The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-05-21

Who ever would have thought Of see
Ing you?"
q came by the noon train," said Mrs.
st. Aubyn.
"Ah. And by the one before it.
Hasn't changed much, has it?'' he con-
tinued, nodding toward the old house.
Except that the grass is ragged. 1t
looks just the same as that summer
you spent here with your aunt. Have
you ever been back here since?"
Never" said Mrs. st. Aubyn, flush
ing.
Nor I. Strange, isn't it, that we
should meet? What prompted you to
come today:v
''Oh, l don't know. think the social
merry go-round has begun to pail. 1
got SO tired OF people and things, and
wanted to get away from them.''
There was moments silence The
wind stirred the fallen leaves with a
soft rustic, and a bit of thistledown
loated lazily by.
Il thought said Mrs. st. Aubyn
presently, that you were il Europe"
$50 l have been for the last six
months. I got back yesterday. And
this morning | had the strangest long
ing to see this old place, and so
came
Two worldlings in Already" laughed
Mrs. st. Aubyn, and hunger reminds
me that l have brought q lunch"
"Goodr' He spread his coat out on
the grass. '.WiH you sit here? And if
you don't mind waiting a bit III go to
the village and skirmish for a kettle
and some tea
"And two teacups would be an adj
junct also"
iii try" said Vanringcourt
They lunched in gypsy fashion, the
kettle singing over fire Of twigs,
while the glow of midday softened into
the long light of afternoon.
"A mellow light to see visions by"
observed Vanringcourt.
"Visionsr'
"All> day I've been longing Cor a
glimpse of girl that 1 used to know.
She used to wear pink linen gown
and her hair in braid and carry Il
frilled sunbOnnet on her arm. The last
time saw her this orchard was all in
bloom, and she promised to love me for
ever and ever, and in token of that we
exchanged rings made of grass"
My dear Jimmy" protested Mrs. st.
Aubyn.
Vanringcourt fumbled in his pocket
"There it is,' he said, smiling whim-
sically.
"How absurd" said Mrs. st. Aubyn,
but her voice trembled
YES, isn't ito cherish that. little
bit of dried grass as I've cherished
nothing else on earth, although the girl
that gave it to me decided six months
later that love in cottage was only
another name for folly and that money
and position were what counted most!
For, you see, in the meantime, like the
fairy godmOther in the nursery tale, 4
away to town, and when next l saw
her the wild rose had become an Amer
lean Beauty, the greatest success of a
brilliant social season. VOLTA toutr'
But you
ooh, yes, l know. I've had success
too. I've gained it. I'm counted for
tunate as the run of men go, yet the
thing I've wanted most I've never had.
Nothing else ever really mattered ex-
cept the girl l knew in this orchard.
All my life and all my heart have been
empty because of her."
1T was spring then, and it is autumn
now"
THE glory Of the year." said Van
ringcourt.
But in these last few months you've
never even written to me, you've new
er said you remembered or-or cared"
II waited till the moment came when
you found things empty, as you have
found them today, till you knew that
your golden apples were only Dead sea
fruit You refused the boys love that
was offered you in the springtime.
Will you take the mans love that of
fer you now. HeleneY'
"Oh, Jimmy" she began, and then
her eyes brimmed and speech failed
her, but she reached out her hands to
him with an adorable gesture, and as
be kissed her late bird posing on
bOugh above their heads burst sud
denly into song.