The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-22
a@mM@@ copyrisht. 1908. BY W. r. Hearst

Hello! What is this? "a Memory
Book" 1t must be hers. He didn't
know she ever bothered about keeping
one Of those things. He remembered
girls, full Of cards and ribbons and all
that sort Of truck.
He turned over the first page. There
was a cigarette pasted to the top of the
sheet and under it the words, Never
again-Tm SO happy" and the date.
Yes, by Jove. h a was the day he swore
off on cigarettes, just q few months be-
had that quarrel. He didn't know 1t
made so much difference to her. But,
then, he had stuck to 1t, even through
1t all; and his shoulders unconsciously
went back a little as he thought Of it.
He turned I'VE another page, end an
other and another-dance cards; flow
ers that he had given her; dozens of
little reminders Of trips they had taken
together and places they had been to.
was the date, December 25, 1893" The
day he made such a beastly fool OF
himself and left the sweetest little girl
in the world. There was the rose she
had pinned in his coat and which he
threw on the floor. Yes, there it was,
carefully pressed; and what are the
words under it?
41S kOOh IL IledTer the WlQQOW ana
read, "A wtthered rose, a broken heart"
and there were stains around 1t which
might ave been caused by tears.
And then she had cared; and If she
had only told him, but how could b
tell him when he had been such a cad
and rushed away from her and away
from the town without giving her a
chance.
He knew now that he did love her In
dptta ~ hts cn1F- - ~r,,{~- - 4~-
trary. and ne would tell her when she
came down that he was sorry and ask
her forgiveness. Yes, and maybe she
might learn to care for him again. Any
way. he would try to clear himself with
her n ask her to forget how he had.
acted.
He moved his hand from the page
and it turned Of itself, showing him HI
date October 10, 1907 So she had
only started it again a few months ago.
How strange. It had been laid away all
Of this time.
Charles Robert Browne" and under It
the words. Ills first CALL" He kept
staring at it, and saying over to him
self 'hia first CALL" This first CALL"
He forced himself t o urn the page
which fascinated him so, and his eye
fell on some withered blossoms. and
under them the words. Ills flowers
! WHICH l wore III NY max TO please Q1Il.
I am so happy"
A soft rustic Of skirts brought his at
tentfon to the door, She advanced and
greeted him with outstretched hands
and a bright smile. but her cheeks were
flushed.
why how much older you look" she
said, when he had fixed the pillows
around her.
His heart answered Eyes, he had
grown older in the last three minutes"
but his lips tried to smile and said
something about people growing old
faster IN large cities.
When she started to tell him her Sc
cret and hesitated, he took her hand
In his and told her that he knew about
it and had come to wish her happiness,
that a fairy had told him-a Christmas
fairy-but he would not tell who.
AS he stood at the door N was
about to bid her goodby, he turned, and
looking into the deep blue eyes, said,
TT is strange that we who thought we
loved each other should both have loved
again. Yes" he continued, in answer
to her look Of surprise, II too nave loved
again since we parted, but you are. the
lucky one, for the girl whom I love
loves someone else"
A few weeks afterward the girl in
looking through her Memory Book dis
covered that the page with the wither-
ed rose was gone. n then she guessed
the truth.