Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-12-19

thrif uamc ana presently ~ famIa
himself ieaninF against The fence that
luclused the veii tert raraen Tiers
No. uahtrd cirat. and With the sofi
ri0om II the tfce shaded yard for hls
srrpcn ho projected frum his fancy
sccues wherein hc and Elizabeth had
figured lie could soc The rny ham
mock swung between tho apple tree
aud tie horse chestnut lie could pic
urc the dainty figure in nimy white
and could almost hcaf he's hail ~ I'm
ont here. Rills. IN the hammock" a.
the gate clicked behind him
Then his mind couiurcd the vision
Of the wlstful faced girl leaning upon
the railing Of the bridge aud pleading
with him 20 keep hts freedom that h,
might make his light free handed. n,
remembered those last few moments
when he had declared that he would
have nothing more to do with n CIR
who feared 60 face poverty with him
aud even now II seemed that he could
HfhA hAfA NNHH " NAAf tAth NHAhfh VIII
tear blinded eyes down the street
while he had leaned against the wal
and had watched her go without n sin
gle word Of comfort
Somehow the sobbing seemed strange
~ real 1t was almost rs though o
woman there I'm the shadow Of tn,
trees was letting loose the flood gates
OF her grief. SO real did the SOUND
seem that he flung away his cigar ant
vaulted the low fence, making for the
direction of the sound. But. though II,
expected to find n woman there undel
the trees, Il was with n shock that h,
did come face TO face with bowed
figure. With uplifted hat and a mur
INJURED offer Of service, he advanced
but the woman moved away silently
Something in the poise brought Sug
den's heart into his mouth. and, Will
a cry. he dartcd forward.
Elizabeth! Is 1t really your" he de
manded. Have / found YOU at lastT
The girl was at the gate now, and in
the light of the distant street lamp he
saw that he was right
Listen. dear" he went on. Il dom
blame you for wanting nothing TO dc
with me, but hear me only for a min
ute.
II did not know what you intuitiyely
Guessed-how hard the struggle woulC
be. | did not know the conditions.
thought that with you to help me make
the fight | could do better. / know
now that was wrong"
Il thought that knowledge woult
come in time" said the girl softly
Genius in a garret is a thing of tn,
past. Genius to be discovered mus
live and dress well. l could not max,
you understand that"
But | know it now" he assured
her. Il can see that alone | could liv,
better and at least preserve the ap
pearance of prosperity that was my
greatest aid to Advancement AnC
even as my error was great so is my
penitence, Betty. Can you find it II
your heart to forgive me, TO admit m,
at least to your friendship"
ITO forgive is part Of woman's life,'
she said wearily. Il had not intended
TO make myself known. just wanted
to see the old town and the old HON,
again. but you have found me out"
And this time | shall not let yol
CO." he said. not if | can prove how
great has been my repentance. Look
dear, the old house is for sale. May
buy it in the hope that some day W,
shall call 1t home? / know | do no
deserve forgiveness, dear. but-yot
said l would find you waiting when
came home"
1T has been a long wait" she sale
softly, "a very long wait. Billy, but
have kept my promise. l have waited
alone"
Gently. almost reverently, he tool
her in his arms, and as his lips brush
ed the soft brown hair he realized
what some men never come to know
the depth and beauty of a woman's
loving forgiveness. Sugden had found
the old homeland the new.