Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-04-17

ed head to the shoulders of his perfect
~ fitting gray coat. He was immac-
ulate. Yet the last time Rosalind had
seen him he had been CARRIED In blue
overalls. and a ragged straw hat had
been tossed on the bach Of his head
He had been loading cornstalks on a
farm wagon the very day she left Put
void to go on the stage.
"How do you do. Benz" asked Rosa
lind demurely.
Benjamin Hall looked up quickly and
stared at Rosalind. His first careless
glance at her entrance had seen moth
ing save the crown and brim of the tip
tilted hat. He had not looked under 1t
because he rather thought girls were a
bore. all save one.
"Rosiei Rosie Mereton.' he gasped.
holding out one of the big brown
hands.
ben, do you mean that you didn't
recognize me?' asked Rosalind, with
tears In her eyes,, because it was so
good to see a face from home once
more. Are you going homer"
81 am. And you are. too?" be asked
eagerly, his eyes never once leaving
her lovely face.
Eyes. just for the week end. Tell
me where you have been and what you
have been doing" answered Rosallnd.
feeling an odd embarrassment In Ben
jamin Halls presence.
Benjamin told her. his eyes studying
her face as If he would read in its clear
openness some record of the three
years since they had parted.
He told her that he had left Putwold
a few months after her own departure.
The death Of his parents had left him
free to start life anew. He had sold
some woodland and had rented the
homestead to strangers. He had gone
west and bought an interest in a mine
which his uncle controlled. He had
prospered. He was going back to Put
void. He was going back to the land
which his ancestors had titled.
I'm homesick for the farm" he told
her. i've been west, and I've studied
the way they do things out there, and
shall know how to make it pay. Now
tell me about yourself, Rosie" :
Rosalind told him briefly. There
seemed so little to tell In her marrow
life of hard work.
"And you are going back" he asked.
Eyes. | suppose So" said Rosalind,
flushing warmly.
us this true?' asked Benjamin quiet
ly as he took a newspaper clipping
from his notebook and gave it to her.
Rosalind read it with down bent
head: 1T is rumored that Miss Rosa
lind Mereton. the lovely little ingenue
in the popular comedy. Lavender
Flowers is soon to wed one of our
most energetic young millionaires."
rs 1t true. Roster" asked Benjamin.
Rosalind shook her head.
mo, not yet" she said lmpulsively.
and then blushed scarlet at her self
betrayal.
Benjamin looked at the viOlets and
orchids at her breast and sighed sharp
ly. He had hoped to be In time to Of
fer Rosalind many things. but he was
too late. He wondered 6ercely what
sort of chap this man was. Did Rosa
lind love him or was she dazzled by
the millions? Who could blame Ter?
he asked himself fercely.
Adroitly he changed the subject. and
when the meal was over he accompa-
MED Rosalind back to her seat In the
day coach. Sitting there beside her
with the rugged scenery of New Hamp-
shire blurring into the dusk. Benjamin
felt a growing confidence in himself.
He was nearing his own hills; he was
on his own ground. and the girl he
had always loved was beside him.
wearing another mans orchids. per-
haps half promised to this rich man.
"Rosalind." be said suddenly. "are
you engaged to this manY"
mo-" said Rosalind quickly.
do you expect to be?" he demanded
bluntly.
HE has asked me-" admitted Rosa
lind.
do you love him?" went on Benja-
min relentlessly.
Rosalind hesitated. She wondered.
because she felt no anger against Ben
Jamin and his questioning.
His hand touched her arm. her hand.
and held 1t warmly.
do you love this a RosalindT'
he asked quietly.
Rosalind looked up into the gray
Eyes and. looking. could not withdraw
her gaze.
"No. no. nor she said intensely.
"Ah, Rosalind. / have always loved
you" he said chokingly.
"And l. oh. Ben, | believe l have.
That's why I've longed for Putwold
and the old farm. and father and
mother will be so glad. and. Ben. some
one will see you"
II don't care" said Ben boldly. 1.-THE
whole world can know how happy /
am in winning the girl / lover