Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-01-30

derlng scrutiny.
Where was il he had seen that pin
Of gold before? Surely it once had
been familiar Surely he knew-oh.
yes OF course he knew Recollection
moved back upon him as a rising tide.
Now he remembered. This was the
PIN which had been little Pauline's-
Pauline Carrols-his boyhood play
mate his boyhood sweetheart. Well,
Well! How long was it? Ten years,
at least. Yes, full ten years. She
was sixteen then, and her parents
had sent her to New Orleans to round
her education at the seminary of the
Sacred Heart. After that-well. he had
never seen her. He had gone away,
too from the little plantation-en-
yironed village which had been their
birthplace, and had returned but
once. Then, it was true, he had be.
thought him of dainty, pretty, viva
eious Pauline, and had asked about
her. No one could tell him much.
Her parents had removed to the bio
metropolis. That was all They had
been swallowed up. None Of the Car
rolls ever had come back to Belmont.
As for this pin, there could be no !
two Ike il, he had seen it a hundred !
times. II was Pauline's. of course: |
but Pauline. where, was she? He rose
with more yiyacity than he had felt
during the long day, and as he did so,
and half turned to inspect his fellow
passengers once more, a ripping /
voice sweet as he trill of a bird, ac-
costed him, half laughing half in
Veiled anxiety, at his elbow:
Pardon me, sir, a thousand times,
! beg, il am wrong. but have been
searching for a pin ] dropped some
where in the car a little while ago,
Just after got on at the last sta
ton, and | suspect" she concluded.
with a rogush smile. that you are in
a position TO claim the reward"
II was Pauline, no doubt. Pauline.
indeed But this tan, radiant, beauti-
full woman was not BY any means
the uus0phisticated country girl
whose budding beauty had been the
particular flower of Belmont. Evil
IDENTIFY she had not recognized in his
bearded face the boy Of eighteen
whom She had called Charlie ten
years before. His ennui fled like mist
before the sun He would dissemble
for a moment Then they could 90 TO
supper together After that the trip
would be dull no longer
Madam he answered. gravely.
bowling in his best manner, 1T is
quite true that | have found some
such trinket as you mention But as
its morally responsible custodian
must beware Of all claimants who
cannot prove satisfactory ownership.
Now II you will only be seated" he
motioned 10 the vacant section beside
them, ''and describe your lost prop
erty, you may be able TO set at rest
even the deepest seruples l may pos
sess concerning its proper delivery"
The young woman laughed appre-
station of his TESTING speech and with
Easy grace seated herself. with a ges- ,
.ure that he should sit opposite.
"To begin with" she said, looking
It him merrily as he professed to
.crutinize the pin he concealed with '
n his palm, "it was a gold breastpin:
I was in the shape of a hand" G
TO be sure" assented Wetherel. h
but there are many hands. Not all /
II them are alike" c
Yes, but this was a right hand"
"Ohi"
And upon its wristband there were r
wo engraved letters"
There are SO -nany combinations
# two letters, you know" replied ),
Netherwell, deprecatingly. lat least I
iX hundred odd. aren't there?" = :,
She made pretty little move.
But on my pin there were only a
and c. There, sir. now what can
on say2"
She was looking straight at him,
er merry eyes adance Surely she
ias the most beautiful woman who
ad ever gladdened his critical sight
and he had known many women in
hat long ten years, since
All! Since Was ii still too late?
Ie had loved her once as a boy of
ineteen. Now for the first time he Z.
new 1t.
As he returned her long look, some. n
hing in his own brought the deep a
Dior surging to her face Then it !
ed away as quickly and she grew
Fry pale.
He stretched his hand to hers. hold.
Il out the golden one within it.
And the reward, you spoke of a
ward, Pauline" he whispered
She rose up hastily. The man with (
he stiletto beard and the piercing z
res had come down the aisle and 7
God disapprovingly beside them.
1t is too late for YOU and me to
lk about rewards" She said. and
r voice sounded like soft music.
'harlie. let me introduce YOU to
Y hus band. Mr.. Robisco, my old -
lend, Mr. Carroll"
Not 20 he Trusted