The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1909-05-13

Oh! he had recognised her, was con.
ing toward her! His step, which she
had not heard for IL years, seemed to
tread on her heart. She stopped, try.
Ing to assume . genial air-if possible.
to make him forget that her hair was
strdght, her skin colorless, her face
thin. She thanked God for the dim
light in the hall.
This is indeed fortunate" said his
polite voice, with well-bred interest.
Won't you tell me the pleasant things
you have been doing since We last saw
each other?"
She wished to evince a quiet pleas
ure at seeing him again, and she was
resolved not to be plaintive or voluble.
Faithful to your old acquaintances. as
usual" she said, glancing towards the
books OF the library,
my old friends, you should say"
he responded, with polite meaning. II
there had only been in his tone one
shade Of real Renaissance. the pity
over . sweet tribe dead! In her
despair she wanted to save herself by
the role Of gentle calm, but her voice
faltsred.
Il am spending the winter In New
York for change-in fact-I-I-am
teaching school. It's great fun" She
hurried sensitively on: Il enjoy 1t i'm.
mensely. May inquire for Mrs. Mark.
ham,"
Thank you, she 10 extremely well.
and Phil 10 flne lad"
what! Is there Phil?"
There u.s." he said, laughing boyish.
~. Junior is five years old"
Mercy" she exclaimed, in astonish.
ment Something cut her to the quick
as the child's image rose before her.
Il am distressed" she said, with
mock seriousness; 1T is rainy day.
and one has more than ever old
maidish look in a rainy-day gown"
She laughed, trying to make it sound
the old, frank note. Markham, being
dulled by the happiness in his own life,
scarcely needed her sorry little play.
She was an old Irritation, good girl
we'll, she had faded, as they always
do. The pathetic dowdiness, the un.
disguised getting old" that was so evi.
dent to herself did not pain or annoy
him, because to him it was of such
small moment. In her mind his idea
OF her had been everything. She had
sacrificed herself stoically to it. She
had had the feeling that their &C.
quaintance was like an unbroken idyl,
covered by DUST and cobwebs. per.
chance. but, brush them of, and the
idyl, like fragile vase, would be there
beautiful as ever. He had known
her young, full of blithe grace. He
must remember her so. This ideal
was broken now irretrievably.
May have your address?" hi
asked, cordially. I'VE shall doubtless
not meet again by accident"
Il know where you live" she an
swered, with a brightness not intensi
fed. as Of old, by her cheeks and eyes
but my address is 80 far away, and
long distances are such discouragers o.
good intentions" she answered, eva
sively. "Au revoir"-she nodded
gracefully and kept her eyes on hi
face until she had whirled her awk
ward skirt out of the door. The1
she took cross-town car in al
alarmed hurry, lest he might follow
her and find out where she lived.
Markham, however, had scarcely re
marked the girl. He strolled to the
club and dined later 81 home. His
wife, in pale velvet dinner-gown tina,
became her languid grace, greeted hin
in the salon. Standing in the chas
tening light of Venetian lamps, she
was very gratifying to any mans
pride. Philip fsarkham bowed to hel
CALAMITY.
How appropriate yon are, Helen
You are not day over 20, my dear
None of us keep spring that way. How
do you do it,"
She leaned playfully towards him
You do 1T; you make me happy, :nf
I look so-viola tout! What have o,
done to-day?"
Nothing much; lounged about thu
knickerbocker, bought some horses
and, oh, yes, dropped into the Nbrar,
the Lenox. BY the way, l ran across
girl used to know, a teacher; tina
10. she wasn't teacher when 1 knew
her; we said Hello to each other.
At this instant Junior ran into thu
room. BLESS the boy! Come t
papa. Phil" cried Markham. "Jove
what lad! He'll soon be sailing thu
yacht for papa-I say, he's trim char
"a kiss-there, run back to M. Gull
laume. The infant can hardly speal
an English word decently. You know
Helen, I'm in favor of sending him t.
| Oxford"
He never remembered afterward.
that he had asked Leila to send hin
her address nrd that she had not done
it. That evening the Markhams en-
gagged tab:2 at Sherry's, where they
drove after - opera. Plancon was
singing in the "lluguen.,s."
AS for the school-teayher, she ex