The Washington herald., 1907-06-05

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THAT hotel was torn down five years
ago. he said, There's a twelve-story
office building there now"
Morton named another hotel, only TO be
met with fresh disappointment. and with
an impatient gesture he sank back in the
cab.
Il want to go TO a good hotel" he said.
You know better than I where I want
to 60"
The burly figure climbed on the box.
and presently the cab was rattling up
Broadway. Llstlessly Morton looked out
Of the cab window and marked the
changes. II was like a new land with
only here and there a familiar landmark.
Six years had wrought changes as great
as those that had been effected within his
heart.
Six years before the world had seemed
bright and pleasant Lucy Desmond had
loved him. and his prospects had begun TO
materiallze. Then had come the crash.
Howard Desmond had sacrificed his
daughter TO save his fortune. Half n
million were needed to support his totter-
ing ventures. Metcalf would loan the
money. but not until Lucy had become
Mrs Metcalf had the loan been made.
Ter days later the vein had been struck
in the mine which Morton owned and be
was "a millionaire almost over night For
weeks he had rallied against the fate that
brought him fortune too late % give him
the only thing worth while, the c0mpan-
iOusnip 0f the woman he loved.
He had tried 20 meet her On their social
encounters with the indifference that con-
veutiou demanded but there had come
night when the iut0xicati0u of the music.
the heavy scent of flowers. had been upon
them. II had been in the conservatory
at the Clivers dance, and for one mad
moment De had held her in his arms beg
glng her 10 eiope with him.
But even as he pleaded there had come
the sense Of right. He had gently re-
leased her and had He'd the place. The
dawn had found him still in his evening
clothes pacing the floor OF his apartment.
and as the fresh morning air famed his
flushed face he made his resolution.
Before the end of the week he had dis
posed Of all his American interests and
had gone abroad. lie left no kin behind.
and none knew where he had gone. For
six years he had r0amed three continents,
but always off the path of the tourist.
Then had come the fierce longing for
home, and he had come back
Now that he was here he was not GER
tain that he did not regret his decision.
All had changed; everything reminded
him that he had lost his place i'm the life
Of the city. The stopping of the car
rage reused him. and he paid his driver
and followed the bellboy into the Hctel
He found the stiffness Of his room in
tolerable. and. after vainly trying to in
terest himself In the papers. he threw
them aside and went for a walk. Per
haps, in the busy throng he could shake
off his memories.
Unconsciously he turned his steps in
the direction of the park and was wei!
into the shady recesses before he realized
where he was. Then he reused himself
with q start. Il had been Lucys favor
te walk 1t led TO a little summer house
Just around the curve in the path. the
little summer house where they had
spent such happy afternoons before Cupid
had fled in utter rUut before the on
Slaughts Of MammOn.
Il seemed perfectly natural that when
he had turned the curve he should see
her sitting there in the same place where
she had sat that afternoon when she told
him of Metcalfs Ultimatum. He smiled
at himself for his belief, but the vision
seemed 50 real that he kept on and pres
emily sank into the seat beside her.
Lucy" he said. wonderlngly. as he
took the firm, soft hand she offered. Is
It really you. dear? OF course, | know IL
isn't but you seem so real You have
come to me hundreds Of times before,
both waking and dreaming, but never so
plainly. dear
But suppose that / am not vision,
Jim?' she asked with smiling lips. Sup
pose that it really should be I?'
Then l should have to 60 he said,
firmly. Il cannot trust myself with
you"
Then let us pretend that I am Wis
ion" she urged. Il really ought to scO'f
you for keeping yourself hidden all these
years"
1T was a towards retreat he adj
mitted. but | could not see you the wife
Of that man
And so you left me alone in my mis-
erye" she said. reproachfulIy.
Morton shook his head. 1t was not
that" he said. soberly. 1T was that I
cared too much for your fair name 10
stay on"
4 know" she said, tenderly. But,
Jim, you might have left some word
whereby we could have found you"
L-sr .,
cor happiness" she said. You seem
10 have found misery where you went"
She looked at the face Of the man.
Every line was touched by the hand OF
sorrow Six years before he had been
a laughing faced boy. She could remem-
ber his every expression. Now his face
had gained "a seriousness that became It
we'll lie had not sought forgetfulness
in dissipation. and the girl was glad.
Il suppose that I do show IT," he said.
noting her glance. But you. being only
a vision have not changed Your eyes
have gained a sweet seriousness, but 9th
erwise IL is the face that has been before
me all these years. You have come 10
me I'm many lands, Lucy, but there seems
reality to the vision here that I have
never known before. wish that 7 might
always hold you So dear
Welded TO q vision?" she asked, mock
ingly. Would that content your"
1t had to content me all these years"
he said, simply. 1T Is better so than that
1 should seek the reality 20 rob her of
her fair name"
And yet. that night" she whispered.
Il was almost ready 10 say yes jim.
Had you persevered l should have
yielded"
II knew IT," he agreed. "and for that
reason l went away SO far that no word