Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-06-17
Too Late


the cushions she sighed wearily. II
had been a trying evening. but Il had
been one OF triumph. The dark eyes
which had shone so brilliantly short
time before held a wistfulness now
tknt there was no one to see. Although
she had attained at last what she had
struggled for all these years. although
tonight she had reached the goal OF
her ambition, the woman did not ex-
perience any great feeling of happi
ness
The applause which had swept from
gallery to pit had for a brief moment
satisfied the singer, and 1t had been
gratifying to receive so many floral
offerings, but now she was conscious
only OF a deep loneliness unsntis.
fed longing. Had It all been worth
while7 The answer came without an
instant OF hesitation. It had not In
her girlhood her ambition had been
to become a great singer, and she had
sacrificed home, friends and love to
that ambition she had succeeded far
beyond the roGiest dreams Of her girl
hood. but It had not brought the hap
piness she had expected. II by speak
Ing some magic word she could have
changed the present 10 the past she
would gladly have spoken Il.
Her thoughts had drifted back to
those days that she could not now re-
call. Until tonight she had not real
lied how much she had sacrificed to
her ambition. She remembered nov
with sorrow that she had told Richard
Traverton that love could have no
place in her life. that her art was
more to her than everything else. She
had sent him away, sad and almost
heartbroken. Soon afterward she had
gone abroad to study, and she had new
er seen him since that night she had
refused his love- Then she had not
understood, but row-ah now, Il was
too late.
A continuation of the thought came
swiftly, and 1t brought such feeling
Of Joy with It that the woman half
rose from her seat. Was II too late?
What prevented her from returning TO
that which had once been so unappre-
ciated, II she was only willing to give
up the present life with its empty
pleasures7 She knew that Traverton
was practising medicine ia his own
town. and was much esteemed by the
villagers But did he still cherish that
love that he had had for her so long
ago? She could not make herself feel
certain that everything would be the
same with him, but surely when he
knew that she had come back, willing
10 relinquish all for his love. he would
welcome her gladly No. It was not
too hate. She would return. Happi-
ness, deep and satisfying. would yet
be hersl
When the carriage stopped at her
hotel It was a different woman who
alighted. All her weariness had van.
ished and there was the light Of Joy
In the dark eyes.
The next day the woman, after
hasty preparations. took the train for
that little out-of-the-way town. 1t was
late In. the afternoon when she reach
ed the village, greatly fatigued from
the long Journey. An exclamation of
surprise burst from her lips as she
looked around. Although 1t had been
l2 years since she had left the place,
| APPARENTLY nothing had changed. The
people of Brandon were net progress
sive, and thought that things were
good enough as they were. They felt
no need OF improvements OF changes.
The woman went Immediately to
the one hotel In town. She would rest
tonight and leave all further plans for
! the morrow, she decided as she slip.
ped upstairs to her room. She was
about to enter when a familiar name
| fen upon her ears. The landlords
wife was chatting with some neighbor
in one of the rooms below, but every
word reached the woman who stood
there waiting TO learn she knew not
what. A feeling she could not define
chained her to the spot.
Janet Staples made a beautiful
BRIDE" she had Just heard, and she
wondered little. When she had last
seen Janet she had been only a child
The next moment she smiled sadly
| She had forgotten that she had been
away a long time, and Janet must be
NOW dDOut tuS sdl1c age dS sue hAO
been when she left the village.
Brandon aln't seen such weddin
before as It will see this afternoon,
went on the voice in the room below
"Janet win make DR.. Traverton a good
wife, and he deserves some one good
Folks say he used to keep company
with Virginia Leighton years ago, but
she took 1t into her head to go on the
stage and sing. Always was kind ol
fighty was Chimney, so they say
though l can't speak as known any
thin about IT, That was before We
come here. She's great singer now
and suppose she's so proud that she
wouldn't look az common folks. Bui
between you and l, Melyiny, thinl
she missed Il giving up Dick Traver
ton"
The woman waited to hear no more
She crept unsteadiiy into her room
conscious OF only one thing sht
had returned too late.-IDA e. ROC
ERs.
Calls for Tons Of Flowers.