The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-01-30

David" she cried. forgetful Of ev
erything else in the world. does II
mean that you-you still care for mee
You haven't changed! have beea
wondering how / have been
Love That Was staaeh.
The plaintive note drove all doubt
from his mind His dream had come
true. She was incomparably fairer
than his waking hours had pictured
her during the ave years Of proba-
| tion: only In fond dreams had she ap-
pearsd to him as she now appeared
In reality
My little Christine" he murmured.
Il have been 20 afraid" she was say
ing. still searching his soul through
his eyes. Il am still afraid. David. Il
has been q long time So many thinGs
may have happened. We were such
young, foolish things. Oh. David. you
don't know how I have wished and
planned and striven to make myself
what you would like II you were ever
| to come to ses me again. l."
you are perfsct-you are divine!"
L
really care, Christine? You have not
changed. 1t has always been the same
with your"
Changed, David" she whispered.
her lip trembling. . sudden mist swim
ming in her sweet young eyes.
Changed"
You do love me? am not dream
ing? 1t 10 really your"
Both had forgotten the tall woman
who stood over there by the window.
her hands clasped. her heart in the
eyes that looked upon them.
He quickly lifted the girls hands to
his feverish lips. There he held them
for many minutes while he steadied
his rioting senses. regaining control OF
his nerves. He looked down upon the
dark soft hair and worshiped. A red
rose rested there. He bent over and
kissed her hair-and the rose.
Then she looked up.
Il do love you. David" she said
softly. Are you-are you sure that
you-Oh. David. are you sure7
For answer, his eager arm stole over
her shoulder and she was drawn close
to his breast She raised her lips to
greet the kiss. Her little hand
clutched his with sudden convulsive
ecstacy He felt the warm, quick
breathing-and then their lips met.
Il am very sure" he murmured, his
voice husky with emotion. There
never has been a minute in which I
was not sure, Christine, my darling.
You have forgottep-you can over
look those old days which was Little
Starbright?"s she whispered wondering
ly. They will make no difference
now?"
II loved you then. You and I and
my love have grown older and strong
er and dearer with the years that
have"
She broke away from him. putting
her hands to her cheeks in pretty con-
fusion.
"Oh, mother, IL forgot you were
there. forgot everything" Later
on, after Mrs. Braddock had gone to
her fathers room, he sat with Chris
tine on the low, deep sofa under the
bookshelf gallery. Her hands were
claspcd In his They had but little to
say to each other in words. Their eyes
spoke the thoughts that surged up
from their united hearts. She had
thrown aside the light. filmy wrap.
and the sweet velevety skin Of her
neck and shoulders cleaned in the
soft light Her perfectly modified,
strong young arms we're as clear and
white as marble
For long stretches at time he per
mitted himself to fall into silent, rapt
contemplation OF this perfected bit OF
womanhood Every childish feature
thatsAe remembered so we'll had been
subtly vignetted by the soft touch OF
nature. He was sensing for the first
time the vast distinction between hf-
teen and twenty-five distinction with
out the difference. for she was tho
same Christine after all. A delicate
bit OF magic was being performed be-
fore his very eyes. The slim. girlish
sweetheart Of other days was being
effaced The soft. insinuating lowell
ness Of young womanhood. with all
its grace, all its charms. was being re-
yealed to him as II by some wonder
full process in photography - new
shades. new lights, new tints. all IN
efrably joyous in tone. He could not
remember when her hair was 80 sort
and wavy at the temples, nor had 1t
ever seemed to caress her ears so ador-
ably. Why was 1t that he had never
noticed the delicate arch OF her eye
brows? Why had he failed to see the
,impid sweetness in her eyes? And
her hair, too, seemed to cling different
ly about the slim, round neck. What
magic sculptor had chiseled her lips
into their present form? Her chin. her
nose, her broad. white brow-why had
he never observed them beforef And
what was this strange, new light In
the dark eyes-this look that WAS no
LONGER childish, no longer inquisitive,
| -...ay With updorAtandinR7