The Western news., 1909-04-28
he lost an knowledge ef her. Fus
~

he lost all knowledSe Sf her. rvs
often heard him tell
"Oh, you must meet mother" inter
rupted Natalie excitedly. "She knows
all about Aunt Natalie's love affair.
Oh. isn't this just like a story bockT'
To the romantic tale of the DAYS that
the mother and the father of these two
impressionable young people thereupcn
pieced together out of their fragmen
tary knowledge Natalie and Dwight
listened with all their sympathetic
young souls.
1t was the old story Of a southern
girl falling in love with a young north
ern officer and of her fathers relent-
less opposition to the match, even to
forbiddng tho girl from ever writing
to her lover or of letting him know her
whereabouts after the war
The girl had died of a broken heart.
The man married, to be sure. but to
his son he benueathed with loving re-
membrance the little silver spoon
marked IN. s.
On the strength of this mutual bond
of sentiment it was natural that the
EllswOrths-both father and son-fell
into the habit Of frequenting the little
tea garden.
Not always at the popular social
hour, to be sure. In fact, to Natalie's
delight they pointedly avoided that
gregarious part of the day, sometimes
dcfcrring their visit till the sun had
gone down, and, on rarer occasions
STILL till the moon even had stolen its
way into the fragrant garden.
''1've brought you something tonight,
Natalie" announced the major on one
such occasion, unfolding from its
crumpled tissue wrnppings tiny silver
spoon. You see," he added, "it really
belongs to you, my dear young girl,
and / thought that just now would be
an appropriate time to give it over
into your keeping-a sort Of engage
ment present, you know"
can engagement present" gasped
Natalie "But I'm not engaged"
ooh. WELL" laughed the major teas
ingly 81 may be little anticipating.
but
"Nataliew called Dwight from the
garden. Aren't you ever coming? It's
heavenly out here tonight"
"Then. again, | may not" continued
/ the major. looking down on Natalie
| with affectionate understanding.
| "What do you thinkY
"Ill tell you later" Natalie evaded
archly, giving the major hurried but
! very emphatic hug as she called out to
Dwight to wait just a minute"
"Was there ever such night, Nata-
lie" exclaimed Dwight tenderly as
side by side they strolled through the
little moonlit garden
Natalie was conscious Of the tremor
in his voice, but her mischievous mood
was still upon her.
"Yes; think know of one" she an
swered, with a lingering emphasis
upon the zone" that smote n hitherto
untouched chord Of jealousy III
Dwight's worshiping heart. He had a
rival, then. Natalie had only beel
playing with him.
"Who is he?" he blurted out abrupt
ly. Natalie stared at him.
81 mean-when was it q" he corrected
in confusion.
"Refore the war" answered Natalie
serencly.
Dwight's expression changed instant
ly.
"And the girls name was Natalie,
he added softly, falling into the trent
Of her thought. "And her lovers name
was Dwight, and | think know wha
he said to her"
No word from Natalie. but they hat
come to the rose arbOr again. and al
| unconsciously she stopped and Leaned
against it, waiting for the words tha
, should set her heart humping.
"And he said" went on Dwight, tax
ing possession of both her Slendc
/, white hands. you are the flower o
t my heart, beloved. Lift your swee
face. for love you"
And Natalie raised her pretty head
. and the lover lowered his till their lip
= met.
t The roses seemed suddenly to exhal
great waves of DerfuUc and all the Lii