Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-03-20
Wonsan's Whole.
Existence
BY Alma Scriven

1t was six years since they had
parted. Six years!
With a pang OF self-reproach, he re-
fected how seldom during those years
he had thought of her, and yet how
! vivid, now that he saw her again, was
the recollection Of their farewell
scenel 1t was at dance-was it at
this identical house? He could not be
certain about that, but what he could
remember most clearly was the little
; hand that had trembled as he pressed
1.-THE eyes, usually SO full OF laugh
ter, that had filled-had she wept or
was he confusing her with. No. AS
| the incident stood out more clearly in
his memory he recalled the admira-
! ton he had felt for the girls self-com-
mand.
Poor little girl! How innocently she
F., had shown her preference! What a
. brute he had been to play with her
+. as he had done all through that sea
| son-her first season, too!
| For he had never meant anything
| serious. She was too ingenue, too
| fresh and simple, to meet his fastid-
| ious taste for anything but the merest
| Irritation.
| At the end she had understood. The
night before he sailed for India, when
| they babe each other farewell, he had
| made no attempt to hide the truth
from her-that it was indeed fare
| we'll"
How extraordinarily beautiful she
| had grown, and how well she moved!
| When he had most admired her he
had never imagined she would grow
! to be anything like that He thought
| she was the most beautiful woman he
! had ever seen. Her smile was just az
i sweet-a little graver, perhaps.
He must find out if she were mar
ried.
No! Then she had been faithful.
| Did she know that he was back in
| England and was to be here tonight?
Suddenly she raised her eyes-what
glorious eyes they were!-and, at
tracted by his magnetic gaze, they
met his.
She was ten times more lovely than
| in the old days.
Now, suppose one we're marrying
| man? After all, it was what most men
came to some time
| Was she, he wondered, already re-
GREETING the impulse she had followed
| in refusing to recognize him? At any
rate, he would surely be able to per-
suade her to reconsider her decision.
| His heart was beating faster than
| usual as he crossed the room. The
| music had ceased, and she was talk
| ing. AS he approached he could see
| the animation in her eyes, the color
| rising and falling in her face; and
| when he stood before her, the words
| she was addressing to her partner
died away On her lips.
Once more her eyes met his as she
stood very still, waiting for him to
speak.
"Are you not going to welcome me
| homer" he asked.
There was a slight pause.
'I-am glad to see you again
The girls voice was very grave,
very gentle.
| Can you spare me a dancer" he
asked humbly.
This time there was no hesitation in
| her reply:
81 am afraid I have not one left"
1t was intolerable! How could he
| talk to her with that puppy listening
to every word? Desperately he
touched her hand as she was moving
away, and spoke low and hurriedIy, his
| tone full OF reproach:
| TT is six years, is it not, since we
have met? If you knew how often-er
how deeply l have regretted, you
would give me an opportunity of ex
| planning"
He waited, GREATNESS, for her reply
| This was the moment that would de-
| eide his fate. He could see that a
struggle was going on in the girls
mind as again her eyes were drawn
to his If pride should conquer now,
he knew that he was lost; and with
all his soul he tried to tell her that
in spite Of past treason, she could
trust him.
| At last she smiled grave little
smile-as she held out her hand to
him.
I'VE shall meet again." she said
softly, "and you may explain every
thing"
| He watched her as she moved away
Ia strange new warmth at his heart.
She had forgiven him. and he loved
her. In all the happy years to come
she should learn how deeply he re-
| GREETED the suffering he had caused
her.