The Washington herald., 1907-02-20

ever would have thought of seeing your"
Il 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. II
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, flushing
Nor 7. Strange, isn't IL, that We
should meet? What prompted you 20
come to-day2"
oh. I don't know-I think the social
merry gO-rOuHd has begun to pail.
got so tired Of people and things, and
wanted to set away from them.
There was a moments silence. The
wind stirred the fallen leaves with ii
soft rustic, and a bit of thistledown
hoated lazily by.
Il thought" said Mrs St Aubyn pres
emily. that you were in Europe"
so / have been for the last six months.
] got back yesterday And this morning
1 had the strangest longing to see this old
place. and so 7 came"
Two worldliugs in Already" laughed
Mrs. St Aubyn. and hunger reminds me
that / have brought a lunch"
Good He spread his coat out on tie
grass. ''WiH YOU sit here? And if you
don't mind waiting "a bit. III go 20 the VII
Iage and skirmish Cor kettle and some
tea"
And two teacups would be an adjunct
also"
''Tll try" said Vanringcourt.
They lunched ia gypsy fashion. the ket-
tie singing over a fire Of twigs while the
glow Of midday softened into the long
light of afternoon.
"A mellow light to see visions by" OBJ
served Vanringcourt
Visions
"All day I've been longing for a glimpse
Of a girl that 7 used TO know. She used
to wear a pink linen gown. and her hair
in a braid. and carry a frilled sunbonnet
on her arm The last time ! saw her this
orchard was all in bloom and she prom
Used to love me for ever and ever. and IN
token Of that we exchanged rings made
of grass"
MY dear Jimmy, protested Mrs. ST
Aubyu.
VanringcOurt fumblcd in his pocket
There it is he said. smiling whimsi-
caIy.
How absurd " said Mrs. St Au5yn, but
her voice trembled.
Yes, isn't it, To 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 a 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 I'm
the nursery tale, a rich relation had come
and wirled her away to town. and when
next 1 saw her the wild rose had become
an American Beauty-the greatest sue
cess Of a brilliant social season. VOLTA
tout"
"Oh, yes. I know. I've had success.
too. I've gained it. I'm counted fortu-
nate as The run Of men go, yet the thing
I've wanted most I've never had. Moth
ing else ever really mattered except the
girl I knew in this orchard. All my life
and all my heart have been empty be-
cause of her"
1T was spring then. and it is autumn
now"
1.-The glory Of the year." said Van
ringcOurt
But in these last few months you've
never even written 20 me-youve never
said you remembered-or-o cared"
Il waited till the moment came when
YOU found things empty, as you have
found them to-day; 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 l offer you
now. Helene?"
"Oh, Jimmy she began. and then her
eyes brimmed and speech failed her: but
she reached out her hands 10 him with
an adorable gesture, and as he kissed Ter.
late bird posing on bough above their
heads burst suddenly into song
Copyright. 1907. by NJ. NJ. Cunningham