
And during all these fifteen years she
had kept her word. Even now he had a
letter in his pocket on which the ink was
scarcely dry. They had lost their youth,
but the summer and autumn would be
richer for the waiting.
1t was not until he heard the mill bell
strike three that he left the window. But
even then it was not to sleep. His nerves
were not ready for that. Over and over
he reviewed the past and made plans for
the future, and when the first summons
of the factory bell brought him down TO
breakfast he told Margaret that he had
decided to give in his resignation during
the day.
II think I can do it and still be able
to keep the wolf from the door, he said,
with smile.
And think so, too" she said hearth
ly. Besides, we will all have more cour-
age for work if we know you are out
of that horrible Office
Several times during the meal she saw
a sudden light come into his face, and
fancied his tones were even more tender
than usual
At length she spoke.
your thoughts are pleasant, Felix -
YES" thoughtfully, they are pleasant
very pleasant. L VIII tell you about
them sometime"
kissed her fondly.
She watched him down the path with
IF he were not so old, and If I did not
know better she thought, II would say
he was in love-