The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-07-15
The UNDYING PAST

| was uSIS lu6y udu pdIlSu. mat Suin-
mer Of '8S, never had there been such
another summer. He felt himself sem
! lie, prehistoric. Involuntarily his
| shoulders bowed. his face grew creas-
ed with wrinkles.
1t was not until he raised his eyes
and saw himself observed by the lady
\ that he regained his youth.
Though startled, he lost nothing or
his customary grace.
Il crave your pardon, The murmur-
ed. dofing a hat which disclosed no
grizzled locks.
She granted it with a gracious bow,
and then, as he still fingered raised
inquiring. almost protesting eye
brows.
Was she not a woman-would she
not sympathize with his pilgrimage!
He resolved to confide IN her.
Il am revisiting," he said according
ly, 'the scenes of my boyhood"
Indeed" said she. 1T was some
time ago?"
Twenty years." he sighed, by the
calendar; my memory, yesterday"
You see,' he Observation-Disclosures
was not one of his failings-"she was
my first love-"
How romantic. Do you remember
her name?"
Il shall never forget ii. Her name
he CROPPED in the recesses of his men,
ory-"her name was Mabel"
Mabel" echoed the young lady,
her lips between her teeth.
1T was here"-he laid his hand af-
] al hn Rrrf
met"
ITS wet" she warned him.
He Withdrew his hand hastily.
1T had just been painted" he men
toned as a strange coincidence, ION
that unforgettable day. She had on
white froc6, but / wore a red blazer;
went to bed without tea that night.
at the time it struck me as a hard
ship, but now TO feel again the di-
vine thrill. l would gladly suffer such
martyrdom."
Twenty years." he unused. Time
is a curious whirligig. Everything is
gone, but the old gate remains"
She shook a regretful head.
Its third l remember; it was put
up yesterday"
after a momentary pause. its where
the old gate used to stand"
The girl hesitated and glanced at a
spot some yards lower down, but being
unwilling, perhaps, to shatter another
illusion her her peace.
Il feel" mentioned the young man,
''as though l were again seven"
WAS 1t exactly 90 years ago?"
This very month";" he assured her.
You were not then born"
She admitted the fact.
And you came" she suggested Ito
visit her-shrine?"
Her tomb" he corrected. MY lit
tie sweetheart slumbers beneath the
sods of 20 years. Her only monument
is doubtless a stout matron, and her
epitaph Mrs. Somebody And yet
am probably her only mourner.'
your constancy is remarkable"
cit is so easy" he murmured, ito
be constant to a memory. It's not un-
til ones ideal materializes, that the
strain comes"
"She may not be stout" remarked
the girl. seeking to cheer him. After
all, 20 years. :"
ct was hereditary" he said sadly
THE fear haunted me even then"
He glanced at the house.
THAT was her window" he indicat-
ed
oh" said the girl, "oh, really"
Every morning l would come and
whistle beneath it, and she would pull
the curtains ON one side and smile
down at me. We would go out togeth
er and awaken the larks to emulation
i taught her to cycle"
ITO cycle" half protested his listen
er, 40 years ago!"
ct was early in the morning" h,
reminded her, half reproachfully, ian;
we saw no harm in it. The bicyc
was much taller than we were, which
made mounting difficult, and dismount
ing less difficult, perhaps, but evel
more dangerous"
You were On q holiday!'
"a month. How we wept at part
ing-here, at this self-same gate, @
rather, what was the gate then.
broke a sixpence in half, remember
for a keepsake" He smiled remin
iscently and glanced at his hand /"
have the scar STILL"
And to think that you should b
living here"
The girl gazed at him with puckere
brows and eyes which limited at sc
cret amusement
Somebody must live here" she re
marked.
"Well, yes" he admitted; "one can
not expect a constancy of a house.
The remark drew a scornful smil
to her lips.
Had you found her here you woul
have been sorry"
You think so? You have seen hei
she is much changed?"
'She is my sister," said the giT
calmly.
The young man gazed at the distan
ilees In silence for moment; whe