Rock Island Argus., 1908-11-06


| nut stands, topped by the roaster,
| which sent out the fragrance of the
mealy nuts.
A crisp tang in the air sent the end
less procession of workers along at
smarter pace. Only an occasional dere-
lict sauntered along at laggard's
gait. Overhead a thin haze yelled the
sky, changing the blue of the cloud
less armament to a softer tint, and
through this yellow sun burned
duly.
| Paul Westford as he hurried toward
the Office shifted the odor of the roast
| ing chestnuts and smiled reminiscent
| ly. OF course chestnuts roasted in a
pan over charcoal fire could not be
as good as when they were gathered
in the wood and roasted in fire
shovel
1t took two to roast chestnuts prop
erly. two in a cozy parlor, with an
open fire for the only illustration.
He knew all about roasting chest
nuts. 1t was while they were roasting
chestnuts that Carol Ryder had prom
ised to be his wife. Ever since that
night the perfume of the chestnut
stands had reminded him of the girl
he had loved and lost.
The course of true love had run with
its customry irregularity. so it befeH
that during one of their misunderstand
ings John Ryder, Carols father, had
fallen upon evil times. His invest
ments were threatened for lack os
ready money Another man had come
to Ryder's aid and had claimed Carol
as his reward.
The girl had married him in the mis-
taken belief that she owed it to her
father TO obey his wishes, and when
Paul sought reconciliation he had
found that it was too late.
He had come to the city that he
might not be reminded daily Of his
loss and had prospered greatly. He
had found cngrossment If not forget
fulnesS in business.
Yet always the smell of roasting
chestnuts brought back to him that
night in the Ryder parlor. and he could
feel again that thrill of joy when he
| heard the whispered Yes"
Today it came back TO him more
strongly than ever, and on the pages
of the letters he opened he could see
the picture of the woods about Carris-
Vile, rioting with color under the au-
1 tumn sun. y
He had never gone back TO the town
since his first departure. He had never
wanted to sec the place. But today he
heard the country call him. and the
call was not to be denied. He arrang.
ed with his chief clerk TO look after
affairs for a few days. and that night
he left on the sleeper for Carrisville.
. He found the town. was sadly
changed. Paul arrived in the early
hours. when few were stirring. and as
a sleepy hackman drove q. sleepie,
horse through the silent street Pau
one greets an old friend and finds hin
that friend no longer, but even more
foreign than an actual stranger.
The old brick schoolhouse had growi
into a stone structure several stories
in height. There was new Methodis
church. and many of the old houses
had been replaced by more imposing
structures. while in the business sec
tion the store fronts had been altered
; to present q metropolitan aspect.
1t was not until after lunch and Pau
had started out into the country tlia
he began to feel at home He hat
looked up none of his old friends, fear
ing to find them as sadly changed al
the village itself.
There was trolley now to take hin
to the outskirts of the town. but h
dropped off when the canal bridg
came in sight and the trolley turned
on the road to the river The bridg
was not changed.
t. was the same low. white structur
from which he had dropped many
time to the deck of some passing canal
boat to ride down to the lock and be-
q ride back
Beyond the bridge, too. the roa,
looked the same. The trend of prog
ress had been along the line of th
trolley, and on this side of the cana
the farmhouses were unchanged.
They had not even mended the brea
l
through for the short cut to the marsh
Here the largest frogs were always t
be caught. and Paul was tempted
push through just to see If he still wa
slender enough.
It was n sharp climb up the hill, an
Paul was glad to pause and rest for
moment when he gained the crest B,
. low, the canal wound its way betwee
grassy banks, the towpath, dotted wit
toiling mules, showing white agains
r the green.
Farther yet the river flowed placidl
:, on to the churning foam Of the rapid
Y below. and between lay the level acre
d now yellow with stubble. In the va
!. ley, the autumn tints were not yet pr,
inounced, but at his back, on tn
heights. the woods were glorious wit
=. red and gold.
Paul started out at brisk pace II
~ the chestnut grove where the nut
y were always biggest and best. On tf
x Saturday holiday the woods would
dotted with the nutpickers, but tods