The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-02-17

| ~OA 81 O1Aiy
ing to arrange for the purchase of those
three cottages across the road in order
to turn them into another home-in
that case we should be able to take in
twelve or fourteen children instead of
SIX and l should put you in charge OF
the new house. and retain the supervis-
ion of this one myself. but should not
think OF losing your services altogether,
and for the present I have only come
TO talk over this new idea and to stay
with you little while-as a guest"
Miss Gibbs breathed anew and
thanked her effusively for her kindness,
and Irene went on to talk to her little
pensioners.
Presently, when the children had all
gone into the house for their dinner.
Irene wandered down by herself to the
river side. A stout iron fence Lid been
set up at the end of the garden, lest
any of the children should stumble into
the water. but she opened the locked
gate with the key she had brought
with her. A narrow pathway ran out
side along the side OF the river. She
sat down close to the edge amongst the
rushes that bordered the path. It was
all very still and peaceful The quiet
iACNtd PAdNldte past hcis liAC
willows opposite mirrored their droop-
ing boughs in the tranquil water; there
were no lilies yet neither the golden
buds of the yellow ones. nor the regal
crowns of the white ones; ii was too
early in the year for them, but on the
island opposite. the king-cups were
spangling the ground. and a bright
breasted kingfisher sat motionless on a
g. Id
There was neither skiff nor canoe.
nor punt belonging to the Cottage now.
A longing came over Irene to go upon
the water-to those who love boating.
the river becomes a positive worship,
and the sensation of floating upon the
ever moving and varying stream. with
its shadows and its green reflections, is
one of purest and keenest delight
1T is all changed" thought Irene
with a sigh. 1T is like myseif-the
same-yet something quite, quite diff
ferent, The past never renews itself
never," But all the time she expert
enced the same almost childish longins
to be out upon the ripping water
At that moment her ears caught the
distant sound of sharp and regular
click. 1t was out of sight, and yet il
that sound well. 1t was the ring OF
the punt pole as the iron strikes down
amongst the stones on the bed of the
river. She experienced a vague excite
ment as it drew nearer. and she bent
eagerly forward to watch the opening
of the water. Presently she saw
punt glide oct of the shadows round
the far end OF the island. A man stood
in it. The punt swung round and came
towards her. The man was facing her
she sprang TO her feet, then stood
stock STILL trembling violently, yet mo-
tionless, waiting for him with a wildly
beating heart.
He was quite close to her now, she
could see his face plainly: the dark
eyes that flashed with joy. the lips that
smiled a welcome. the grey hair that
, curled crisply beneath the straw hat
Was she dreaming? Was she mad
and was this an hallucination OF her
brain-or was she dying, and was IL
her last vision of the lovely world she
was leaving forever? Then he came
quite close. and the punt grated upon
the shore: he held out his hand TO her
Irene. my love, Irene." he said. and
she knew his voice. and that il was
himself. at last. and no vision or dream.
1T is you it is you." she repeated.
bewilderedly. How are you here?-
what miracle has brought you back to
me?"
Then he laughed happily. and grasp
ed her hand and drew her down mo
the punt by lis side.
You did not see me in your train
this morning? / followed you from
town. l came home from America only
yesterday, and | went at once to your
aunt's house. When hear from the
servants that you were coming to
Chatswell to-day. / determined TO fol-
low you here. Irene, I thought that it
would be as sweet to you as TO me that
we should meet again here-here. on
the very spot where we parted on that
happy moonlit night. so long ago.
Come. let lis go up to the lasher to-
gether, my love. whom / lost so mis-
erably. but have found again at last:
neveS to lose again. We have so much.
so very much to say to each other!
Come out on the dear old river with
me. and let me tell you ALL
So she went with him TO the ole
place under the weir, and there i'm
sight of the tumblingl waters, where
long ago he had told her of his love.
, the strange and tragic story of all that
had parted them. was made clear "a
her at last
There is not happier couple now
in all England than Mr.. and Mrs. Car
roll; they live entirely in the country,
in a charming house they have bought
about three miles from ChatsweI
whose gardens slope down 10 the riv-
er, Ts iss Cottage co0v.,.,..n. Home,
, have increased and multiplied, and
Miss Gibbs reigns supreme over eigh-
, teen pale-face London children who
, are now their constant inmates. whilst
Billy Watson has been promoted to the
!, proud position of head gardener. wit
boy to order about under him.
Lady Garland is dead. she succumb-
; ed to influenza last winter abroad, but
, Louise Carroll is very well. end is a
frequent visitor to her brothers house:
! she has become very fond OF her new
sister n-iaw as she used 10 be of poor
t Agatha. and by-and-bye when a small
Louise and yet smaller Harold have
t been added to the family group. she
developed into the most abjectly devot-
; ed maiden aunt In the world
( The Nethervilles. too. often come
I down TO stay with their cousins: as
) they have no children OF their own. lit
I tie Harold. as heir to the title. comes
t in for a good deal of attention from
[ Lord Netherville
But Irene often says to her husband:
After all. / cannot think why ever
. mistook Netherville for You. Rur art;
2 he is not half so good-lookingi"
= But then his hair is not grey" he
5 replies, laughing.
NO. but that only makes you I'll the
I handsomer." she retorts. fondly.
: (The endD