Evening journal., 1903-09-19
HAD MET BEFORE.

spot for a romance, and they realized
1t. With white clouds dappling blue
sky and orchards abloom with peach
as a setting, two well bred young per-
sons must realize what their part is.
He was pretty busy, Of course, for the
surveying he was doing for the COM
pany that proposed TO establish rail
road across the country occupied a
good many hours each day. But the
long evenings while the afterglow lin
yered In the west and the chilly twi-
light settled over the two hills were all
given up to the enjoyment Of Marian
Emiths society
One evening they had been playing
checkers under the watchful eye Of
Mrs. Dutton. who frequently stated
that she regarded Miss Smith as a
daughter. when Gray remarked:
"Do you know. Miss Marian, there is
something about you which reminds
me of some one whom l have known,
but / can't make up my mind whom
1t Is too elusive and subtle a suggestion
to some former friendship. I think. on
the whole, that l believe with the the
osophists. met you in the past exist
ence"
Perhaps answered Marian, care
fully studying the board. 'You forgot
to jump. i shall take you up
"All right said Gray. "You may
beat me as numerically as you please,
provided only that you'n say you think
we knew each other in a previous life"
Grown my man, please. Yes, doubt
less we did know each other cons ago.
In fact, it's beginning to seem as
though we had known each other dec
ade or two on this sphere. Let's see.
It's three weeks since you came, isn't
itf"
Il have forgotten to look at my cal
endar since ! have known you" gal
lantly replied the young engineer
'You cannot move. l have you cor
nered," announced Miss Smith in ref
erence TO the game. "No. / don't care
to play another game. Don't you know,
Pm here to rest and you'd have me ex-
cite myself with checkersl A fine way
that would be to get over the effects
Of seven years overworkl No, l must
be all well by June. So no more mad
dening dissipation tonight. I'm going
to play a hymn now on that miserable
old piano. You may listen to that II
you like"
He followed her into the stuny little
parlor and smiled at the look Of ecstatic
happiness on Mrs. Dutton's face as her
guest opened the piano. The old lady
said she would Ike to hear 'Beulah
Land" and Marian's sweet, low voice
began. Gray watched her He felt
strangely thrilled by her presence in
the gaunt room, by her sweetness to
the old woman. whose own sons and
daughters had gone away, and by the
vague feeling of familiarity he had
with her. He felt a sudden rush Of
tenderness. He could almost have Civ
en- up everything and lived there in the
bleak, barren farmhouse forever, pro-
vided the shining haired, sweet voiced
woman lived there with him.
''Sing that first verse again." pleaded
Mrs. Dutton, and Marian's voice rang
out.
i've reached the land Of corn and wine,
And all the riches freely mine"
Gray had a sudden longing to break
In upon the hymn, to ask her-he knew
not what. He left the room and went
to the piazza, where he called himself
names. A white moon was travelling
across the cloudless sky. The bios
soming orchards slept in the moonlight.
Across the hills one warm, ruddy light
shone from a distant farmhouse
home light.
Marian's voice was silent. By and by
the door opened, and she stood in the
mingled lights Of the house and the
night He went toward her.
Marian" he said
She did not seem surprised at his
manner or at the name. She turned her
face inquiringly toward him. And there,
with the pale moonlight and the yellow
glow from the house about her, he told
her that he loved her. He was rather
incoherent but 50 ardent that he felt
an undercurrent Of surprise at himself.
"Oh, you may SMILE" he burst out
when he saw a CLEAN Of amusement on
her face. Il know met you only three
weeks ago and altogether by chance.
But tell you it was predestined. Three
weeks? ! tell you, since the beginning
of time this has been planned. / have
known you always; have waited for
you always. Marian, we have always
known each other"
He came near, but Marian slipped
back. There was a strange look ON her
face that staid him.
Not always, Will," she said, and his
heart beat quickly to hear his name
from her. mot always, but for quite
time, acknowledge. Ten years ago
last summer it was. 1t was at the shore
then-my first summer out, and you
were just through the institute. Don't
you remember, now that 1 have given
your memory a jog? OF course my un-
fortunate name was against you recall
ing Il, but assure you It was an awful
blow to my vanity to discover in you
not the dlmmest recollection Of that lit
tie, youthful romance. 1 suppose wo-
man does remember much longer, and
then you We're my first, which means
quite lot Let you be my last?
"Alas, poor boy, can't I'm to be mar
ried in June. Good night. You were
right you see. We knew each other in
past existence"