Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-09-24
TANGLED
THREADS
By r. B. WRIGHT

wasn't it, Miss TravcrS said. 1T
doesn't seem like It,"
NO" he replied; lit seems-thirty."
"Thanks. Have l really aged SO
much since them
II mean until saw you it seemed
thirty he explained.
''Thrce years-it goes very quickly.
You haven't changed much.''
~? | haven't changed at ALL
She regarded him critically. "NO.
you haven't-in looks"
Il haven't in any way" he replied
earnestly and with an undertone Of
intention in his voice. "And you
you are all imagined"
Il imagined? Then l was not a
reality three years ago. was a mere
figment of your brain. What do you
mean?"
Il mean-why-tha in all these
years l have been imagining you-in
all sorts Of ways. you know"
"Oh! Sometimes as fair haired,
suppose. and sometimes as dark hair
ed, sometimes with hump and some
times cross eyed"
"NOnsenSe.''
"Well, it's what you said. all sorts
Of ways. and yet-do you remember
the silly speech You made me when
you went away!'
'Of coursc-only it wasn't silly. 1t
was the frozen truth"
1T didn't seem very frozen then.
but perhaps 1t does now. however. at
this distance. You haven't answered
my question yet, though. What was
1t you said:"
"Why- that-what's the use of my
telling you over again If your memory
Is SO good:"
IT'S your memory that's in ques-
ton, not mine. Confess You don't re-
member"
"But do. of course 1t was that |
wouldn't forget" he said trumphantly.
Miss Travers dropped her eyes raised
them again for brief futtcring mo-
ment and again dropped them with Il
pensive little smile.
And you remember what it was |
said to you them" he asked impressive
ly. leaning nearer and looking down at
the bent head
You Said-Of course. you were just
saying it-but you said you would re-
member every word | had said to You.
every look of my eyes. every tone of
my voice. You were quite sentimental
that night"
at was meant, every word of it. No
man could forget. l know it now
"NOw? Didn't you know it thcn7
What do you mean? You talk as
though you were not the same man you
were. Aren't yOu:'
'Well. every man changes. you know.
every seven years. Scientific fact.
believe"
but it hasn't been seven-only
three
"Oh of course. not really change. |
was joking What l meant was that
knowing you, having your image be
fore me these years, has made chang
ed man of me changed the whole
course of my life" he said earnestly.
"Ah. and you have that photograph
of me YETI"
"Of course. AS If I wouldn't. 1t
has never been out of my keeping since
l stole it from
81 thought l gave it to you mysclf?"
voice. "IIave you forgotten how you
begged it from me that night"
"Of course haven't forgotten" he
replied heartily. Il know you gave 1t
to me-" But she was not listening.
Her eyes were looking off into the dis
tance beyond the dark glass Of the con
servatOry.
the water that night, and far off som"
boating party was singing! 1t was per,
fect-'
"Yes, perfect, at least to me-
"DO you remember when we gli,l"d
into that stretch of lily pads AMI l
lifted them dripping from the water.
each drop like diamond. and you
said
"And l said l wished they were real
so that I could give them to you" he
said boldly.
"Did you? l thought it was that the
drops would spoil my gown-the gown
you admired so much''
II did admire it. have always seen
you In that gown-and your face lumi-
nous in half shadow. the CLINT of your
hair and your arms cleaning in the
moonlight as you trailed your fingers
in the water and made silvery ripplrs
over the polished black mirror of the
er-river."
He drew long breath when he fin
lshed, as one who felt relieved.
"And it was as we neared home,
wasn't it. that you told me that you
wanted my picture?"
Eyes"
The corners Of her mouth twitched
little. What a splendid memory you
have" she said, "a marvellous memory
call it. wish l had one like it.
though it's not what I would call ac-
curate-if that's a sample.becausc. you
see, you didn't ask me for my photo
graph that night. 1t was fall when
you left, and 1t rained hard that after
noon. and we could not 20 out. but in
stead sat in the drawing room by the
fire. Except for these little details.
your recollection of what happened is
wonderfully clear"
"But you said Yourself
"Yes; | did. ! just wanted to test
You. Now | commence to doubt that
you really still have my picture"