Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-09-29
BY AGNES G. BROGAN
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.


The stranger stood upon the station
platform and looked down a vista Of
blOssoming apple trees toward the vii
lage He was apparently prosperous
man of the world but with the breath
Of these spring blossoms subtle
change passed over his tired face,
softening its careworn lines.
Garry your satchel, STRIP 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, l suppose?"
Sure" the lad responded. He shift
I'd the vallse to his other hand Say"
he asked, do you know Miss NellT
Il knew her long ago." the man
slowly replied.
Before she was an artist?"
The stranger smiled. EYES," he an
swered musngly.
Miss Nell's just about the incest
person in the world" said the boy.
An odd smile played cut the mans
lips. II agree with y ;" he said "A
recent trip around the world has con-
frmed 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, "Pn
trot that satchel back up the hill
when you are ready to 60"
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 a
little old lady. who peered unbeliev-
ingly into his face Then her voice
rose quaverlngly
David" she said-"Davld, is 1t real
ly you" A tall, white haired old man
appeared at her joyous cry, and to-
eether, laughing and talking, they
drew him into the house.
How many years have you been
gone Davld-ten or twelye2 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
50 you Gun write for emp
ITS like Nell" the old lady inter
posed "She can sell pictures just as
fast as she can pnint them Course
money every week, and she has had
this house fixed over to be more COM
Portable for us, David, as you can
see. IL was bit hard for her at first,
studying alone In the city-,Just II 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 II hot
headed young fool" he said. at was
reprehensible to me at the time that
Nell should choose an uncertain Gu
reer lu preference to the love and de-
yotion OF lifetime. However. ! tried
TO atone for my hasty words. 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
perslstency. and have never seen her
since. When you refused TO enlighten
me as TO her whereabouts | concluded
that It was because Nell had forbid
den you to answer my letters. Then
when opportunity offered went
abroad. Returning to New York,
could not resist stopping over for an
hour or two to see you both and per
haps- 10 hedr news Of Nell"
"She is WELL" the mother said fnl-
terlngly when you lost trace OF
her, David, Nell went to New York.
She IL still there. We have her house
address, but ! may not give 1t to you.
Her heart was in this artists career,
David, and sometimes think she
knew that you alone had power to
make her give 1t up"
We are mighty proud OF Nell" tho
old man added hastily. would you
like to see 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
daintiIy tinged with pink. Nell had
always loved these blooms. Then fol
lowed 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 tho old man:
"She IL not happy" he said, with con.
viction. II was the tree IN winter,
standing bare and desolate, Its naked
branches pointing to a leaden sky, and
beneath the picture was one written
word "Bereft"
As the train carried him upon his
homeword Journey David gazed gloom
ily into spare. "She " not happy"
he repeated Much work had accumu.