The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-08
BY Belle Mandates.
Copyright, 1911. by the Associated
Literary Press


1t was twilight when Win drove
down to the station to see kath-
crime OFF. They had been play
mates schoolmates. sweethearts and
TINS was their first separation. kath-
erine Was going to pay visit to some
rich relatives In the city, and Win
was amanfully struggling TO sympa-
thize with her feeling of JOY at get
ting out of her shell and seeing the
world"
The raucous voice OF the conductor
shouted the all aboard" the bell
changed like knell on Wins ears,
and then the train pulled out with
katherine waving a cherry farewell.
He drove home by the light Of the
harvest moon. the reins listlessly sag
gtng on the hroad back of the farm
horse When he had embarrassed. he
went 10 his old faNorite haunt on the
river bank In the woods, his think
ing out place.
Katherine was bright and progress
fiVe. He must try TO keep pace. lie
would bridge over the coming six
months by going away TO study new
methods OF farming that he might
pat under scientific culture the eigh-
tY-acres his grandfather had left
him He put this plan into fmme-
date execution, and went to an
Agricultural College for short. spe-
cial course
When the Christmas holidays came,
he could not resist a flying visit 10 the
city where Katherine was visiting.
Without notifying her of his coming
he appeared suddenly and unannounc-
ed before her as she sat, beautifully
and bewitchlng. the centre OF a CO.
terie Of admirers in a fashiona Bile
drawing-room.
She had not been communicative
in her letters which had revealed
TO him no conception of her environ
ment. He felt i'll a ease and tongue
tied when he was ushered into this
maze of hr;lliance
oh, Win" cried Katherine more
in astonishment he thought than in
pleasure She quickly rose 10 the oc-
casion. presenting him 70 her aunt and
friends a., The man from home
They were langnidly and politely
patrenizng. and Win replied in CON
strained mouosrllables to their over
lures Katherine did not come to
his rescue hut addressed her con
Nersation for the most part to the
others His call was not prolonged
When he rose 10 depart, she went
with him TO the door
Come again. .W}B~l-to IA pr-rSi4s'..'
!
But he went from the house h the
station and returned 10 college to
plunged deeper into the study oil
farming.
Soon there came little note from
Katherine reproaChing him for not
having called agaio.. In Lis delayed
answer he made no reference TO his
call. Their letters grew shorter and
Of less frequent duration until they
ceased altogether
lie returned home I'm time for
spring planting and sought solace in
pillow and burrows. Katherine did not
return until having time The next
day after her arrival there was a
country picnic given to welcome her
home.
Wins father mother and sisters
went in the old carryal. waving
merry though auizzical farewell to the
tall, 1.-THE young farmer standing
alone on the porch. He had offered
as an excuse for his attendance
that he feared he would not get his
hay in before II rained
Rain out clear sky scoffed his
Younger sister.
That is when it is most liable TO
come he replied.
They all laughed as they drove away
hut the mother-heart was wise and
far-seeing, She gave a yearning. back
ward glance at her favorite child.
Wien they were oft of sight, he re-
turned 10 the field and worked dispir-
itedly until he could endure no longer
the sweet memories that came with
the upturning of the new mown hay.
He went back TO the house. ate the
cold luncheon laid out for him, and
then sought his old retreat on the
river bank. How many battles he had
fought In this spot! How often had
Katherine come here with him and to
him.
He told himself fercelv that it was
time to crush out these old memories.
A soft footfall-he looked up and saw
her standing before him
And If the rain should come" she
said archly, '"out of a clear blue sky,
as it always does. what would become
of the hay?'
This is my moan hour. / was just
going back to the fields he said lame
Is.
She sat down on the big stone where
she had been wont to sit. He made a
swift. comprehensive survey of her.
She looked younger than she had
looked when he saw her in the city.
Il came here" she said, for
glimpse of the old house"
This was the longest way to the
house. He advised her. if she had
come by the river. TO row little
farther to the next bend, where she
could have an unobstructed view.
You seem anxious to he rid of
me-" she said deprecatinyly. but
then you always did prefer to be
alone--in this place"
You know better" he cried. You
know how We came here together,
and that Is why the place is so dear
to me-or 1t was until you went away
and changed everything
Win" she said gently after mo-
ment's pause. "in the old days when
We came here, we never Quarrelled.