Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-11-13

found that he could climb as well as
ever, In spite of city life and elevators,
ana he determined to climb to the very
top Of the tree. 1t was from this same
tree that he had had many u fall In his
knickerbocker days, and he wanted to
show his mastery of his old enemy
The pride that goeth before fall
was his. and the Inevitable tumble
came. He was nearly back to the bot
tom limb when, with an ominous
crackle, one of the yellow branches by
which he was steadying himself gave
way, he lost his balance and fell heav-
fly to the ground.
For a moment he lay, half stunned,
then burning pain In his ankle rous-
ed him. Dragging himself to sitting
posture. he cut the laces Of the boot
and with his handkerchief bound the
spralned ankle as tightly as he could.
Then. by slow degrees. he made his
Fay to his coat and slipped 1t on to
Eeveri a cold.
,,the trunk OF the tree he
H.hmg 10 q, but he sank to the
sought to risend restad for moment
ground again 10 pain co.tsed.
unlil the shai no stick III aLs4ht that
There waed as cane, and without
could be ua there was small chance Of
fael' an ~ TO make his way 10 the edge
beiag abseod, where he might be able
" sne w the attention OF some pedes-
TO attract the road below. Yet he
tran, Ihwl on his hands and knees
fathef than pass the night in the open.
lie was still considering the situa-
ton when he spied fash Of brown
and scarlet between the trees, and II
girl came slowly toward him. AS she
came mons clearly into vieY Paul
gasped and rubbed his eyes.
Coming toward him was Carol Ry-
der, not as he expected to find her with
the weight Of added years. but az
young and girlish as on that day
wa they two had gathered chestnuts
and AIKEN them home to roast.
y IHseemed that II must be some vi
sio4, for he had seen late picture OF
Carol, and the girlishness had given
place to matronly dignity that sat
oddly ON her young face. This was
the girl of the olden day-hiS Carol
and az she approached he struggled to
rise and fell. She came hurrying to
ward him.
"You have hurt your ankle" she
asked In voice that surely must be
Carols. 81 will try and find stick fol
you to use as cane. Don't try to rise
until bring you one"
She hurried away and presently re
appeared with stout branch.
"You will have to trim II down u lit
tie with your knife" she explained
ut was the best I could find. IL II
Paul Westfordl" she added as, for the
first time, she studied his face.
ITS Paul Westford." he assented
but you cannot be CarolT
I'm her sister Edith" she explain
ed with light laugh ~ was Just al
the awkward age when you left and
anyhow you neIsr had eyes FOR any
one but Carol" 'a
"y0u look very like her" he sakl
quietly AZ dc rose ly aid Of the cane.
$50 every one tells me-" was the
girls careless comment You had bet
ter take my arm too. 1t will be snfer
Do you think you can manage ltf"
Easily he agreed as he accepted
her suggestion and rested his free
hand lightly upon her arm.
Slowly they made their way to the
clearing, and not until they left the
woods behind did Edith stop with Il
little cry Of dismay
"You never got the nuts" she cried
"and you came all the way from town
to get them"
II came In search Of old memories,
said Paul softly M he looked down
into the eager face upturned to his. a
thought they were dead memories, and
find that they still live"
The color flooded the girls face az
she turned 1t aside, but not TIL eyes
had spoken to eyes, and Paul knew
that he had found his mate.