The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-07-19
A Love of Yesterday.
Pr.

the WINDOWS LnfOuSH Wl4CH VIC 4'Si'e
usually came somewhat niggardly fash
ion into his private Office. Today
there was quite radiance in the som
Der room. The sun glinted on the ma
hogany chairs, and its occupier real
lied that ii was summer
For the last ten years the changing
seasons had meant little TO him. But
lately an unaccustomed restlessness mad
taken hold OF him. His spirit had re-
VOTED against the monotony OF busl-
ness the work Of placing once more
upon a substantial foundation a pusi-
ness which, at the time OF his father
death, had been undermined by worn
out methods and neglect.
Brian had given ten undivided years
Of life to it, and long aso it had repaid
him, for, above an worldly success, IL
had given him the thing he sought
forgetfulness Yet now-surely ne
could slacken the pace little, step
out into the world once more.
How fresh the country would look
that morning, how green the fields;
and what a wonder Of blossom there
would be in a certain garden. And
the girl there moving among the flow
ers-a flower herself, bud unfolding
into wonderful rose! What diff
ferent color life would take if he might
win this girls loyei
Was love for him, the man welded 70
work Of the dullest kind? Yet, why
not? But before he could speak there
was something which must be done
Freedom of action must be obtained,
an old sacred promise given back to
him
He sat down again and wrote a few
lines lines which demanded thought.
Several torn sheets testified 20 the ef-
fort it cost him. Re was about TO place
the letter in an envelope when his head
clerk announced that a lady wished TO
see him.
at sight Of the splendid figure in the
door way his dreams fed, Feversham
stood face to face with the woman Of
his past, the woman he had loved-ten
years ago.
She was dressed in black-a tall,
well-gowned woman She was very
pale, but a deep light shone in her dark
eyes And il ten years had changed
her they had done no more than ripen
a graceful girl into a woman.
She came hurriedly forward holding
out both hands Feyersham took them
in silence he seemed at a loss for
words It was she who spoke first
This is just as / have pictured our
meeting she said slowly-and her
voice had a rich note in it, with this
same somber background"
She paused and glanced at him with
expectancy yet without trace of CO.
Quetry. You expected me?' she add
ed.
IL was writing to YOU" he said
hesitatingly, when you came in. II
saw that-that your husband was
dead!"
1T was fearful-the end" she NUT
tered "A quarrel sprang up one night
at a gambling den he owned in Paris
he was playing himself at the time
a knife was drawn in swift anger, and
ii was he who was killed. Retribu-
ton, perhaps, Brian, but a terrible
end for all that He ruined lives, it
is true. Yet though he forced me to
become his wife-there his power over
me ended I bore his name, but my
soul belonged to myself. My conscience
is clean,"
Brian looked at her with admiration
and sympathy ard affection But lie
no longer loved her,
Remember, / have received not one
word from YOU; have heard nothing at
all about you since" he broke off.
Since we were forced to part" she
murmured. 1t was better not 10
wrote Both OF us knew that both
would be true to the vow which we
took All that night, Brian, when
you and / said farewell, that night
when you made me swear that. should
ever be free once more, / would
marry you; and you, in turn, promised
10 wait, your own lie lonely. You and
!, Brian, belong to he few who can
remain faithful to their word through
time and absence. And SO / have come
back left your lie empty then,
Brian viii fin it now!"
There was tenderness in her voice
which it was impossible for the man
10 hear uGmoved. a look of humility On
the lovely proud face.
But Brian Feyersham could find no
words for a moment The room was
spinaing round him, cloud fell over
the rosy future, all the world seemed
at an end. He was bound by an old
promise which chained him to the past.