The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-01
Our Daily Sport Story

growing yet. And that old chimney I couldn't realize that the old house would be gone when came again. If you know what 1t means believe have a heartache because the old house has fallen down" "You must have been very happy here. |" she suggested. with swift glance into his face. If 50, 1t was because a boy will not let himself be made unhappy by anything that comes" he said. My mother died. then my father-and those who came after were not greatly troubled about me. And yeti have always turned back to this old place as home. in all my thoughts. The little scraps of happiness found here must have struck deep root-but think I had a pretty for lorn time. I have been trying for a year to get my business into such a shape that I could come back here and see the old place and now sit here and grieve because it has routed into the ground.
 The girls eyes rested softly on the de- cayed chimney.
 T was wondering-before you came" she acknowledged, 'ff those who used to live here had forgotten all about the old home --or had grown too rich too proud to think of 1t. was thinking that I would like to know something about them-about their lives since they left this place. and of all they had accomplished. You came like an answer to my question. I am merely a summer boarder over at Farmer Gray's, and have heard a little about-about you, I think-and some of the others"
 There was long silence before he an- swered her. Then he spoke as one who communes with himself.
 T found out very early that I must go out and make my way in the world" he said, a little sadly. There was no one in- terested enough to make 1t for me-and- ah. yes 1t was best, anyhow. I had hard work the first five years. There was no drudsery I did not do-no kind of despair that did not come upon me-but things be- gan to come my way at last. could build a beautiful home above this ruin, if wished and I was thinking I came out here that I would like to do that-but now--I am not so sure I am afraid 1t would be the loneliest place in all the world haunted with ghosts. Everything I ever loved here is gone"
 You speak, perhaps, of the dogs--or is 1t the cows and horses?" she asked, with a culver In her voice. She was not looking at him.
 He was still communng with himself. T spoke more especially" he said, "of tiny girl that used to call my little sweet heart Where is she now, wonder? How the years rob us as they go, was a great, rough. country boy, and she was the dearest little mite-ths last time saw her I car ried her on my shoulder across that little creek at the foot of the hill It was the day before I went away. heard afterwards that her mother died and that she was adopted by wealthy people and taken away; and don't know what became of her"
 The girl turned and looked at him. Her eyes very blue. and the lashes were long and dark.
 But doubtless the years gave you far more than they took away" she said stead lily. "One finds 1t that way in life man loses the baby sweetheart he thought he loved. but after all did not love enough to ask where she had gone--and the years make him a present of wife and children, and he Is all the happier for his loss. Beg pardon--it Is almost dinner time with the Grays, and must go"
 "But-wait a moment" he cried. greatly perturbed. as she was going past him 'T ssIed--I asked again and again-and when found that she to be an heiress-and was mere drudge in a hardware house, did not ask aga'n. And besides--the years because I have not asked much of them. no doubt. They have given me no wife; so have perfect right to sit by the ruins of my cid home and dream of the baby sweetheart lost so long ago."
 She had paused She stood now, half turned. the ruffled white sunbonnet hanging back from her face and framing 1t in. T have no doubt you have even forgotten how she looked" she said presently in the lowest of low voices
 she had world of golden hair" he said smiling at her with that note of regret run ming through the words Her name ,vas Elsie-and there was a dimple in each cheek when she laughed. Perhaps you have heard the Grays speak of her. They were varv fond of her, onca"