The Jennings daily record., 1902-05-27
CHAPTER XVII

CHAPTER XVII.
By the five O'Clock train and coach
of the evening a strange gentleman
arrived at a little roadside inn about
two miles from Hollow Ash Hail, and
four from Banley. He was hand
some. foreign-looking man. apparently
about thirty-four years of age-'A
perfect gentleman" as the landlady
rapturously called him because he
drank her weak tea without complain
ing and afterwards sat quietly in his
parlor over the wine and cigars. with
out giving any human being in the
house the least trouble.
Secured from all Intrusion he
watched the cold moonlight falling on
the distant fields, and listened idly to
the Last Rose of summer" played on
cracked piano. without much regard
to tune or time. by his landlady's
daughter. in the room below.
He sat still and pensive in golden
quiets OF the moon" and thought of
his early long-lost love. now so near
him once again.
Would any secret instinct tell her
that he was coming"
Would she feel his presence-his
love-even before he had assured her
of them?
Who shall say?
His thoughts grew i'm and more
indistinct. The song below. and the
voices of the people at the bar be-
yond. seemed to blend in one low
continuous murnur. but family heard.
yet soothing from its very indistinct-
ness.
His eyes ciosed~he siept-but in his
dream. Rose was still with him
He awoke some time after with
sudden start
The moon. now high in the heavens
shone full in his face. and showed the
deserted street beneath.
A clock struck upon the stairs 1t
was just eight.
He uttered an exclamation Of sur-
prise took his hat and cloak and 60
ing out at the open front door took
his way alone toward Hollow Ash
Hall.
And. as he walked he thought Of
the quiet and beautiful English home
where most of his boyhood had been
spent. and where, in after years. the
Rose Of his life had bloomed for him
| those trees ana flowers his heart got
rooted in SO eply that to the day
| of his death the fbres could never be
wrenched away. He had gone far
| from the place: possibly he could
never look upon il gain: yet ever
and anon. AS he wandered through the
world a violet spriuging at his feet
bird singing in the air little OF
| blue sky beyond the distant hills made
| him young again. and brought the old
| house so vivid!y before him, that he
could almost see the faces and hear
the voices. nay, catch the very words
of those who were living there. and
who had doubtless forgotten him en-
tirely
He thought OF those old times with
smile and sigh as he walked
quickly aloug the village road He
thought of Rose as he had seen her
| there, evening after evening. laughing
singing and tirting-yes. certainly
| flirting, like a princess OF love among
her worshipers. He thought of
| night when they mad quarreied. and
| when he had left the house in anger
! only to return and hide within the
| grounds. watching her jealously. as the
| curtains waving in the breez~ gave him
| glimpses now and then of t-te lighted
! rooms. Oh what signs he breathed
| against the rough bark of the tree
| which supported him. as he saw her
beautiful face. sparkling with delight
| and laughter turned toward the win
| low! How later on he envied the
partner who held her hand, or clasped
| her waist, How he longed to be the
| flower in her bouquet, the spangle in
! her slipper, the very ground beneath
her feet, so that he might be touched or
looked upon again by her. She had
never known of this passionate devo-
| tior,, and even, he, going to seek her
again, was half inclined to smile at
the remembrance as folly OF the past.
II was dead, that feeling; his affec-
ton was more rational now, he said
| to himself. But was he right? Do such
loyea-doe any love ever die? I