Evening star., 1914-04-19

Still holding the letter, she and crossed the
to the little desk by the window. Her fingers did not
tremble now: the single word that she traced upon
sheet of paper showed wavering lines.
She put the sheet into cnveop, sealed and adj
dressed it, and rang for the maid take to the post
box
ALL about the little vinecovercd arbor hung the
drowsy beauty Of the late afternoon.
Sweet odors breathed from the of ignonette and
heliotrope in the oldfashioned garden; bumblebees
doomed soemnly among the polen-thick blooms.
CLINT of color, the whr of swiftbeating wings and
hnmngbrd poised for instant at the amber cup of
honeysuckle blossom, then flashed the sunlit
space and was gone
Mary Douglas looked after the tiny, winged creature
then her eyes sought again the book her lap but
she word of what printed there nor of the
new typewriter letter that lay between the pages.
All day she had sat there alone with her thoughts
oblivious of what went around her. 1t just
such day as this that she had sent him from her
Suddenly she sat bolt upright in her chair The
latch of the front gate had clicked. There steps
upon the gravel walk. Unseadly she rose, pressing
both hands to her heart.
@Mary!'
She could not speak: only her eyes were eloquent
and in them shone the love that her lips had denied
He drew her down beside him on the little rustic
bench. "You waited SO long-so long, Mary!' he said
"The letter-your letter, JOHN she faltered. at
only the other day that found it. unopened in the
old photograph album that used to lie the table in
the sitting thought you did care that you
did not want me any more. l.
@Husf, Dear!' He drew her closer Il always want
you. And, somehow, though you had told me you
would never see me again, knew the time would come
when should be together. It's all over now Dear
all the pain and and heartache We're together
Together she whispered softly, and turned her face
UP to his.
a knew should find you here" he said after little
3Here-where last you, with the shining on
your hair 1t seemed to that could not leave you
that day, Mary. You young, so beautiful so
sweet, even in your anger. Do you remember? had
been reading aloud to you from little book of poes
and you-"
She stretched out her hand and lifted the book from
the grass where it had fallen.
@The same book, John, the same page:
"Al the world is gray with shadows
Clouds have dmmed the glow;
Just year. Dear, since you left
Yet it seems SO long ago.
$50 long, John-so long,"
He smiled, the slow, grave smile that she loved so
well, as his deep voice went on with the poem
But I know the time is coming,
When the wind blows sweet,
l shall find you in the
Where the gold and crimson meet.
And then they sat in silence while the sun dropped
lower behind the hill and the lengthcning shadows
marched toward them the grass Presently he
spoke.
Il must go now, Mary, just for a little while; and
then-we shall never be parted again.
Tomorrow she brcathed.
For long moment she lay in his arms
Tomorrow" she repeated aloud, his tall figure
strobe down the path and the fields and little
tender smile curved her lips. Her eyes turned to
the west. She slipped into her chair At her feet
the crumped letter that had lain unheeded since it had
futtered to the ground at his coming. 1t brief
typed letter. dictated by busy to his stenographer:
DEAR MADAM sorry to have to tell you that my
uncle John Mayhew has been dead these thirty years
more. Faithfully yours, l.. NJ MAYHEM
The had set, and the sky all glory of Grim