Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-09-17
From Out of the Past
Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.)
BY CHARLES L. DOYLE

:. @. Chapman)
turned to converse with the stranger
who manifested such admiration of
her child, and they discussed the
sleeping beauty exclusively, from
her dimpled face to the dress and
tiny shoes she wore.
At last Leith casually remarked that
his destination was Chelsea, and
learned that she was bound for the
same place. The conversation drift
ed into other channels and soon he
heard how she had left her home in
an eastern city three years before,
when her husband died. returning with
her baby to the home of her child
hood. The village quiet oppressed
her, however, she said, and she longed
to take her baby and go far away
| from it.
II used to live in Chelsea long
ago." remarked Leith, when she had
finished her story so long ago.
however" he continued, that you
would hardly be likely to remember
/ me-"
She looked at him curiously but
shook her head.
There was one little girl there, he
resumed, "that was very fond of.
Her name was Lucy Mayburn. Poor
little Lucy! l shall never forget our
farewell. And IT. was all my fault
that we did not meet again. was
false to my vow. selfish and forgetful
of all else in the cursed fight to make
money in big New York. l wonder If
you knew herr"
The woman turned pale and then
flushed nervously. controlling her agi-
tation by an evident effort.
Il knew her." she replied, softly,
but she is not there now-she-she
} went away"
so she has gomez" queried Leith;
/ married, suppose. Who was the
: lucky fellow who won herr"
: He felt sure that she had recognized
! him now, but allowed matters to take
> their course and awaited her reply
= with a brave show of composure.
, His name was Logan" she said.
| TREMENDOUSLY. Lucy Mayburn was true
| to her promise for seven long years;
| her promise to you. But she was an
| orphan, practically alone In the world
! and day came when a good kind
u man offered her q refuge from her
loneliness. She was frank with him
q and told him the truth about herself
that the best she could offer him
was her respect and broken heart
And he accepted the conditions. When
her baby was born she realized thai
she had found peace. If not actual hap
piness. Then came sickness and othel
trials. She had many troubles"
| The voice of the speaker faltereC
and broke, her eyes filled with tears
and turning sway her face. sh'
sobbed bitterly. She had betrayed her
self. but she no longer cared.
Leith laid the sleeping child gentl!
beside him and bent over his oil
sweetheart.
| Don't cry, Lucy" he whispered
j don't cry, dear. was a brute t
play with your feelings this way"
She glanced up with startled eyes
e. Eyes. Lucy. knew you." he SAID
a softly. And perhaps, dear, 1t wa
er ordained by Providence that we shout
ed meet like this. Listen, little one
ad Can't you forget the weary years an
en- let me fulfill the promise made s
on long ago? Let the past be as dreal
pr and awaken to the happiness of til
ly, present, Lucy. Whatever may hav
ID. done, no other woman has ever hel
nd the place in my heart occupied by yor
to image. And 1t isn't too late now. Lt
lie me care for your child, and we wi
In take up the broken thread of our live
where 1t snapped"
ed The other passengers In the CO
cy were watching curiously the two &C
ad ors in little drama which they coul
IN, not understand, but neither Leith nj
eft the woman beside him were consciol
Ter of their surroundings. and the bal
to slumbered peacefully on. The Ion
re- warning whistle of the locomoti'
Ter shrilled through the air, as the ira
asst neared Chelsea. Lucy timidly slipp,
his her small hand into Leith's big brow
Ike one, smiling through her tears, and
EN- knew that he was forgiven Wht
me the train came to a stop Leith swui
are the sleeping baby on to his bro;
les shoulder, and with his long-lost 10
gle beside him stepped from the car in
ng- the purple twilight shadows tn
led brooded over the quiet scenes of b
Ugh boyhood home.