The sea coast echo., 1904-12-03
After
Many
Years.
By FRED'K =, MILLS.


Poor Sidney Warde His great
struggle in life. his years of hardship
and weary toll, inspired by one soil.
tary hope, brought him nothing but
bitter Disappointment, after all.
Ten years before. with youth,
strength and energy upon his side.
he had entered upon life's battle. He
was successful. The world called him
Tucky." That success bred of un.
deviating will is always attributed to
good fortune. He amassed great
wealth, and ne was envied upon every
side.
Yet. all of his successes in life, all
of his wealth of gold, were nothing
to him. The desire of his early life,
which had glrded his loins and led
him onward to victory--the one
thought and darling wish of his soul
through all these years of battle. lay
dead at the bottom of his heart,
Ten years before-how well he re-
membered the day-he had parted
from the playmate of his earlier days.
She was the daughter Of the squire,
and she lived at the "big house yon-
DER where young Sidney, although
far beneath fer in the social scale,
had free entry because his ready wit
and youthful enthusiasm had touched
the fancy Of little Katie's parents.
Added to this, he had some claim
upon their good Willie mad saved
Katie's life at the risk OF his own
one day when she fell from the light
wooden bridge-now replaced by a
massive iron structure-into the river
which ran through the estate.
So the two grew together, the one
strong, impetuous boy, and the
other an open hearted, generous girl,
snd the squire watched their progress
contentedly and never said may" to
their familiar intercourse.
But when the time came that Sid
ney was no longer-a boy, and he en-
tered upon the duties of a clerkship at
tie city bank, post which the squire,
his patron, had procured for him,
came also the beginning Of his trou-
ble
He was taking an affectionate fare
we'll Of Katie, making numberless
rash promises for her sake; while
she listening to them wonderingly,
and nothing loath to hear, bent her
face down upon his shoulder, and his
army stole around her waist.
In this position they were discov-
cred by her father, and for the first
time the truth dawned upon his mind,
He gently led her away, and, re-
. turning speedily to the room where
Sidney remained, wondering what was
nsxt to come, the proud mans fury
burst forth in a torrent of fierce in
yective.
migrate, upstart!" were the words
he used-words that went deep into
the soul of Sidney Warde and rusted
there; mean, dishonorable villain!
Pauper See that you never dare to
Set foot within these doors again!"
Sidney Warde pursed his lips proud
ly to stife the ready answer Was it
not her father? and what could he not
bear for Katie's sake?
He endeavored to reason with the
enraged parent, but in vain.
Truly we love each other" he
SAID, and our position is unequal
what of that? Time, which works so
many changes, may yxt span the so
cal chasm that separates us. | can
wait" 4
Vain was his appeal to the reason Of
lle enraged and passionate squire.
tie was ia an unreasonable mood just
lhen, and Sidney was thrust from the
threshold he had so often crossed
WIN light and careless step-out
upon a new life of sad reality.
He met Katie once again. 1t was
aard by the little bridge where he
nad once rescued her from death, and
mere he told her of his love for her
Nlthout interruption, and her heart
responded word for word as his whis-
pers fell upon her ear. He was go
ing out into the world, he said-he
would bind her to him by no promise,
nc was not mean enough for that,
Ou' ne would return in year or two,
Mayoe-never, however, until he
VOua count dollar for dollar with the
'Vlire, who was once his friend.
IN these ten years he had succeeded
sieatly His footsteps had wandered
.u'o many places, and fortune seemed
s'er to attend his efforts. He had
worked hard and manfully. and he ac.
shoWledged that he was rich beyond
greatest anticipation. lie could
tathe again now
returning to the well remembered
Inc his youthful affection-the one
aect Of bis ambition still strong
~ hiUs--full of rich belief of her
proud of tue equality which re
from his own labor-he forgot
|lme. which had dealt so favor
with him, naight also have sci
Rrk upon theS old mansion while