Middletown transcript., 1902-01-11
HEY had not talked FIVE min

moor IN the r0ugn anu relueeo II! 1o
vague. uncomfortable recollectlons O
other days were revived when ne me
Marcia Wentworth again for the first tint
in years.
She was superb in her maturity ane
made him see vision. He was con
scious of a confusion of things Egyptian
in the background of his mind-Cleo
patra, lotus blooms and the Sphlnx-fo
in some subtle way she suggested TIN
richness and splendor OF more poeu
days.
tsFifteen years p she murmured dream
lily, looking at him with sweetly mock
ing eyes. "And I, who was seventeen
am tthiirtv-two.n She pnckered he
smooth forehead into knot and made
quaint erimace which filed Sanford witt
q mad desire to kiss her then and there
s'Fifteen years." he retorted traglcally
sand I, who was thirty-fve, ann
"Forpiye mep' she laughed with
deprecating gesture, ''and don't say it
Take the other point of view. Fifteen
years ago" (consolingly) "you were twicf
nv age. To-day you are nowhere neal
that, and with glance half mischievous
half consoling, she turned to greet an &C
ouaintance who was making his way
: toward them.
Relocated to the background for the
moment, Sanford occupied himself II
irving to decide just how much OF that
old Irritation she probably remembered.
She was but slip Of girl in those days,
and though the details had escaped him
he was still uncomfortably conscious Of
the alteration that used to shine out al
him from her unconscious young eyes,
He had a vague suspicion that his con.
duct had not been above reproach. lie
might have forgiven himself that-for he
had been bored! What he could not for,
give was his Grass stupidity in failing to
discover in little Marcia Wentworth the
chrysalis of this splendid creature, all
softness and fire.
1t was late in the afternoon and the
Trevor grounds, always famous for their
beauty, were at their best. 1t was a
scent worthy ef q poet Indeed, Mrs.
Trevor's garden parties were poetry made
real.
"Watteau, with touch of Omar" re-
marked Miss Wentworth as they were
left to themselves once more. 81 feel as
if we were illustrating the Rubaiyat."
'Is that delicate way of intimating
that you wish me to bring you something
to drink? ?'' teased Sanford. "And what
shall it bep'.
'eYou have missed your cue," she re-
sponded with smiling reproach. but
then" and the gentle mockery shone III
her ewes once more-"a man never does
remember r.
She gave sigh, paused for a moment
and then continued:
"You have evidently forgotten that we
last saw each other where we meet to.
day-at garden party at Mrs. Trevor's
That talent for forgetting ng''-shaking hel
head at him smilingly-"How much you
men owe to it p
He had forgotten-and he spared fol
time now as he racked his brain for some
detail of that far-away afternoon-some
trihe which he might rescue from the
debris of the past and make into pretty
speeck. The gods were merciful. Sud
denly slim girlish figure in white rose
before him and a pair of dark, intense
eyes gazed into his. Still he hesitated
for a moment before he spoke in order
to be quite sure, for the walls Of his mem
ory were richly frescoed with girlish fig
ures-and he hated to make blunders
Then he spoke triumphantly, but with
Just the rich touch of melancholy mean
ing in his voice.
$50 you think that I've forgotten
Listen then! Your gown was soft and
thin and white and you wore big hat
covered with yellow roses"
He looked straight at her, but her eyes
did not fall as in the old days. Instead,
she returned the gaze unfinchingly, and
curiosity, amusement and disbelief were
mingled in her glance.
bravo ~ she cried softly; but she was
unconvinced. He saw that and was net
tied by it. Fortunately, he could not
read her thoughts, for she was wailing to
he2 4inacr self "Ah, me That I should
have to acknowledge to myself that he's
Just an ordinary fiirt after all ! How
crude must have been at seventeen.
And yet
Her thoughts went swiftly back to that
day day ia ii her girlhood, when she had met
him last. The scene was the same as
to-day-great stretches of velvety turf,
stately trees and groups of people laugh
ing and chatting together On that af-
ternoon, she remembered the western sky
was blaze of rose color. How the gay
scene had Knocked her misery, as San
ford, who was devoting himself to the
beautiful Miss Carroll, forgetful of her
existence, never once approached her,
though he knew that it would be their
last meeting, as her family was leaving
for Europe on the following day.
To-day, she noted with amused ap-
probation the western sky was bank of
pale gold, and the color seemed more ap-
propriate to the vanished ideals and lost
illusions of thirty-two. Seventeen-snd
rose color Thirty-two-and pale gold
"You were thinking-?' prompted
Sanford, inquiringly breaking in upon
her reverie.
sT am thinking" she answered, bring
ing her eyes back to him deliberately-"I
am thinking that I will tell you story.
But perhaps" with touch of malice,
ayou do not like stories?"
ssOn the contrary, dote upon them.
Do begin"
Miss Wentworth settled herself more
comfortably in her chair. Then, looking
at har conranion in a speculative man.