The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-02-08
wjftly rolled it again, before he wen.

you left town, that l first NEITHER. !
will not tell you her name-you would
not know her-but she was young-I
was young then, too-and she was so
beautiful that all men were attracted
to her.
"Do you smile to think that / was
attracted, too? True-I had not lived
the life most men live. | was stu.
dent, and had lived among books and
dreams. She was the embodiment OF
all that was pure and lovely in litera-
ture and fancy. / had worshlped her
afar off until she called me TO her.
Howard, she sent the others away and
called me, Mt Il queen calls courtier,
and | went"
The paper was growing ragged at the
edges. He held it up moment and
looked at ii. then clasped his fingers
around it till they were white from the
pressure, and went on:
For weeks l saw her every day. l
found that l could say brilliant things
TO amuSe her-I, the recluse, the silent
Other men. wealthier, well-linown, So
cially. stood off and We're amazed, but
| cared nothing for them. Through
all the ages. through all the impossible
ties Of time and space, our two souls
| had been coming together. Missing
her, l would have gone on, solitary
student. to my journeys end. | shud-
dered, sometimes, to think what my
life would have been If had not gone
to the house where met her first.
"Missing me- she would have laughed
and jested with the crowd of suitors,
| until she wearied of them, and they
fell away, one by one, and left her still
heartwhole and alone.
my life was filled with such dreams
as these, which seemed so true. so
natural that felt it necessary to speak
to Elinor, for she must see as clearly
as t.
The flood was carrying him on-he
resumed hurriedly, with his eyes on
the paper:
zone evening l went to her home.
Elinor was alone, with a shadow on
her face, and something took posses
sion of me, and IL spoke. l see you
are disturbed-for me. You need not
be troubled-it was all over, long ago.
| have lived through it. l can laugh
now. when | think of it-ha, ha, ha!
"She laughed. too, at the time, and
said it was the strangest thing that a
girl could never be friends with a man
but that he spoiled it by wanting to
marry her. She leaned back in her
cushioned chair-there was something
made of silk and lace behind her head,
and-and she looked so fair and dainty
and gentle-but she was laughing; and
she told me that she liked to have me
near her for several reasons.
"In the first place, l was tall. and
she liked tall men. Then l could talk
to her about books, and that enabled
her TO talk about them, too, without
being at the trouble of reading them
herself. Then. l was so drliCiously
serious. and that refreshed her-and
above all, she knew she was perfectly
safe with me, for no one would ever
be insane enough TO dream Of our
marrying.
"She laughed a great DEAL yet she
was veXed that l had spoken and
spoiled it ALL She had broken her
doll, and. finding nothing but hearts
blood irside it, she threw it away. But
men were all alike, she said; they all
took themselves so seriously.
"And then l laughed also, and went
out into the night. A little while after
she left London and went abroad;
and II sat here at my desk and
lived.
Yes, I am quite recoyered-fortun-
ately. With some men it might have
been a very serious thing. There are
men, you know, who put 50 much of
life into Il thing that what is left be-
hind isn't worth considering. 1t would
be so with you, Howard. l have
thought of you many times, for l knew
what might come-and l wanted to
warn You. When you are pouring ont
your soul they are tolerating you be-
cause-because you are tall. 1t would
ruin your life, my boy. Don't let them
do it."
"Wait a moment" said the pale
faced younger man, with his hand on
the others arm. Never mind-I would
not have needed it-no man would
but your warning comes too late. I
was married last week. l am on my
wedding tour. 1 thought you knew"
The elder paused. with the paper
held out in both motionless hands, and
stared at him vacantly
married." he whispered. "And to
whom"
"To Miss Elinor Vancour."
The paper dropped to the floor with
crash, and in the pause that fol-
lowed Howard heard his watch tick.
Then the man who had outlived the
tragedy of his life arose and heard
himself saying, formally, a long way
os:
ALLOW me TO congratulate you
| Illustrated Bits.