Middletown transcript., 1906-09-08
4 Cottage Among the Hills
foosnsurD FROM Last wErKl
BY WILLIAM Il. HAMBy

Come, he said, holding out bis
hand, we must go Let Us ran q
race like children.
All right. she replied, and
away they went after the party
already leaving the hill.
Who would haze thought It OF
youf she asked, catching her
breath.
I wouldn't have thought il Of
either OF IS, he replied.
A man is never too big to play
the woman, he retorted.
They we're standing in the
shadow on the porch. Shall |
tell you goodnight as though ] .
were a boy? he asked.
No, she answered, the warm
blood coming to her face.
As a man. then?
No, she replied again, family.
AS d woman would?
Yes, she answered. Where
upon he stopped and kissed her
with: Good night, my dear.
They we're together often dur
ing the weeks that followed.
Sometimes they went TO picnics
and parties, but oftener preferred
to remain at home. They spent
the delightful autumn evenings
visiting on the porch or walking
in the orchard, where, amidst the
red and golden fruit, they forgot
that man had ever been driven
from the Garden of Eden. Miss
Prescott had intended to return
home the first of October, but
October passed, November was
nearly gone, and stal she lin
gered.
One afternoon when school was
out they walked the valley road
together. There had been a
heavy frost the night before, and
the leaves were falling every
where. The world was ablaze
with pink and yellow and scarlet,
with here aud there q vine yet
green. Beautiful over our path
way the spots OF autumn are
spread. quoted the teacher. See
how the leaves are falling, The
dryads are weeping.
Isn't it beautiful ?-and / must
leave Il tomorrow, she said, fal-
teringly. They walked on in 81
lence- both thinking. TO Aurs-
ra. Chicago, her home, her friends
her social set, even her duty TO
her father, seemed a long way
off-years and years ago. She
had been SO happy in just living
as life flowed on, that she had for
gotten to count the cost. Now
she dreaded to go back to the old
life, which seemed uncomfortable,
and this free one among the hills
seemed doubly delightful, now
that it was at an end. In the
teachers heart there was both
pain and fear pain at parting,
and fear lest all the beauty and
JOY he had fe,t and loved in this
world of his should die when she
went away.
Do you think you will always |
remain here? she asked, breaking |
the long silence.
Pephaps, he replied. Have
You noticed the cottage in the
orchard south Of Sunset Hills
Yes; and you remember you
promised to tell me something
about it some day. Is it not
about timer
That place is mine. There are
ten acres Of orchard in the midst
Is the cottage. with q few trees
in the yard and some roses. I L
have furnished the house piece
at q time with such things as | I
became attached TO. When I
learn to Isve a chair or book or
picture, / get it and put it in myl
cottage. Il
What an interesting place it
must be. Why haven't you told
me Of ii beforee she asked, Ia sur
prise.
! seldom speak of it. and never
go there unless it is to add some
thing. It is sacred to melt is
to be my home, | will never live
la it unless my dream comes
true. Little by little it comes
nearer to completion as I add to
it, and then wait.
Fer what? she asked, with
iowncast eyes.
The weman 7 shall love with !.
Ill my soul and mind and
strength
Do you think she win ever !
,omef she asked, her cheeks !
;inged with the scarlet of the :