The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-05
TWO SCENES
IN TWO LIVES
By MARGARET BARR

~ gentleman living on country ROAD
was taking the air walking about his
place. 1t was not spacious, aud 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 a whirring of wheels up the
road and an automobile appeared. Be
side tile chauffeur there was only one
person aboard. middle aged lady
we'll wrapped in fur robes. The We
hicle had reached point perhaps
hundred yards from the place describ- 1
ed when there was an explosion like \
, pistol shot. The auto swerved and
IN doing so went over.
The chauffeur was unhurt. Not sol
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 faint
voice but | doubt If my injuries are
serious" -
The chauffeur Joined them. and the
two carried the. lady to the house
Two young ladies. the daughters j0f
the host. took her in charge. while THE
gentleman telepho.led for surgeouf
When the medical man arrived he PROF.
no,llced the lady nnhurt. with the ext
cpItion of sprained ankle. which}
prevented her walking He said sh4
might be driven to her home at any
time. Left alone with her host. tho
lady said:
This is singular meeting, Mr. CAM
ming"
The gentleman started. I'VE have
met l,efore:" he asked
"Yes. YOu were once we'll known tb
ME. But that WAS twenty Years ago.
and my age IL just double " 1t 1t waA
then. 1t Is not remarkable that yoH
should not recognize me-"
But you have recognized me-"
''There is reason for that"
will you give it?''
Eyes. but not directly. will tell
you little story. The scene, i THE
veranda of a house on an enlIIIpnc4
Overlooking river. The season Id
spring. The hour was that when tile
twilight fades into night. new nooln
Is standing over the western horizon.
1.-Two young persons were sitting ON
the veranda. man and n wOinat.
The man took her hand in one of his:
the other he stole around her waist.
I love yOu.' be said. and wish YOU
to be my wife The words We're sinh
pie hut more winning from their sinh
plicity. 1t was the happiest moment
Of her life.
"Rut not relishing being won too ea$-
fly she asked for time. promising an
answer within Il few days He assem-
ed. but reluctantly. When few ds<3s
had passed she looked for him to coShe
to her for her answer. He did n}Dt
come A month passed and she receiJv
ed Il letter from him from a distant
city. telling her that he had suddenly
been called away: that new field hakd
opened to him. but that II wolild,
long while before ht could exlyeg I'LL
1,ra,,t. sHaspss. ad-sha ioers
deeply she would not have asked for
time. This was probably fortunate.
since he could not be near her. a lung
while must pass before they could be
married. and lie would only stand in
her way of being settled for l.fe II
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. aud 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 Il dainty luncheon on a sal
yer. She would have fingered. but her
father told her that the stranger was
not equal to seeing more than one
person at time The girl withdrew
Then he spoke.
There il Il period in mans life
bet tween. say. eighteen and twenty-five
when what he Is to he 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 We're
equal.
This person who at critical mo
ment looked behind him never again
came to a .nint where he could con
fidently. fearlassly look before him
lie has lived negative life. He has
been Il failure"
There was deep sadness in his last
words The lady took his hand in hers
and pressed it sympathptically
'"rhe 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.
Il wonder" said one of the sisters
that evening. what Is the matter with
papu. Ever since that automobile acct
dent ne has looked so sad p"
"Has her" said the other. IL haven: