St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-26
BY AGNES G. BROGAN

q.
i. !.
The stranger stood upon the station
platform and looked down a vista of
poisoning apple trees toward the vii
Iage. He was apparently prosperous
man of the world, but with the breath
of these spring blossoms a subtle
change passed over his tired face,
softening it's careworn lines.
Garry your satcheI, sir?'' A bare
foot lad approached him eagerly.
'Why, yes the stranger answered.
you may Now, can you lead me to
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Page? They
live in the same old place, I suppose?"
"Sure." the lad responded. He shift
ed the valise to his other hand. Say"
he asked, do you know Miss Nell?"
st knew her long ago. the man
slowly replied.
Before she was an artist?"
The stranger smiled. yes" he an
swered musingly.
person in the world" said the boy.
An odd smile played about the mans
lips. 81 agree with you" he said. "A
recent trip around the world has con-
firmed me in that opinion. She is the
incest person.
That's Pages house," the boy an
nounced, and his eyes widened as he
glanced at the silver piece which the
stranger pressed into'his grimy palm
"Look here" he suggested, tI'll
trot that satchel back up the hill
when you are ready to CO."
A host of memories were awakened
as the man raised the knocker and
waited in the vine wreathed porch.
The door was opened presently by
little old lady. who peered unbeliev-
ingly into his face. Then her voice
rose quaveringly.
David" she said-"David, is it real
~ you?" A tall, white haired old man
appeared at her joyous cry, and to-
gether, laughing and talking, they
drew him into the house.
"How many years have you been
gone, David-ten or twelve? And, my,
how you have got on! We read every
one of those articles of yours in the
city papers describing them foreign
folks and places in such an interesting
way. And do the papers really pay
your expenses all over the world just
SO you can write for emp"
"It's like Nell" the old lady inter-
posed. "She can sell pictures just as
fast as she can paint them. Course
Nell isn't rich yet, but she sends US
money every week, and she has had
this house fixed over to be more COM
Portable for US, David, as you can
see. It was bit hard for her at first,
studying alone in the city-just bit
hard, but Nell has made her way"
''You were wrong, my boy, when you
thought she had no talent" the old
man said gravely. Nell never quite
forgave you for discouraging her in
that way, and she determined she'd
show you
David Phillips sighed. II was a hot
headed young FOOL he said. sit was
reprehensible to me at the time that
Nell should choose an uncertain ca
reer in preference to the love and de-
votion of lifetime However, 1 tried
to atone for my hasty words. 1 sought
her out in the city, as you know,
haunting the art classes and begging
her upon every occasion to alter that
cruel decision until at length she dis
appeared. annoyed no doubt by my
persistency, and / have never seen her
since. When you refused to enlighten
me as to her whereabouts l concluded
that it was because Nell had forbid
den you to answer my letters. Then
when opportunity offered I went
abroad. , Returning to New York, /
could not resist stopping over for an
hour or two to see you both and per-
haps-to hear news of Nell"
''She is WELL" the mother said fall
teringly. when you lost trace Of
her, David, Nell went to New York.
She is still there. We have her house
address: but l may not give it to you
Her heart was in this artists career,
David, and sometimes l think she
knew that you alone had power to
make her give it up
I'VE are mighty proud of Nell" the
old man added hastily. Would you
like to see a little water color she sent
us--just to show what her last great
painting was like?"
He led the way to the cheerless
closed parlor, and David stood before
a panel picture which hung upon the
wall. His face frightened at the first
sketch of an apple tree laden with
spring blossoms, their white petals
daintily tinged with pink. Nell had
always loved these blooms. Then fol-
lowed a second sketch Of the same
tree. Now numberless rosy checked
apples showed among its green leaves.
At the last picture David turned sud
denly to the old man:
"She is not happy" he said, with con-
vietion. 1t was the tree in winter,
standing bare and desolate, its naked
branches pointing to leaden sky. and
beneath the picture was one written