El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-26
; THE EAvESDROPPER.
By L. C. IOrebIy.

66N0 YOU remember?" she said.
The voice that spoke the
words was so tremulous, 50
sweet that I pulled myself up by the
trunk Of the pine tree against which
I leaned and tried to get a glimpse Of
the speaker. The droWsy warmth OF
the July afternoon had made me
droWsy, too. Even on those uplands,
among the heather and the pines. no
breeze was stirring and haze of heat
lay over the blue landscape that spread
into infinity beyond the purple moor
land was very tired I had sat down
upon the heather to rest awhile, lean
ing against pine trees trunk, and 1
must have fallen asleep, and been
sleeping for some time. for I had heard
no approaching footsteps; I was IN
conscious OF other human beings until
that soft tremulous, old voice reused
me rom my slumbers.
DO you remem ber2" she said.
Behind my pine tree the ground
sloped abruptly TO little terrace
among the heather. upon which a seat
had been placed, and, peer1ng round the
tree trunk, / could see that since my
own arrival upon the scene an old
gentleman and lady had come TO the
seat and were sitting now, facing the
wide outlook over the sea Of heather
to the Ear blue hills.
Nothing could have been further from
my thoughts than any idea Of caves
drOpping-but / had become an IN
conscious eaVesdrOpper. and as IN the
place where I sat, I could not move
without disturbing the old couple be-
low me. I decided that I had better re-
main there quietly, without making
my presence known.
It was Sunday afternoon. and across
the valley came a turmoil Of sweet
bells. Their music must have reused
some echoing memories in the old
lady's heart, for her gentle voice spoke
again.
The bells rang that afternoon, dear
the afternoon in Nay when I came
down the church path and met you
at the gate. Do YOU remember"
An affirmative grunt came from the
old man on the bench beside her, and
a little trembling smile fickered over
her face. Her profile was turned to-
wards me; I could see how soft and
dainty was its colOring. how charming
It's outlines, despite the network Of
wrinkles that covered 1t, and as she
glanced round at a bird that SCARED
up from the heather, I saw that her
eyes were very sweet.
The chestnut was In flower" the
soft, reminiscent voice continued. Gov
cred with white spikes Of the blossom,
and the field across the lane was gold
en- with butter cups. You called II the
field Of the cloth Of gold
From her companion came mother
responsive grunt and gain she smiled
"a smile so serene. so sweet, that I
wanted to jump down beside her and
kiss her dear old face.
i aps"-there was
little break in her vOice-'perhaps-
We were talking rather at random
Just then 1 had not expected to see
YOU there and yOu-yOu told me af-
forwards NHchael-that when
came down the church path In the
sunlight-yOu felt as if something
swept you off your feet"
A low laugh broke from her-a
Iva H. amn
ish JOY. and a soft little flush crept
over her wrinkled face.
The old man did not speak but I
saw him put out his hand and lay it
over hers, and the sight of that mute
and infinitely tender caress brought
a lump into my throat a mist before
my eyes, so that for a moment the
blue distance was dimmed
"Do you remember" she said. and
this time her voice shook When first
YOU held my hand-like thisg' She
glanced down at the hand that Law
over hers. Tt was in the lane-after
we had passed the field where the
buttercups grew-iust by the gate
where the hawthorn was white with
bloom We STOPPED by the gate-and
all at once-We were quiet-thOugh
we had talked till then--talked-at
random" Again that deliciously girl
ishly laugh broke from her Il don't
know what we said, - she went on az
ter a pause. Il have never been able
10 remember WHAT we SalQ until we
came to the gate where the hawthorn
tree stood all white and lovely like
a bride. We stopped beside the gate
and you-put out your hand-and took
mine into it-and I knew knew"
Her voice died away into silence. but
its wonderful gIadness made nv heart
contract with passion Of envy and
longingi
'.Do you know" she began again and
still there was that culver OF -ladness
in her voice Il had often looked at
your hand-your dear hand, AS she
spoke she lifted his gnarled old hand
to her lips and kissed it gentiv-"and
=sometimes-I had wished that
might take it in mine-but I ALWAYS
tried to put the thought away. 1T
seemed unmaidenly to think such
thoughts-uutil the day under the
hawthorn when I knew"
Knew what2" he asked. tt was
the first time I had heard his voice
and thought Il was deep. almost to
gruffness, there was a ring Of some