The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-06-05
TWO SCENES
IN TWO LIVES
By MARGARET BARR

Oue DrISQt, frosty morning an eiuer-
" gentleman living on country road
was taking the air walking about his
place. 1t was not spacious, and the
house was not palatial. They indi-
Gated an owner of moderate means,
but there was something about the
premises that denoted he was refined.
There was whirring Of wheels up the
road and an automobile appeared. Be
side the chauffeur there was only one
person aboard, middle aged lady
well wrapped in fur robes. The We
hundred yards from the place describ-
ed when there was an explosion like
, pistol shot The auto swerved and
IN doing so went over.
The chauffeur was unhurt. Not 80
the lady. The gentleman who saw
the catastrophe went to her assistance.
She was lying with closed eyes, but
she soon opened them and looked at
the man bending over her
''Tell me. madam" he said, how
badly hurt you are that | may decide
what to do"
II don't know" she said in a faint
voice. "but l doubt II my injuries are
serious"
The chauffeur joined them, and the
two carried the lady to the house.
Two young ladies. the daughters of
the host, took her in charge, while the
gentleman telephoned for a surgeon.
When the medical man arrived he pro-
nounced the lady unhurt, with the ex-
ception Of a sprained ankle. which
prevented her walking. He said she
might be driven to her home at any
time. Left alone with her host, the
lady said:
This is singular meeting, Mr.. Can
ming"
The gentleman started 1--WE have
met before" he asked.
Eyes. You were once well known to
me. But that was twenty years ago,
and my age Is just double " at it was
then. 1t is not remarkable that you
should not recognize me-"
"But you have recognized me-"
There is reason for that"
'Will you give it?'
yes, but not directly. l will tell
you a little story. The scene. is the
veranda of house on an eminence
overlooking river. The season Is
spring. The hour was that when the
twilight fades into night. A new moon
Is standing over the western horizon.
1.-TWO young persons were sitting on
the veranda, a man and a woman.
The man toon he- hanf IN one Of big:
the other he stole around her waist
4 love you,' he said. and l wish you
to be my wife The words were SIM
pie but more winning from their sim
plicity. 1t was the happiest moment
Of her life.
''But not relishing being won too cas-
fly she asked for time, promising an
answer within few days. He assent
ed. but reluctantly When few days
had passed she looked for him to come
to her for her answer. He did not
come. A month passed and she receiv
ed a letter from him from a distant
city, telling her that he had suddenly
been called away; that q new field had
opened to him, but that it would be
long while before he could expect any
great success. Had she loved him
deeply she would not have asked for
time. This was probably fortunate.
since he could not be near her. q long
while must pass before they could be
married, and he would only stand in
her way Of being settled for life. If
she agreed with him In this an answer
to the question he had asked was not
necessary. If that answer was to have
been Yes and she preferred to stand
by it she might write him, and he
would do his best to make good his
offer.
''This chilled her first and only love.
She wrote him that doubtless he was
right about the matter, and since his
view was hers. she considered his offer
annulled."
The lady had reached this point
which was the end of her story. when
one of the young ladies in the house
brought in a dainty luncheon on sal
YER. She would have fingered, but her
father told her that the stranger was
not equal to seeing more than one
person at a time. The girl withdrew
Then he spoke.
There is q period in mans life
between. say, eighteen and twenty-five.
when what he is to be Is forming. He
is clay ready to thrust into the fur
mace. This person you speak Of was
then in that condition. He was at an
important point of his life when the
two elements, caution and daring. are
struggling for the mastery. In his
case caution prevailed. And yet for a
time the chances between the two were
equal.
''This person who at critical mo
ment looked behind him never again
came to a point where he could con
fdently, fearlessly look before him.
He has lived a negative life. he has
been q failure"
There was a deep sadness in his last
words The lady took his hand In hers
and pressed it alphabetically.
1.-The carriage that was ordered has
arrived" said one Of the young girls
throwing open the door.
The injured woman was helped to the
carriage and when seated thanked
those she left for their kindness. then
she was driven away.
II wonder" said one Of the sisters
that evening. what is the matter with
papa. Ever since that automobile acct
dent he has looked so sad"
HAS heT" said the other. Il haven
noticed It"
A slight cold in child Or .
grown person holds possibilities Of
a grave nature. Group may come
on suddenly, bronchitis or pneu-