The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-26

4 AVA mcnse old-timc escrltolre
@ofS which lad held the minor
treasures OF few generations OF the
Walkers, she had found in the bottom
of g so-called secret drawer little
scrap OF paper which. through some
chance, had for years escaped eXamtn-
alton.
1t was what. many years ago when 1t
was written, she had believed to be
poem, and possibly she believed so still.
But it was nearly forty years since ne
for whom those lines were penned went
away from her, and met with his death
not long afterward in India, and just
thirty years ago her mother had died,
and she, Ruth Walker. the last OF the
family. had remained to grow old alone
In Suncroft, the old family home. But
now. as she pondered over all this, and
conjured up hundred thoughts OF
which We knew nothing. nor have
right to, she found that the markings
of nervous fingers on the tear-stained
scrap Of paper had done it irreparable
Injury, so she produced from a drawer
a clean sheet of fancy paper, chose
pen with a great show of fastidious-
ness, ard, adjusting her spectacles.
commenced to copy out the poem in
her antique, prim. Italian caligrapny.
Miss Walker replaced in her escri-
toire the relic of her lOng-buried ro-
nance, together with one Of the two
copies she had made. The other she
put into her pocket. just to have it by
her, then she tidied her hair with few
pats Of her hand. adjusted her mob
cap. wiped her spectacles and left her
room.
Arrived downstairs she had temp
tation - possibly the outcome of re-
aroused sentiment-to walk into the
garden. From the sitting room the old
fashioned garden looked inviting in the
waning beauty Of a perfect summers
day. She was just about to step
through the French window when
some one entered the room.
"Ah! Rose" she said, 81 am going
iuto the garden to enjoy the last mo-
ments Of the exquisite evening. Come
with me. child"
The breaking in upon Miss Walkers
meditations had evidently been ,acci-
dental. for the intruder made as though
to retreat hastily. She was a pretty
girl Of about twenty-five. brown
haired and frank-looking, but there
was an expression OF trouble clouding
her usually sunny face. and she shrank
back as she said quickly:
mo. no-do please excuse me: I am
not feeling very we'll. and shall 80 re
my loom to lie down for shert time"
And then she vanished.
The lines of Miss Walkers bcnevo-
lent countenancc hardened, and she
pursed up her lips and puckercd her
brows in perturbed thought. Was ro-
nance. when it came to Suncroft, al
ways to turn to Dead Sea fruit? The
world had taught even her. quiet and
uneyentful though her life had been,
many bitter lessons Of the Unfulfillment
Of hearts desires, and yet she had at
the same time appreciated those les
eons, and kept intact the tender faith
that most men and women should love
and be the happier and better for 1t.
And this belief had made her take
special interest in. and do everything
to encourage, the sentiments she had
seen arise between Rose Warden and
her nephew, John Walker. Rose was
the daughter Of . long since dead
friend, and John was the only child OF
Miss Walkers younger brother.
AS the wish had been father to the
thought it CHANGED that Miss Walkers
friends IN London, where Rose was L
governess and John rising engineer,
had, acting on gentle proulptings. put
these people in one another's way as
much as possible. The result was what
had been foreseen and hoped for. and
Miss Walker was inwardly much re-
soiced. She had now made Rose spend
q long vacation with her in the pleas
ant old Surrey home, and John had
more than once come to stay weel;
or SO, oStensibly with an acquaintance
In the neiglboring village. But some
thing had gone wrong. There had come
the little rift within the lutte. On the
pHeyious afternoon her nephew had
left the house suddenly. hc having be-
fore that been with Rose in the gar
den, and he had not since called. And
Roses sudden change of manner from
light heartednesS to utter detection.
with other evidences of her secret sor-
row, told its own story. Miss Walker
wondered what exactly had occurred.
and INDUCED in a dozen anxious coz
lectures.
+ She paced the garden until the adj
vancing evening brought the breath Of
chllliness. which Miss Walker at her
age did not like. Then. with a last
look at the window of Roses room and
q deprecatory shake Of her handker-
chief at the retreat Of that presumably
pining young lady, Miss Walker turned
her face toward the house. Just as she
stepped into the sitting room her
nephew was shown into the other door.
well. WELL" said Miss Walker,
cheerily-for she saw reconciliation in
the risit-"why have You deserted us
for a whole day, you negligent young
man"
Very sorry. aunt. but it wasn't quite
ng fault" he returned. speaking rather
gioomily. Then he added, with some
show OF embarrassment. "but my visit
will be very short now The fact is. I