The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-05-20
THE |. I z LAST 4 Of {
HER ROSES

BY J. J. BELL
iAuthor Of Wee MacCreegor.")

I On theAloorstep Of Lavender Cottage
Mai Carruthers showed signs Of I'M
4 soldierly hesitation. Instead Of pullina
The bell-handle he pulled his gra,
nusrache and looked back undecidcdlA
afvthe garden gaze through which he
had passed ere his courage failed him
This viii never do, he said 20 him
self, ana with All effort ne laid his fin
.Eeels nn the Zen handle. A faint tin
4 kle. and presently he was asking q
maid, who glanced admiringly al his
broad shoulders and bronzed counten-
lnce. If Miss Neville was ~ home.
/ MAJ. Carluthers found himself in q
small drawing -room, the furniture Of
which was oId-fashioned vet arranged
/ without primness. A dainty touch was
4 everywhere evident, and, though the
season was late autumn flowers
/ 3bomded. He noticed photographs Of
| people az he had met them 20 years be
/ fore. and he observed with sigh that
Ihis own likeness had no place among
/ them.
| He singled out one on the mantel-
piece. II was that Of a brother officer
/ In his first campaign Poor old Jack
| sighed the major she has forgotten
me, aud she has remembered you,
though you've been in your grave a
score OF years wonder ii you were
really engaged TO her before"
He turned suddenly. for the door had
opened and Miss Neville was coming
| forward 10 greet him.
DO you know me, Hilary he slant
mered,
Know your or course. lin" was
her reply. Ms she held out 4 friendly
hand
Mai. Carruthers Was surprised aud
relieved, lie had anticipated an awk-
ward meeting, and at best a polite rec
ognitiou Of himself rs an old acQuaint-
aute whose appearance WAS 4 SORT Of
resurrection but here was Hilary
Neville receiving him as though he had
parted from her only yesterday
ITS awfuIly good Of YOU. he cried.
boyishIy, and then laughed He could
not help it,
Il should have known you by your
laugh, anyhow" she said. smiling, and
motioning him TO seat
And should have known you by
your voice
Then he became grave, Its %
wears in December years since
last saw you
is it 50 much? can hardly believe
it."
Neither can /, when look at you,
Hilary"
''You were always abroad any time
happened to be home on leave -
Yes. For years | had desire to
travel. Now I'm rather tired Of it all.
and am quite content to yegetate at
Lavender Cottage | suppose the con-
tentment is a sign OF age she said
Nonsense" exclaimed her visitor
He was forced to admit that time had
changed her. but his heart cried out
tina, she was as sweet ana desirable to
him as ever
I'm 80, she said, bluntIy, thinking
TO shock him
Not III January, he returned, SIM
ply and I'm So, he added stoutly.
The maid entered with the tea tray,
and on her departure they dropped into
q conversation on the past-the past
as il had interested both Of them. Il
was natural enough thar they should
come to speak OF Jack Cunningham;
but the major was little surprised
that his companion referred TO her
dead lover without great sadness
though with all eentIeness. Her fin
gers did not trembIe as she took the
photograph from the mantelpiece anc
handed It to her visitor
Poor Old Jack. he said. softly. =
remember the day. he and | went to
gether 10 have our portraits taken
This is a capital likeness" He won
icred what else he could say. After
moment he went on; "Jack WAS ont
of those clever fellows who would HAY,
come To the top ir he had lived II'
got ahead Of me in everything, Hillary
- think You are undertaking yorn'
self. Jim she said kindly
.No. It's the truth BW only once
was / Jealous of his success
There was silence. which wai
broken Al last 10y Miss Neville 'y,oui,
you like to see the companion pilot,
10 Jack's?" sac asked with a faint
smile.
Yes. 7 looked in vain for it on N,
mantelpiece"
Excuse me n moment. then. and TN
get it for YOU.
stray. Hilary said the major. fol
lowing her to the door is !, the sam,
as this?" And he took worn leather
case from his breast pocket is il the
same as this2" he asked. opening the
case.
Miss Neville stared for moment
Her face flushed crimson and then
turned very pale. oh, no. no, she
whispered. and fled.
What have ! DONE he muitered.
Have offended herr" He looked
laneinrly q, the faded photograph in
hi. hands how often an many ~ fsI
land. he had gazed ou the =irlish fscc'
and returned - carefully IN ~ case
~ his pocket
ne tn.tr4- va ah-out Tor cot, o.. D