Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-02

He sat huddled on the pier. clasping his
knees and smoking. when he heard some
one crossing the bridge behind him. He
had rarely been disturbed by pedestrians.
and this had endeared the place to him.
He turned as a woman emerged from Inc
covered way into the moonlight: and his
heart knew her even before his eyes.
jean
He jumped down into the road and
stood uncovered. She drew away. smoth-
ering a cry. for he was not the Wayne
Craighill she had seen last in his sister s
house. Toll in the summer heat had
trained him fine and his beard had aged
him. They sazed at each other long, the
moonlight flowing round them; then their
hands met
II might have known it would be here. -
she said. half to herself, then aloud: Il
have known this place always. They
call 1t Golden Bridge-Ne children played
here. and / used to sit on the bank over
there and try to draw the bridge"
They stood leaning on the stone bar
fier She was hatless and dressed In
white-the gown spoke of her new life.
Il just came this afternoon. and I'm
staying with friends until can sell the
house-grandfather's cottage: it's mine
Il
breaker boys until the last.
The mention of her grandfather sent
his memory changing back to that dark
night of Andrew Gregory's death; but
she seemed happy-it was her country
and she was at home.
II must go back. i came out here for
old times sake. and I'm glad l saw you
here first I knew you were in Dem
beigh.'
How did you know
10 t0ld mig
were doing-the hard work and all about
IL | wrote TO him first-I wanted him to
know that my going away to do the pic
lures made no difference. that l still
felt bound to him, and that 1 was ready
20 marry him at any time
Her contact with the world had not.
then. changed her feeling about Joe. as
he had hoped il might. They turned to-
ward town and she walked beside him
with her free stride. her shoulders erect.
her head high.
I'VE have never mentioned you-Joe
and mot even when we came here.
came because you have lived here; I look
up at these hills of yours every morning
and feel that I am among friends. And
they have helped me. IL is because of
you that ! am here. Jean. couldn't dc
what | am doing here il il were net for
you
"Please-you mustn't say that
He bent his head stubbornly; but he
knew that he must respect the line she
had drawn between them.
You didn't go to Mr. Walsh?
thought YOU had made up your mind to
do that.
Il changed il: the devil got into me
again. ! was not ready. I haven't got
the devil out of my system, but the
loads little lighter. l can get face to
face with myself now occasionally-and
that's something ] hadn't done before
The face has changed a little Inc
laughed. Il hardly know myself out
wardly.''
His dress was that of the poorest la
borer. he was coatless and carried his
cheap cap in his hand.
Nobody knows me here: I'm Away:
forgetting whether I'm Smith or Jones
Joe allayed all suspicions-he's been gooC
To me-.
Joe is "a good boy; he was Away.
that
jean
He had paused In the road and the de
spair Joe's name had awakened in hi!
heart was in his cry.
He will never let you do it-you don
believe yourself that he will take you a
your word. Won't you give me m,
CHANGER?
No, No.
You don't love him-you don't care
for him, Jean"
with il. l treated him cruelty, heart
lessly. and it's no question now of wheth
er I care for him or not
IF he's said his last word that means
that he doesn't care-he doesn't realiz
how much you are onering him"
You are not just to him; he under
stands it-everything-and he cares
that's what makes IL so hard,
She ceased speaking and walked ava.