The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1913-03-15

i shall never forget the scene that
occurred How she refused to marry
me, how her old father discovered
the cause and threatened her. plead
ed with her, implored her. He was
not avaricious, he would never have
left his ranch; but he felt that his girl
was good enough for any man. II
the end We OYercame her opposition
We were married the next morning.
and Eva cried all through the cere-
mony
There was to be no honeymoon 1t
was haying time, and after the mar
riage 1 went OF to work as usual,
leaving Eva to keep house in the little
cottage old Aaron had built at the
head of the valley. That night, when
I came home, Aaron stood at the door,
waving a letter, frantic with rage and
humiliation Eva had run away She
would never come back, she said,
would never acknowledge the mar
riage; was to be free. She had timed
her movements so as to catch the
night train east 1t was just the fool
ish act of an ignorant girl She may
have had a hundred dollars saved
don't know what became of her. De
tectives failed to find her Old Aaron
died cursing her and asking my for
giveness for having ruined my life
You did not want a dfvorce?" asked
the woman softly.
No. How could 1? l knew that
the brave little spirit that had given
itself into my keeping was mine al
ways; that l was morally responsible
for her; if ever she appeared 1 should
have taken her home and asked no
questions. I kept the detectives at
work for years. And lately l have
felt that I must do something more
earnest to find Eva So 1 am going
out to Colorado, to the old ranch, IL
it is still there. and 1 shall try to dis
cover whether she has not come back
Perhaps-I have hoped 1.-THE early
memories will draw her home again
He ceased and the woman withdrew
her hand and placed it on Lord Al
wyn's shoulder.
Stop. dear" she said. Now look
at me- 1 want to ask you a question
Do you love her as much as you love
me?"
Lord Alwyn laughed rather bitterly.
Il don't love her at ALL" he said
And how much I love you you know.
But, my dear, because 1 do not love
her I feel my duty the more strongly.
So I am going to try to find her-and
So"
Goodbye" she whispered, and rails
ed her lips to his. For moment they
chung to each other with all the
strength and passion of two who know
that thence forward their lives must
be sundered forever. Then she. was
gone and he was alone in the star
light and with his sorrow.
Lord Alwyn spent three days in
New York He called on his detec-
tive agency, but they had learned
nothing. Then he took the train for
Colorado.
1t had changed hardly at all during
ten years, that wild, mountainous
country When he stepped out at the
depot he found the same little station
and the same station master, though
the man did not recognize in him the
boy whom he had speeded heartily on
his way home a decade previously
Lord Alwyn hired a rig and drove the
ten miles to old Aaron's ranch The
road was still deserted, still bordered
by barren plains Whereon no crops
grew It was not until he reached
the ranch that he came upon signs Of
cultivation. Then his heart leaped-
The little house still stood in its loca-
ton, and smoke was issuing from the
chimney.
But it could not be she. No doubt
the place was leased. That account
ed for the cultivated fields-for the
girl would never have come back to
manage the farm alone. Alwyn drew
rein at the door, hitched his horse to
the old post, and knocked A woman
opened it 1t was Eva, dressed as a
raGcher's daughter, a rake over her
shoulder, her hands dusty with hay.
but Eva matured-No, it was not Eva.
1t was Alice Pasqualel
Lord AIwyn staggered against the
door and his hands, cropping feebly,
found hers and held them.
do you know me now, dearest?'
she whispered Have you found her
again, this Eva, this ignorant grip
"AIfce." he said, chokingly, 1T is
you? You are Eva?"
She placed her arms round his neck
and drew his head down to her breast.
You couldn't have known. dearest,
she whispered. 1T was cruel of me to
try you so long. How could you have
recognized the ignorant farmers girl
in Alice Pasquale, the singer. the Ital-
ian nobleman's adopted daughter? But
I have waited for you SO long, my
deari"
Copyright. 1913. by W. G. Chapman
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