Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-08-07

iAe ssl anu Sazed about the old gar
oen With long breath of content.
her letter had babe him meet her
tnere at three o'clock on Tuesday, the
sixteenth. The missive had come at
time when Johns buoyancy was at
tne lowest So many things had gone
wrong that summer. He stood face TO
lace with the failure of his most cher
lsned plans. He wondered bitterly il
ne We're the same person as that
youth, who, two years ago had start
ed out so strong and confident to
wrest fame and fortune from a reluct-
ant world
The queens whim!" He had smil-
ed as he read. but he had arisen at
once, and obeyed her summons.
So three o'clock on Tuesday found
MIN waiting in the garden. 1t was a
garden made by bride of two genera
tons ago. The gate latch clicked. and
his hearts desire came out from
among the roses.
oh, my darling! How lovely you
are. breathed this denizen from the
world of strife.
Why cannot l take her away. AID
give her the things that are the birth
right OF such as she? / ought to wish
Tor rich lover for her if | weren't
such selfish wretch. But there's no
danger that I'll ever make any such
WISH he finished his reflections as
she stood before him.
Il didn't come to meet you because
1 wanted to gaze at you as you came
down the PATH he said, as he took
her hand
The city improves you wonderfully,
John. You're learning 10 say nice
things, and you know you used to be
so painfully blunt
And now, about this mysterious
summons he said.
Il was so afraid you couldn't come"
she said sweetly ignoring his question.
And if you had failed me / should
have been broken hearted"
Why didn't you mention that it
was a matter CO such Importance?
But, of course, you knew that me
merest hint from the queen was
enough TO bring me any time
Il wonder" she said fitting her head
back to watch a bird above her, what
lover first called his lady a queen.
They all do il now"
You seem quite familiar with the
ways of lovers, he suggested.
''Oh, l am" was the cheerfully
prompt reply. Il think / could count
on quite half of the young men of the
village. There's about a dozen of
them, so you needn't laugh And be-
sides, there are the summer boarders
you know"
Il hope you will never marry one
of that despised race called the sum-
mer boarder"
Moo. / don't think / shall. In
deed, none of them have asked me-
You know a girl Is in very awkward
situation when she tries to make her
plans She does not know when these
absurd men will speak. But no mat
ter how imperative il is that she have
things settled she must meekly clothe
herself with maiden modesty, and
wait" She was watching a bird on
distant bush now. and did not look at
him as she spoke. After a moment
frightened by her boldness and his 81
lence, she stole quick glance at him.
He, too, had turned his eyes away
and his mouth was set in hard lines.
Before he had left the village there
had been a boy and girl betrothal be-
tween them. She knew the security
of his love. But OF late he had ceased
to speak of marriage. He felt that IL
was unfair to bind her when his future
was so uncertain.
"Jonn,' she half sobbed. putting her
hand on his arm, don't mind it. It's
only nonsense, you know. Don't look
like that"
He took her in his arms. murmuring
soothing words, and voicing his indy
Ing love and hope. Even amidst her
exultHlion at the success Of her inno-
cent designing she found time to won
der at this outburst OF passion from
her self-contained lover
Darling" he said at length; II
ought not say these things to you.
could scarcely promise you bread and
butter. have no right to tell my love
when / cannot ask you to marry me
until some indefinite time in the fu-
ture"
Let us not be sensible to-day. Let
us be quite irresponsible, which is the
natural state of lovers. Besides. we
can be engaged until that future day
dawns."
But I should have left you free.
Some more fortunate lover"
She covered his lips with her fingers
until ne was ready TO be irresponsible.
When John left the garden, secretly
as he had come It seemed to him that
the things that had troubled him must
have been a part of some previous ex-
istence. The brown farmhouse where
he had spent his boyhood was occu-
pied by an old aunt and ne went there
for his supper and bed. He slept I'm
the little rnom under the caves WHARF