Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-08-12
COssIp...Its Results

lnty Wdlkeu hluNly aitu8 Tue
beach until they came to a hugh rock.
which rose for several feet into the
air. as though cast up and left there
by the sea to form the only shade
visible for some distance along the
shore at this point She seated her
self in silence and prodded ruthlessly
at the unoffending sands With the
point Of her sunshade. He stood look
ing down at her without speaking for
a few minutes and then throwing him.
self deiectedly down beside her ex-
claimed. in voice that showed as
plain as the serious expression OF HE
face how much her last words had
hurt: barbara. why can't you listen
to ressonY You know al I said was
true and Il is only what they all say.
You surely must see that Il Is Unly
because love you so dearly andrcan-
not bear 70 hear them TAX so that I
tell you" She looked at him with
scorn for a moment. then rising with
rather more speed than his words
seemed to necessitate. exclaimed
miss Ashland. II you please. and
hereafter you need not consider your
self called upon to cAanFIson ime.-
She turned and walked away with
out another word. ard he gazed after
her with no pretence to follow.
That was the last. She left the
next day for home without giving him
a chance to see her again. and now,
after three years OF hard work. In
which time he had completed his
course at college and made a name
for himself out West, he was coming
back. Back to all he held most dear.
and, yet which. as he approached the
familiar scenes passing swiftly by the
train windows, filled him with sad
memories OF what might have been.
As the train drew into the station
he gezed eagerly about him with the
wild thought that perhaps she had
heard rumors OF his return, and even
| though she had not written in all
these years she might at the last mo
ment relent and come TO welcome the
| prodigal. His search was unrewarded,
no friendly faces met his gaze, and
hailing a waiting cab he gave his
order and was driven swiftly to his
home.
That evening, for "auld lang syne. "
as he expressed It to himself, he pur-
chased a ticket for the opera which
he and she had attended together just
the night previous to that last quar-
rel which had separated them both
and left him to these three years Of
miserable doubt. and which. by q
strange coincidence. was playing In
the same theatre.
AS he sat there scarcely needing
the drama which was being enacted
before him his thoughts new swiftly
back to that last afternoon they had
spent together How happy she
seemed as she walked gayly beside
him, until noticing that he had ceased
TO respond TO incessant chatter she
looked up and found his eyes fastened
upon her with an expression she die
not recognize. He could still heal
that voice as she exclaimed: "Why
Richard. what are you looking at ms
like that for2 One would think tina
we we're walking to the gallows in
stead Of along the most beautiful
beach imaginable" Il was then h
told her Of the stories which people
were discussing. using her name an'
that Of Everett Dow. the towns mos
notable spendthrift and gambler. How
she had ragged. accusing him Of ieal
ousy, and ending by saying eh'
thought she was quite capable o
choosing her friends and needed NJ
advice from him. After that fna
outburst she had left him. Too lat
now he realized how false those rum
their entire absurdity that she hai
not even thought II necessary to den
them
With a sigh he glanced involuntel
! | lily toward the box which he and sh
had occupied and he started forwar
In surprise. Was this simply halt
cination brought on by the tenor Q
his thoughts or was that slight, pal
little girl in deep mourning the bgighi
: plump, little Barbara OF three year
agof Rising quickly from his seat n
sought the usher. who conveyed hiI
TO the box which Barbara occupied.
The curtain was just dropping o
the closing scene but she still sat a
: though buried In thoAght He steppe
: up behind her and when he caugh
sight Of the pale. pinched little fac
{ which rested so dejectedly on he
; hand he could scarcely control IN
. words wrich few to his tongue. La
D ing HIS hand upon her small on
I which hay on the rail be called he
? softly BY name. She started an
: turned quickly as though necalle
q from another world, but looking int
4 his face with one glad cry, she burie
: her head against his shoulder, and
!. knew that sll vas 10. siVen In thi
> cry OF "Richsrd."
: On their way home she told hil
p how she had lost her sole eompanio
1 In her mother, two years ago, and th
5 little money which had been enouG
3 to support them comfortably sine
. her fathers death was ea'cu m b
3 the expenses oceasioasd by hs
8 mothers illness. Being thea throw
}, upon her own resources. she wa
Q forced 70 earn her own living. an
/ cope with a world which found her !
prepared for the hard knocks whic
she received.
When she had finished her narr
tive she erept closer to him as thoue
: for protection and with a happy Il
l tie sigh said; But now that 70
have returned that Is ali over. ism