The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-10
THE AWAKENING


The May sunshine filled the air, and
countless roses bioomed in the garden!
along the way, making Robert Waite fee
young again as he walked rapidly along
I the path toward the low brown cottage
y Though the village was greatly changed
many old landmarks still remained, So
that he could easily recall the days OF
his boyhood. Early that morning he had
strolled to the river and looked at the
old swimming hole and his favorite fish
Ing place. Then he had walked back to
The town to chat with few of his old
friends, middle aged men like himself,
though their lives had been cramped and
narrowed by life in the quiet village, while
he had the prosperous air of the man who
has seen the world and has succeeded
In 1t.
They had talked of companions, dead or
long departed from the village; they had
spoken of old times and then had grad
ually drifted TO topics of the present day.
for memories of boyhood are soon ex-
hausted by men whose days are spent in
hard and ceaseless toll.
So. MI Waite grew somewhat bored
and waited only until the hands of his
watch pointed TO ten o'clock. when he
excused himself, bidding his old friends
Cordial farewell.
He walked briskly down the long vii
lage street, stopping once or twice to
greet some other old friend. but always
turning his steps in one direction, for
Robert Waite had not lost all his youth
full dreams and was about to revive the
brightest of them-the one that had
longest fingered with him. On such a
morning as this ne had told her good bye
thirty years ago, when he had left her
without a word of his love for her, for
he had been too proud to ask her to
share his poverty. She had given him a
bunch of roses and told him not to for
Get old friends Then, as he walked away.
he had resolved to make his fortune and
to return to her in a few years.
He had gone west. and as time passed.
the light of his romance grew DINNER,
and at last he had married Mildred, his
partners sister. She had been a good
wife and made his home happy. but she
had failed TO touch a certain part of his
nature faint CLEAN of those fires which
make poets and artists of men. With
Robert, this was merely the longing when
he saw a glorious sunset. to have some
one enjoy with him the glory of the
violet and golden tinged Clouds or when
he read a bit of inspired verse, to re-
peat it TO someone who would under
stand it just as he did. And at such times
be always thought of Alice, the girl in the
east. True, he did not know whether she
would care for the sunset or the poem. for
he had never talked to her Of such things;
but she had become a sort of ideal to him
and this ideal must feel and understand. |
After Mildred died and their only |
daughter was married, Robert Waite felt |
lonely.
One day there fell into his hands |
newspaper from the little eastern village, !
and he read the death notice Of the aged |
mother of Alice-Miss Alice Wayland-so |
she was Alice Wayland still. That night |
ne took the train for the east and two |
lays later found himself in the quiet little
village.
He drew near to the little house and
walked up the path between the rose
pushes. At his knock, the door opened
md a thin. gray haired woman with
vrinkled face stood before him. A sec
bowed him that this was the lady of his
outhful dreams.
well, if it isn't Robert WaiteAof all
hings" said Miss Waylapd in a rather
Ugh pitched voice, before Robert had a
nance to utter a word. why, I'd a
moved you anywhere by that scar on
our face. Do come in; why, when did
on come? and is Mrs. Waite with your"
MY wife is dead" said Robert very
oberly.''
"Oh, is that So very recent?" asked
fiss Wayland with interest. Then went
n: ma died this winter. She was sick
long time. and suffered awful"
In voluble words she told OF the details
{ her mothers Illness and death: then
telling many of the recent hap
enings in the village and of the fortunes
{ many cid friends. Robert sat With
look on his face. At length
c rose to so.
We'll. I'm glad you came" she saIG, :
Topping out upon the broad door sill I
18th him.
How beautiful your roses are" said he. {
Do you remember the bouquet you gave ,
lie years ago when 1 went west. Alice?"
5 he lOOhtO ClOStJ9 el IlSf, ne uopeu u
atch a faint trace of the expression he :
sed to love, but the stagnation and dull
ess of her life had banished it forever .
rom her face r
wait It'll 1 get the shears and I'll cut
on some she turned TO the house and ,
obert stood waiting. q
A few moments later he went down the
ak with a bunch of roses in his hand
nd a queer smile on his face. 1.
NOBLE WARREN.