The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-09-19

WIN qulckenlng light IN his own.
"Josephine" he cried. Forgotten you?
When your voice has haunted me all
these twenty years. though l have only
heard it in my dreams"
His eyes We're devouring her face, and
flush of youth crept into her cheeks al
his words.
Colonel Elliot invented a friend in the
distance and hurried after him.
You looked at me on the drag Just
now." she said, little nervously, "and
you did not know me-"
Il was not expecting to see you," he
said. He turned to walk with her, for
they were blocking the way.
And how have you spent all these
twenty years?" he asked.
Il married, became a widow and have
been growing DID," she answered, a little
quantity.
His face darkened. "Yes. You let me
know when you married That was the
last letter | received from you-the letter
which seemed to shatter my life
You knew it was not my fault. My
fathers death-my mothers poverty-the
whole family would have starved Tiff
had waited for you"
Then You should have allowed them to
starve," he said heartlessly. Were you
happy he asked, after a minute or two,
with tinge of jealousy in his voice.
lie was much older than l. We had no
tastes in common, but he was always
kind to me. You married too" she said.
"Wcre you happy?"
He did not answer at once. and when
he did his voice was very bitter.
.sShn * 1ood - bo coil .,Nr, 80,
talk of her.
Have YOU had tea?" he said, turning
to her. Let us 20 and have it together"
He led her into the club tent, and they
sat down side by side.
This is like old times" he said
yes" she said. Her restlessness had
gone, and great content was stealing
over her soul.
He leaned a little nearer. rs there
any reason why the old times should NOT
come back?" he whispered.
"Old times can never return" she said
slowly.
mo. But we can make the new times
very like them. Josephine, our lives were
spoiled once because of the want of mon.
ey. Don't you think we might take up
the thread of our lives where we dropped
it twenty years ago."
at is so different" she said "Then |
was young and-beautiful."
You are still more beautiful now. You
seem to forget. Josephine, that am old.
er. too-five years older than you. don't
want a young girl for my wife. want
you"
Her gray eyes were shining as they
looked into his.
But she said st is so soon. You
know nothing about me- | might have
changed my very nature in twenty years.
1 How can You tell in the few minutes we
have talked together today"
Soon" he repeated. Soon. When |
have been waiting all these years? 10
sephine, your love could never have been
so strong as mine"
''Could it not?" she answered, with q
sigh. "Ah, if you only knew what my
feelings were today when you glanced al
me on the drag and looked away
Then you will-you will consent?" h,
cried
yes" she said, 81 will consent" AnC
she turned to him with smile which
sank into his heart.
Colonel Elliot met them as they walked
toward the gate.
"What. Mrs. Wilmot! Are you goin,
already" he said.
eyes smiling. 81 am dining early, a
/ am going to the play tonight"
This was a different Mrs. Wilmot iron
the one who had sat on the drag. Colone
Elliot looked at her admiringly.
"There are great advantages in growini
DID, he said gravely. 'One misses al
the heartachings and the weary watching
for some man who-sometimes comes.
thought it might interest you to hear
Mrs. Wilmot, knowing how you woul,
sympathize. saw little Miss Blue sit
ting on the grass alone with the man sh
had been watching for. He seemed quit
content, while she looked radiant"
Mrs. Wilmot colored prettily, for Their
was twinkle in the colonel's eye.
81 am glad" she said. a little defiantly
Every glad that little Miss Blue has spen
happy afternoon too."-Mainly Abou
| People.