The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-18

nrSt went, pQt dlO not 90 anytmnH
the doctors expected. don't benevc
there was much the matter with me
when l went, but l know | felt rather
bad after I'd been there a month; but
the air had got into my head and | did
not care. I fiirted and behaved gener.
ally badly all round, until one day met
man / had never seen before He
was not a patient, but had just come
up for the scenery.
81 don't know how 1t was, but we be-
gan to talk, and l liked him. Somehow
wherever l went l met him, and If l
missed him the day seemed blank and
miserable. He lectured me as to my
carelessness about my health, and all
that and to please him l obeyed orders
particular; it all went on smoothly,
and, suppose, stupidly enough We
never even knew each others names. l
used to call him LIE Passant,' and he
called me his Incognita. But / was
idiotically, unreasonably happy, until
one day the doctor said l was well
enough to 60 home, and that he would
write the good news to my mother.
Il had been crying when l met him.
| had realized at once what 1t all
meant, and what 1t would be like to go
back home and never see him again.
l told him the news-we were quite
alone out on terrace and everything
glittered white in the moonlight around
us. When | had finished | turned and
saw his face. l tried to stop him, but
it was too late; his arms were round
me, and l loved to hear what he was
saying. But would not answer then
would tell him tomorrow.
IL shall never forget that night. l
loved him, but l was afraid. He was
not rich man, l felt sure of that.
Would my love last? Could l face the
life before me If l married him? | was
coward, and did not dare. l woke
Downey, and told her we must start
by the first train. l knew if l saw him
again l should yield. 1t was only when
Davos was behind us that l would have
given anything in the world to be back
there again; to keep my word, meet
him, and give him all my life."
And then|
Nothing. We never met again; how
should we? But l did not forget; how
could 1? was miserable; nothing mat
tered any more; and l married Lord
Ellsworth"
"And-"
"Oh, was as happy as deserved to
be. Peter was good to me, and always
in his way; but cannot say that his
death was a great blow to me. It's
awful to say, Phyllis; but could not
help thinking, If fate would be kind 7
II I should meet him now"
but If you marry"
II lose nearly all Peter left me. Yes
know; but l am wiser now. One
grows wiser in five years, Phyl, when
one has only to remember and regret
If-oh, but 1t is so unlikely! If we
met now nothing could keep us apart"
But suppose he"
"He had forgotten, you mean? No,
dear; he was not a man who forgets.
Oh, if we could meet!"
"Mr. Franklin" announced the serv-
ant, and tall figure advanced into the
room.
Lady Elmsworth went to meet him.
81 am glad" she began; and Phyllis
wondered why her sister stopped short
and turned so white.
mot more glad than J." put in Mark,
as he held out his hand. Then he, too,
stopped, and the two stood in the mid
die of the dainty drawing room, looking
into each others eyes for what seemed
to each an age, and the air around
them seemed suddenly to grow cold and
sharp, and glitter of moonlit snow
was upon everything. Glare recovered
herself first, and turned to her sister,
who was glancing from one to the other
in astonishment.
"Mr. Franklin and l have met be-
fore! Long ago before went to Mad
rid. You will excuse me a moment"
she continued, turning to Mark, II have
some orders to give" And she glided out
of the room before he could even bow
his acquiescence.-Lon Modern So
ciety.