Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-05-23

this. a profile like this. figure like
this gazed in wonder, then in GER
tainty.
No; there was no escaping the con-
clusion. This was not another girl,
but the same girl seen again.
Belknap caught the slight restraint
as the girl and both raised our eyes.
"0h, say, why-what in the world
Mr.. Cowles, didn't you-that is, haven't
you
NO. said I, 81 haven't and didn't,
think. But think also
The girls face was trifle flushed,
but her eyes were merry. "Yes," said
she, II think Mr.. Cowles and have
met once before" She slightly empha-
sized the word "once," as l noticed
"But still may remind you all, gen
tlemen,D said l. "that l have not yet
heard this lady's name and am only
guessing, of course, that it is Miss
Meriwether, whom you are taking out
to Laramie"
why, of course" said Belknap, and
"0f course" echoed everybody else.
ssYes," said she, I'm going on out to
join NY father on the front. This is
my second time across, though. Is it
your first, Mr.. Cowles?''
"My first, and / am very lucky. You
know also am going out to meet
your father, Miss Meriwether."
How singularr She put down her
tin cup of coffee on the blanket
''My father was an associate of Colo
mel Meriwether in some business mat
tiers back in Virginia.
"Oh. l know-it's about the coal
lands that are going to make us all
rich some day. Yes. l know about
that, though think your father rarely
came over into Albemarle."
Under the circumstances / did not
care to intrude my personal matters.
so / did not mention the cause or ex-
plain the nature of my mission in the
west. 81 suppose that you rarely came
into our county either, but went down
the Shenandoah when you journeyed
to Washington? / said simply, Il
have never met Colonel Meriwether'
AS we rose from the ground at the
conclusion Of our meal the girl drop
ped one of her gloves. hastened to
pick 1t up, walking with her a few
PAGES afterward.
The next time we are shipwrecked
together" said /, st shall leave you on
the boat. You do not know your
friendsw
'.Why do you say that?"
"And yet knew you at once. saw
the ring on your hand and recognized
light on the river bank the night we
left the Belle
How brilliant of you! At least you
can remember ring"
II remember seeing the veil you
wear once before-at a certain little
meeting between Mr.. Orme and my
self"
"You seem to have been haber
dasher in your time, Mr.. Cowles!
Your memory of lady's wearing ap-
parel is very exact. should feel very
much fattered" None the less ! saw
the dimple come in her cheek.
She was pulling on her glove as she
spoke. I saw embroidered on the
gauntlet the figure OF red heart
my memory is still more exact in
the matter of apparel" said l. Miss
Meriwether, is this your emblem in
deed this red heart? 1t seems to me
/ have also seen it somewhere before. "
aWhen Columbus found America" I"
she answered. st is said that the saw
ages looked up and remarked to him,
'Ah, we see we are discoveredr"
seYes," said I; you are fully discov-
cred each OF you, all of you, all three
or four of you-Miss Ellen Meri-
wether.,
.sBut you did not know it until now
until this very moment. You did not
know me, could not remember me, not
even when the masks were off. All
it was good as play!'
81 have done nothing else but re
member you.'
How much l should value your ac.
auaintance Mr.. Cowles of Virginia!
1oW rare dA OElci kuAA4l5 Jou AAut z 6A'E
en- me of seeing on the inside of a
mans heart." She spoke half bitterly.
and saw that in one way or other
she meant revenge.
II do not understand you," | rejoined-
mo; suppose you men are all alike
that any one of you would do the
same. 1t is only the last girl. the near
est girl. that is remembered. Is it not
so?"
at Is noe so." ! answered.
sHow long will you remember me
this time-me or my clothes, Mr..
Cowles-u until you meet another?"
ssAIl my life" said, ''and until i
meet you again in some other infinite
variety. Each last time that ] see you
makes me forget all the others, but
never once have forgotten you"
4In my experience" commented the
n II