The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-15
LOVES RETURN.
BY RUTH F. E. KNAPP. (ccpyright. 1904, by Daily story Fu'


 tccpyright. 1so4 by Daily story uo. Col
 She sat dreaming in the gloaming. Her heart was sad, and she was lone ly and weary. She had loved him long and faithfully. and now to see nm married to another was agony user. He was her first and only love. Sne was glad that he knew nothing aooue 1t. He was innocent-let him remain ignorant of her pain. She never dreamed for a moment that hers was only girlish anection. and not that true. deep love that weos hearts to each other: She nao meyer loved another, and she knew nothing of any other love than that she gave to him. She sought her dearest friend ana comforter. her violin. and wandered out to the old apple tree in the gar den She seated herself in It's low branches and began to slowly draw the bow over the strings. No tune was formed at first; only a success sion of sweet notes. Then at iength sad little melody escaped from the prison walls of the old violin, and fin- ally she began to play one of those dear old pieces that is at the same time sad and sweet--one that brings both tears and smiles to the listener.
 As she played on and on, through the gathering shadows, little needing the time. the melody grew sadder, and then wilder, as the player grew more sorrowful and Respondent. She was picturing to herself a scene; she saw him, the central object of her Fancy, walking up the broad church aisle with his bride-eiect at his side. How proudly he walked, how noble he iooked--yes, and happy. True. he loved her; he would be happy with her. Then she saw him place the ring upon her finger. heard the final words pronounced which were to bind them to each other forever. She saw him march out with his bride leaning on his arm. | Tears began to fall on tho old violin-that dear old instrument that \ had so often been a comforter in time | of sorrow. What did they mean?v l
 l He was . tall. dark-complexioned. dark-haired fellow. with a very affec- tionate and sensitive nature, who could not bear to see any fellow crea- | ture in trouble. He was walking along the path by the now deserted highway, when--lfst! what was that? Surely no one was near ins this se- cluded spot. But truly that was a sob. He stopped to listen; it came from the orchard near by. He stepped little nearer. What not maiden's tresses falling over q limb of the tree7 Sud denly she took up the broken strain of music and played, at first slowly and sadly. then wildly, and finally the
 notes died out in a sad little strain and
 the violin was laid on the ground Her head dropped while the tears fell lunheeded as she looked upon the pie
 ture fresh in her mind. s K
 He stepped forward gently. that he
 might not startle her. and lifted the
 loved instrument, while he glanced
 strain where she had left 1t and played lI on and on, repeating favorite strains
 even after the piece was ended, His
 heart was touched by her sorrow, and he longed to; comfort her yet knew ;I not how. He could only, express his sympathy In music. And that he did
 for he was of German descent and had studied for many years under the
 most efficient teachepS. and he put his emotions. his very soul into his music.
 And she felt It. Though she did not look up, she felt his sympathy; she knew that friendly comforter
 was near, though she knew not who 1t was. He played thus for several minutes. then, laying the instrument aside, he picked up the shawl and
 threw it gently around her shoulders
 saying: "Is 1t not too damp to remain
 out longerT" She did not answer. but
 arose, and as he handed her the vio.
 lin she smiled, and then walked slow
 ly toward the house.
 |
 4 year passed by. She was seated
 in the same place with her violin
 Did she lovo him? She had thought her first and only love was buried 1T
 the past. She had dismissed him. ana
 tomorrow he would sail away--away
 from her forever. She would never
 see him again. She had told him all told him of her first love and that
 1t was her only love. He had turned
 sadly away, saying: Then I must SC
 away. I shall never see you again:
 shall go to Germany and live in my
 music, for can never forget; my l