The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-07-11

telling secrets 70 lnp eAcos, 0e
Mamie called 1t.
Ten or twelve years ago the silk
gown which Grace wore had been
familiar to Mary, for Jennie had
worn 1t that fatal summer when she
won Jims love. Even now, with the
gray In her hair, Mary felt the old
pa.n fresh at the sight of the hated
raiment. Jennie had worn that very
dress the night she delivered Mary's
note asking Jim to meet her at the
foot of the orchard under their par
ticular tree. where Jim had con
structed bench and where they
often sat on summer evenings
On that summer evening Mary had
gone to the trysting place and waited
with her heart full Of love and Joy
But Jim did not come. and When
deeply hurt. Mary returned to the
house. he was leaning over the front
gate talking earnestly to Jennie
Later Jennie told her that Jim had
sent her message saying that he
had decided he had nothing particu-
lar to say to her.
See, Aunt Mary, isn't my dress
full? It's lots wider'n Grace's.
Maybe, It's but my dress has got
pocket" .rejoined Grace, "a real
deep one. You cant get to the Dot
tom. Auntie, you feel and see II II
has bottom"
Absently Mary put her hand into
the pocket of Jennie's dress. Her
fingers touched something that re-
sisted, and she reached again to draw
out two letters-Jennie's love letters,
no doubt. But no. She clutched them
wildly. One was Jim's note to her
asking for a meeting. she remem
bered she had hunted In vain FOR II
after the evening in the orchard. But
the other letter was her answer ana
that answer had never been opened
Jim had not received 1t.
Suddenly hundred little incidents
crowded to her mind that made II
clear what part Jennie had taken IN
her life and Jim's. Then rush OF
gladness came over her. How she had
misjudged Jim!
Mary could have laughed aloud as
she thought of Jim and how she
could make up to him for his years
of puzzled wonder. Then she looked
at the little girls staring at her abb
straction and began to unfold a plan
that delighted them.
When Jim Bomar came home from
his afternoon work he could hardly
believe the evidence Of his senses
An immaculate kitchen gave forth
the odor of such a supper as only q,
good housewife could prepare. In
swept and garnished living room his
two girls were dancing about pref
tily laid supper table. And beside
the table stood Mary, his sweetheart
the woman he had always loved;
Mary with a smile on her face and
a light in her eyes as she stretched a
hand to Jim and said:
II came over to stay to supper, Jim
Am l welcome?"
The light in Jims face was answer
to that question even before his
tongue stammered out eagerly wei
come in words.
In the late twilight he went with
Mary over the path that only the
children's feet had pressed for so
long a time and his eloquent eyes
told the story. Silently they took
their way along the fragrant path
until Jim touched Mary softly on the
arm and said:
MARY, this is our Ntree. See, 1t is
all in glorious bloom. Won't you
sit DOWN."
And the apple blossoms wasted
their fragrance and their petals on
two unheeding figures while the
years Of misunderstanding and pain
were swept away to make room for
the love that was to illumine all the
future.