The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-14
THE POINT OF VIEW.

IN err again under the orchard
) 800 boughs, but the canopy Of bloom,
like sunset-tinged clouds floating
among the gnarled old branches, had
been swept away before a bitter
breath from the east. Spring is never
too lavish Of her smiles; to-day she
was sulking again. The grass was
81 strewn with brown shriveled wisps-
4 all that was left of the spring glory
and through the scant foliage, crisp
ing in the keen wind, the sky once
more appeared a sweep of unbroken
gray. The cold, hard light, the raw
bleakness were drearier than the fad
ing dullness of an autumn day. A
change, indeed, from that first morn
Ing seven years ago, when the rapture
of spring was in the air and in the
blood and in the mating MARBLE of
the birds.
The change was in the mans face,
too, which was lowering and rather
sullen, and his companion was no
longer the nymph of the grove, in
whom all the young life, all the feet
ing evanescent loneliness of the spring
seemed embodied, The eyes into
which he looked were gray, not linn
pid azure, the face had no dazzling
bloom nor bewitching curves almost
4nfantine in their dimpling softness.
That rounded babyish prettiness Is
soon refined away by those busy gray
ers, time and experience, who shape
the story of the years in the deepen
ing lines round mouth and eyes. To
one who could look deeper than the
the surface bloom, Ella Durand's face
would have spoken of life bravely
faced, Of long waiting patiently en-
dured, of determined loyalty, of proud
faithfulness, and of a heart and ma
ture deepened and enriched and spirit
uali2ed by the discipline Of the years.
But IL blue eyes have caught mans
fancy, what does it matter how deep
and wistful the gray ones may be,
and Of what value the stamp of
thought and culture in a woman's
face IL its early freshness is gone?
Just now Ella Durand's face was
calm, If sad, and the mouth, which, IL
she had been alone, might have droop-
ed pitifully, was set in proud decision.
The promise Of her springtlme had
come to naught. Through those past
weeks her long-cherished hopes had
dropped and fallen with the white
bravery of the trees. Love and 10y
atty and undaunted trust weighed as
nothing against smile, laugh, the
ignorant childish alteration Of a pair
Of sunny blue eyes. Only last night
she had seen But no. the child
was not to blame, let her have her
happiness; she wished to blame no one
it was natural, no doubt-better to
say gOod-by now and be done with it.
But Major Sandbrook would not be
done with it.
"Of course. can't hold you to your
promise since you wish to cry off,
said Basil, digging his stick viciously
into the turf. He knew it was only
what he had been longing for, and yet
somehow he felt distinctly aggrieved
Il don't want to make any accuse.
tons. either, but I at least have been
desperately mistaken, it would seem.
never thought you would have been
ackle. am not to blame for this"
"Major Sandbrook-you promised
last night-we-we can't-O, Door
Aunt Ellaw The blue eyes filed, the
soft young mouth quivered.
Aunt Ella bel mean we don't need
to worry about her any MORE" said
Basil, tightening his clasp and cover.
ing the fair face with kisses till the
tears were dried in a superb carna-
ton glow. Don't vex yourself about
her any more. There was no dis.
honor in loving you. A man can't
help such things, but he can keep his
word, and you know I would have
kept mine. though we nearly broke
our hearts over it last night, and to-
day she calmly tells ME 1t has been g
mistake, and throws me aside, after
all these years, like WORKOUT glove
/ had thought different things Of her
but she's done us a good turn to-day
Ell, Maudie? and now" rapturously
''there is nothing between us and hap
piness."
Maudie, listening as If to an oracle
of the gods, let her head sink on hi
shoulder with a long, satisfied sigh
And this bliss might have been Aun
Elias, and, marvel of marvels, sh
had been willing to let 1t 80. Evel
tender-hearted Maudie felt that, thougl
she might pity poor Aunt Ella for be
ing unable to appreciate the highes
gift of life, she herself need postpon
her happiness no longer.
It had to be postponed, however
for a little. Although he was of wit
his old love, Major Sandbrook fel