The Springdale news., 1914-07-17

flhally, having beaten Bill down to the lowest price he ever had been known to take-the lowest price any man could haul person for at the corners, and hold up his head, she got Into the vehicle with great glee. Al. ready her depression had dropped rom her and the quick blood of youth bounded again in her veins. AS she aighted from the bus she paralyzed Bill by dropping a dollar in his grizzled paw and declining to take the change he reluctantly counted out for her
 Then she tripped into the old tav- ern and was assigned to her great. oarh-hke room from which she emerged almost immediately and took walk across the old fields filled with so many beautiful memories, and away down by the creek, where her hap plest moments had been epent- where she had won the one true love or her life-and lost him It was d delghttul and melancholy afternoon somehow his presence had seemed to be actually beside her and all the ten Ger moments Of the old courtship had recurred over and over again as she passed the spots where they had taken place. Once or twice she had turned and spoken to him as though he actually were beside her
 Arriving back at the tavern, she threw of her shawl and resolved to go into the old parlor from which there was perfect view of the wind Ing river. The landIady was busy, so she went along by herself, knowing the way full well-indeed, how many dances she had attended at the old tavern and in that identical parlor.
 She was surprised to find the door elosed-she never had seen it closed before. Opening the door she stepped III and nearly ran directf. into a casket standing in the middle of the room. She recoiled with a cry-but hot before she had caught sight of the face beneath the glass
 Merciful heaven, it was his face the face Of Duncan Mitchell, the old sweetheart she had won and lost But, Oh how old and careworn and sad and the locks on the temples, how gray and thin. Inyoluntarily she went down on her knees beside the casket She touched the glass above the face Il moved. She slid II clear open and leaning forward pressed her lips on those of the Ifeless clay.
 Presently in came good Mrs Bing ham the hostess and all full of con- triton that her aristoeratie guest should have run into such a chamber Of horrors No, the guest was not at all offended or alarmed-only curious Who was the man in q coffin in pub lie house. Had he no friends? How cane he here'
 Ah. the story was short He formerly had lived here, but had gone away many years ago and his people had all died since He had been a member of the life saving service on the great lakes and had met his death in a heroic effort to save the lives of oth- CTS. He had ample funds for burial but left the request that he be buried in the old town, where l felt the only joy ever knew" as the paper found on him said.
 And there's romance" whispered Mrs. Bingham, coming close to her guest and purring. The paper reads: And if there should be one who gave me the one glimpse of heaven l ever had and then shut 1t from me-should this one know of my death, I want her to know that the girl she saw me with in the old orchard on that terrible June night, and whose presence and whose kisses could not explain. was my sister. Had explained. it would have ruined my sisters life and that of her husband As 1t was it ruined mine-and possibly Margarets. But l was bound in honor-and afterwards Margaret would not let me explain. I want her to know, however, that no other woman's lips have touched mine and that l die with her name on my lips and in my heart. Ain't IL just like a story"
 Was it moan the landlady heard9 She turned quickly, but the patrician face of the guest made no sign.
 When they buried him the coffin was literally swamped with roses-where they came from nobody knew except that they came by express and bore the mark of great florist
 Did you enjoy yourself at the old tavern, my dear?" bantered MT Man. son few days later when his aristo- cratic wife appeared at the breakfast table.
 "Hilariously," replied Mrs Manson. (Copyrtght 1914. by Daily Story Pub CoD