Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-09-11
aunt lL.lNE's 1RYST,
The Coming of the MAN She 81
Af1xiouSly Awaited.
BY JOHN RoxsuRY.

4OOhs w A1L AdfC you U00A W
yourself? And where are you going ?' |
Little Mrs. Jordan had run into her
aunt's coy home on her way to the
city.
"Is it SO unusual for me to look nice,
,Do1lie ?'
Miss Sherwin turned from the glass
before which she had been giving a
final touch to the soft brown hair that
waved around her white forehead and
smiled quizzically at her niece
No. returned the little matron with
cordial sincerity; s'you always look
lovely to Dan and Nell and me. But
you never would buy yourself pretty
clothes while we were with you, and
as you were always doing something
for us you seldom took time to look
at yourself. That new golden silk
is wonderfully becoming, and that
mechlin at your throat, with the
quaint brooch of coral and silver, Is
most artistic. And you have such q
pretty pink color in your cheeks. One
would think you were young girl go
ing out to meet your lover"
The color Of which Dollie Jordan
spoke deepened to rose. Miss Sherwin
laughed an odd, embarrassed little
laugh.
'You mustn't come fattering me-"
she said "And-I don't wish to hurry
you, but you'll miss your train to town
If you stay much longer"
"Mercy me! So will!' And with
hasty glance at the clock and a hurried
| kiss she rustled away at a rapid rate.
-
mirror when she was alone. Dollfe
was right. She did not look her twen-
| ty-nine years. Indeed, the face that
smiled back at her was very sweet in
| its bright serenity. The lips that part
| ed over cleaning white teeth were
| full and rosy. And the large gray eyes,
| looking forth from under dark brows
and lashes, had beaming brilliance.
maurice won't see much change in
me-" she said as she put on her hat.
| She slipped on wrap and took up her
! gloves. But suddenly she stood still,
/ shaken by the cruel dread. Suppose
he were not there! It was long jour
ney here from Australia. Accidents
i innumerable were occurring every
| week What if he were the victim of
| one? What if he were I'LL and could
| not make the trip?
The one greatest dread Of all she did
i not voice even to her inmost conscious
/ ness
i "How foolish you are, Aline Sher-
win!'' she said, with an impatient little
j toss of her head. His last letter said
he would meet you at the old trysting
place on this day, the anniversary of
our engagement there. Maurice would
never break his word.''
She walked at brisk rate the many
blocks which lay between her home
and the park. The charming suburban
pleasure ground was gorgeous in its
!, autumnal robes of amber and crimson
) and living gold. There was a con-
, tinual drifting Of glowing leaves
through the blue, hazy air. And every
where children were making merry
running and laughing and playing
games.
But when Alice Sherwin reached the
great stone fountain where the leap
ing water no longer glittered her hear
sank with sudden, sharp disappoint
ment. There was no one there but {
gray haired, spectacled man, who
glanced up at her approach only t.
bend instantly again over the paper
he was reading. She took out hel
t watch and consulted it.
5 'tMy watch is fast! I am ten min
utes too soon! How foolish OF me to-
f to fearr' she said.
She walked up and down the grav
Il eled path near the fountain. To ST
. still was impossible. She watched th'
different avenues up which he nigh
come. It was ten years since the!
had parted Five minutes gone! A
8 he would be there, he had written
Il seven minutes!
T And he need never have gone away
al If it had not been for Mary's unex
pected death she might have gone witt
II him. But A1ine had declared hersel
bound to take care of her sisters chill
dren.
: Six months ago freedom had come t,
her. Dan was a man and prospering
Dollie was married, and Nell had gon
to live with her. So Aline Sherwil
: wrote to her lover that she was wait
y ing for him.
f The clock in the tower changed ou
: the hour of 3.
She started, and her reticule fell 4
the SIOuuu. IuT0e, duQ LIE WAS AO
here! Each c1ang Of the bell ha,
:. struck on her heart like blow.
: .1You have dropped your bagY' Th
man on the bench picked it up and OF
fered it to her, lifting his hat. 'T'r
e afraid you are disappointed" he sal
G pleasantly. you were expecting som
one?'
/ She hardly glanced at him. But sh
: was in the mood for confidence, an,
his voice was sympathetic.
YES" she said and sat down. -
friend who has been long abroad wa
3 to have met me here this day, thi
g hour, and he has not come"
S ssTve been great traveller myself,
5. the man said Where did your frien
4 live abroad p
I'm Australia" Her eyes were stf
seeking an advancing figure along th
paths that led to this fountain.
I've been there. But of course it.
mighty extensive country, and tn
n cities are populous."
r II suppose SO" she assented al
Il EMH