The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-18
herent illusions to ''them boys'--all end
Ing In, Eyes, sir she's Mt home. Please

hcrent illusions to "them boys''--ail end
|, nu In eyes, sir. she's Mt home. Please
walk IN tho parlor,"
Miss Patty looked UP us the door
opencd, and her heart gave u great
th,ob for there stood her old lover, John
Bradley. She tried to rise, but sank
again into her seat and could only wave
her hnnd toward the chair which the
nbnsled and re,norseful Tilly had placed
for the visitor.
John Bradley quietly seated himself,
and for an instant there was silence as
his oyo. with quick glance, took In
the room and then rested upon Miss
Patty HERSELF from the little brown curls
about her forehead to tho tips OF her
small boots. Then he spoke.
~ have called, Miss Hayes, In answer
to your note Of this morning, II, which
you desired mo to cnll ut o'clock"
MY note! wrote no such note" Her
face cri,nsoned, and she drew herself up
with great dignity.
For answer he took an envelope from
his vest pocket and handed it to her.
She glanced over It, written In an Of
fccted female hand.
"you might have known she said,
"thnt I could never have written that
note"
"Then who could have written it?"
The thought of her mornings expert
ence occurred to her
".rhis Is the lat Of April" she said
briefly.
"Ah! yes; should have remembered
Then for q full moment there was
silence Miss Patty looked into tho fire
and John Bradley looked at her.
Having intruded upon you. however
unintentionally," he said, II should, per-
laps, apologize and take leave. But
hesitating little--"since 1t is so many
years since we last met, may we not bt
permitted to have few words with eacf
other, Patty?"
Tears rushed to her eyes. The familiar
name, spoken by the old familiar voice
strangely stirred her heart.
ut has been long time. Patty
"Twenty years." she murmurcd.
Another moments silence, when n
said gravely:
ut was my fault Patty"
"No no. It was mine.'
Oh! had either Of them made that con
fession years ago, how different to then
, might those years have proven!
"Perhaps we were both to blame. But
since wo cannot recall those lost years
/ may we not agree to forget them? Ma
we not 20 back into the past and b
friends again, Patty?"
20 joint Her eyes were oVerilowini
; now.
He held out his hand, and she trem
, blngly gave her own. which he claspe
! in a close firm pressure.
It was at this suspicious moment tina
Tilly, who had made her mistress te
with great care, and did not like to Sc
it spoiled, and who, besides. had lurk
, ing desire to show some polite attentio
, to the visitor to whom. she had accorde
such rough reception, thrust her hea
t in at the parlor door. i. I.ar-s -.
''Pease. mum, the tea Is ready. WI
l I bring 1t in?-and two cups, mum?"
1 Yes" said Miss Patty, gently; "tw
cups, Tilly; Mr.. Bradley will take tie
l with me this evening"
! 80" thought the astute handmade
as she carefully arranged cluster
? yellow crocuses at each end OF the tray
: 80 that's Miss Patty's old sweethear
t is 1t? Well, It's lucky, maybe, she ma
t no appetite for dinner-such a tryln
Y day-since we've got the cold chicke
! lett over. And It looks like there wa
!. going to be two cups always after this.