Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-26

AIS dt bNi.
"Rosew
Her ungloved hand gripped on th,
gate rail When she turned round un
hurriedly her face held commonplace
smile of greeting.
why, how do you do. John?"
He had shifted the reins to his left
hand. Aren't you going to shake
hands with mel"
She came forward to the aide of thu
trap Its hot, isn't it?" she said a
came up here to try and get breal
of cool air. There nearly always used
to be n breeze up this way. So you've
got Roden still.'
She reached out her hand and touch.
ed the horses satin neck. He turned
his head and shifted at her sleeve in
quiringly. The man in the cart was
watching her. Suddenly he cleared his
throat
How are you getting on?"
Very we'll"
She went on stroking the horses mech
with her small. work hardened hand.
''It is not exactly the easiest life in the
world" she said after moment
"You know l would have helped you
any time
She took a step backward. Her face
flushed swiftly. II have not required
your-help, thank your
"Of course" he went on. without
looking at her. You chose to cut
;l,n
know it was entirely your own doing.
If
She smiled little bitterly. "Oh, you
needn't worry. John! Don't be afraid
that ] shall ever want to come back.
Your unassailable respectability is not
in the least likely to receive u shock
by my future temperance"
He bit his lip. THAT was not what
meant"
My dear John, have known you so
very long that perhaps know what
you mean little better than you do
yourself. If you weren't so afraid Of
my claiming acquaintance with you
this morning why were you so anxious
not to appear to see me: You hoped
hadn't recognized you. You wouldn't
look up because you were in panic
for fear some Of your well to do friends
should come along and see you lift
your hat to Il woman in circus pro-
cession. You are awfully afraid some
one will come by now and see you
talking to mo-"
He opened his lips, but her voice cut
In upon his stammered words:
You haven't improved with prosper
ity. John. used to think you narrow
and pharisaical enough in the old
days. God knows; but you were moth
ing then to what you are now, and
you'll go on getting narrower and mar
rover all the days OF your life!'
do you never think you might have
helped to make me differentf"
She looked at him straightly. II was
never quite such Il fool as to suppose
that. even when cared for you most!
Your self sufiiciency was too deeply
rooted in you. could see it then. It
killed all the love ever had for you
inch by irch. What? Oh, yes. you
cared for lpe-in way. But you
cared for yourself most of all. think
you regarded me as not quite-respect-
able even then. Responsibility That's
been your idol, John, all your life.
It's written all over you now In big
letters. oh, you've succeeded mag
nificently."
"You are hard" said the man in the
dogcart slowly.
Hard? What were you-what were
your parents when they chose to make
life uncomfortable TO me? Everything
was hemmed in and narrowed down
till the very sunlight and fresh air
seemed doled out-a bit here and bit
there. They grudged me every small
pleasure they couldn't prevent. might
have had a happy girlhood, but 1t was
spoiled for me. l made up my mind
then that when ! was of age they
should never have the chance to kill
another day for me! broke away. |
and I've thanked God for 1t every night
and day since l left. The world has
been kinder to me than you We're. Per-
haps am hard. You see. it's the re-
suit of the kind OF teaching I've had
all my life"
He sat there, his head little bent,
holding the reins between his gloved
fingers. The black horse shifted its
weight from one hind foot to the other.
The girl put out her hand with an i'm
patient gesture.
"Goodby. John. You'd better go on
to town. Some of your friends might
come past yet, and think how awkward
you'd look"
She laughed. He set his teeth as he
lifted the reins. and the black horse
started Off down the hill. She stood
md watched till the dogcart had turn
ed the bend OF the road between the
tall hedges and was out of sight.
The evening performance was nearly
over The clown had quarreled with
the ringmaster, had produced one by
one his time worn pleasantries and
was now seated at the edge of the ring
rubbing a barked ankle and yawning
covertly behind his hand. The usual
piebald horse had picked up handker
chiefs and waltzed sloomily and with
out enthusiasm to the cracking of the
whip. The inevitable drunk
en- countryman had forced his way