The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-02-13


Since she had loved Fred she had
sympathized with Jerome in his love
for her. And so she drifted on, rid
ing, going to church, socials and
strawberry festivals with Fred, until
one day his only uncle died and he
suddenly left Pineville. Constance's
only comfort was note in which
Fred told her that he was coming
back as soon as he could to tell her
something that he thought would
not displease her. Constance put the
note with her chiefest treasures and
set herself to wait, with what pa
tience she might, for Fred's return.
At the end of two weeks she began
TO expect him, but he did not come.
When Fred left Pineville he had
had every intention of coming back.
But when his uncle's will was read
it was found, most unexpectedly, that
all the money had been left to Fred.
It took several months to settle the
estate and, by that time Fred had al
most ceased to think of Constance.
So when party of friends invited
him to join them in trip to Europe
he accepted, with never thought of
his summer sweetheart. In France
he met an English girl and became so
infatuated with her that he left his
friends and followed her about until
he persuaded her to marry him. He
brought her to America, but in an
other year she died, and Fred again
went abroad. For two years he wan
dered about until, for business rea-
sons, he was oblighed to return. It
was while he was on business trip
that his eyes fell on the word Pine
vile.
Pineville Constance He had
been in love with Constance, or near
ly so, and it had been easy to see that
she had cared great deal for him.
He decided to stop at Pineville and
see her. She was good little thing.
He might marry her after all. So
when the train pulled out of Pineville
it left him standing on the platform.
He walked slowly toward the Garner
home. Of course she lived in the
same place. No one who was auy
one in Pineville ever moved. The
last time he had seen Constance she
had been sitting on the porch in
white dress. Although the snow was
deep he half expected to see her sit
ting there now. When, naturally,
he was disappointed, he wondered, as
he pulled the old-fashioned bell,
whether Constance at twenty seven,
in a dark dress, would be very differ
ent from Constance at twenty-five in
a white dress. But the door opened,
and there she was.
why, it's Fred Manning r. she
exclaimed. "Come in. How do you
do? Where did you come from?''
IT came to see you,' be said, ig-
noring the questions. 'And also,
incidently, to beg some supper"
CvCI 81 s Tau s,-s'
there by the fire and tell me about
yourself =
s'Bnt want to hear about you, -
he objected.
He was deciding that Constance, at
twenty, in a dark dress, was even
more charming than Constance at
twenty-five, in a white dress. Her
brown, tailor made suit had much
more style than the white one had
had. He was sure that no Pineville
dressmaker had had a hand in this.
Perhaps that was because her figure
was more developed.
II always did like grown women
better than young girls, he thought.
But" she was saying, II asked you
first. You tell me.
So, growing more and more con-
vinced as he talked, that he wanted
to marry her, he told her all about
the FIVE years since he had seen her.
He did not finish until after supper
where, as the Judge was out of town,
they were alone. Then he settled
himself by the fire and said "Now
tell me what you have been doing"
ooh, / lead very uneventful life, !"
was the answer. "There isn't any
thing in particular to tell. !"
Then they sat in silence for while,
until Fred said, ''Do you know what
I would like to dor"
"No."
"I would like to walk down to the
river and see it again with you. We
spent SO many happy days there five
years ago."
IT would like to go, too," said
Constance. "I'll go and get my
things"
When she was coming back down
stairs Fred heard her say, eyes, give
him that if he cries.
He meant to ask her to whom she
was referring, but when she entered
the room in chincilla hat with big
turquoise blue velvet bow on the
front of it, and seal-skin coat, he
was SO astonished that he forgot to.
rive years ago CuAuGlALd AdtSs e ~
seal-skin coats had been beyond the
Jugde's pocket-book. And tha
gown. The Judge must have had a
wind-fall. At any rate the furs were
very becoming, Fred felt as they
walked down the street, that he would
be very proud of his wife.
When they reached the river they
sat down on a big stone. where five
years ago, they had SO often watched
the sun go down. Now they watch
ed the moon, instead, as it made the
snow on the ice of the river glitter
beneath its rays. But soon Constance
rose.
TITS too cold to stay here as long
as we used to, she said. "Shall we
go back now?'
But Fred pulled her down beside
him again.
ssWait q minute. Constance. ht