The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-03-20

4 with that OF the well wearing ehafms
ing beings with whom he mentally
placed her bit such disadvantage. For
n woman to look young long two things
are necessary first, an infantine mig
nome Of cast or features secondly, a
great capacity for feeling nothing
acutely. And Jane possessed neither
Of these. Her fragile, oval face was
one sure. even in a far happier life
than hers had been, to lose it's youth
/ early. The fine complexion OF her
younger days had alone saved her from
| looking too frail and delicate even
when she was quite young girl, ana
this she had wholly and forever iosr
within very few days Of the ending
4 of her engagement TO Mohun, She was
pale, more than pale, bloodless-looklng
now. The blue veins were painfully
| distinct upon her thin temples; FAINT
| violet shade around her eyes gave them
an unearthIy look Of size and luster;
her lips. so scarlet when Clifford kissed
| them last, were cOlorless and wan. inc
seven years which had brought Mohua
to the best stage of mans life, to the
| fullness Of mature youth, had brought
Miss Grand almost to the confines Of
age.
II am greatly changed, Clifford" she
said to him once during the evening
isYou never thought to find me as old
and faded as / amp
"You are Jane Grand STILL" said Gift
ford. The daylight was quite gone
now, and in the tremulous on-coming
of night he saw only the dropping lines
Of figure, the soft-curYed throat the
delicate hands, which took him back
SO strongly to his boyish passion. Jane
Grand to me, however changed,
| than any other woman in the world.
| she did not ask herself by what
process his indifference to others had
been attAined. All that her heart
greedily drank was the thought that
she was dear to him, was something
to him still. The love story had re-
opened at much the same page as Of
old. Sitting together here in the twi-
light. Mohun was simply sensible Of
comfort to himself, Of peace, of quiet,
almost of freshness in this little silent
room, with the odorous country air
playing on his face, and a woman
(howeNer gone off who still adored him
at his side.
Jane felt only that the dream OF her
girlhood was clothed with flesh and
blood once more. she was with Gift
ford; Heaven had not remained for
ever deaf to her entreaties.
Yes, changed though they were IN
some things, the story had reopensd at
the same page as of old-one loving,
the other submitting to be loved. 1t
was a page beyond which Miss Grand
was fated never to read as long as Mr..
Clifford Mohun continued to be the hero
| of her romance.
The time went on upon swift wings
that summer evening; and when at
length the lamp came in, Clifford began
to think he had too hastily passed judg-
ment on James good looks. Lamplight,
of course, suits all compilations, that
I.are not young and faultless, best; and
then poor James face had become really
flushed with something like its old soft
color during the intense happiness OF
the last hour and half.
AS she poured out tea and brought it
to Mohun, just as she used to do when
she was a girl, he was struck with the
perfect grace-which was, in truth, her
one inalicnable charm-with the soft
fall of her plain black dress, her noise
less STEP her timid, pleading voice
more timid. by far, than any of the
much younger London voices he was
accustomed to. How would it be for
him to return to his old, pure, uncalcu-
lating first love? give up the life he
had got so little of satisfaction and so
much of ruin out of, and betake him
self to the creature comforts of calm
country domesticity, with this pale,
gentle, adoring woman for his slave?
The question really seemed capable
Of being answered afirmatiyely; and,
after good deal of preamble, Clifford
at last let Miss Grand know that it
was not utterly impossible for him to
entertain it.
"On revient toujoursin was sit
ting beside him in the old place by the
window again when Clifford began with
the stereotyped quotation for all such
cases-''on revient toujours! Jane, the
years seem as nothing since you and l
saw each other last. have come back
suddenly upon my youth at its best.
| Can't the old hopes come to life again,
| too?-the dear old hopes we shared
together, Jane, before that horrible day
that divided us?''
Miss Grand clasped her hands, and
turned away from him nervously. She
always reiterated to herself that Gift
ford Nfohun's character was a high and
generous and noble one; but a wisdom
stronger than her reason warned her
back now from taking him at his word
in any matter at all pertaining to dis
interestedness or self-sacrifce.
(To be continued.l
Mysterious Jones.
| Who is the Man with the Cigars