The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-15
HAD NET BEFORE

It was q pretty place, the farmhouse
where they met. 1t was exactly the
spot for a romance, and they realized
1t. With white clouds dappling a 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 cos&e, for the
surveying he was doing fos tie COM
pany that proposed TO- establish a rail-
road across the country occupied a
good many hours each day. But the
long evenings while the afterglow lin
gered in the west and the chilly twi-
light settled over the two hills were all
given up to the enjoyment of Marian
Smiths 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 I have known,
but l can't make up my mind whom.
It Is too elusive and subtle a suggestion
to some former friendship. l think. on
the whole, that l believe with the the
osophists. I met you in the past exist
ence."
Perhaps" answered Marian. care
fully studying the board. "You forgot
to Jump. l shall take you up"
"All right" said Gray. ""You may
beat me as numerically as you please,
provided only that you'll 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 a dec
ade or two on this sphere. Let's see.
It's three weeks since you came. isn't
it,"
II have forgotten to look at my cal
endar since l 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. mo. l don't care
to play another game. Don't you know,
I'm here to rest, and you'd have me ex-
cite myself with checkers! A fine way
that would be to get over the effects
of seven years overwork! No. l must
be all we'll 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 If
you like"
He followed her into the stuffy little
parlor and smiled at the look of ecstatic
happiness on Mrs. buttons face as her
guest opened the piano. The old lady
said she would like to hear 'Beplah
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 tC
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 breal
in upon the hymn, to ask her-he knew
not what. He left the room and wen
to the piazza, where he called himself
names. A white moon was travelin.
across the cloudless sky. The bios