Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-10-08
STANLEY'S RETURN
BY GEORGE MUNsoN.

he meant to catch quick train to the
South Thence he could make his way
undetected to South America. He
felt as eager as a schoolboy over it.
And it occurred to him that his past
life had ended when Miriam had died.
The five and twenty years that had
elapsed was only an interlude
He looked up as the train stopped
at a small station with an odd sense
of familiarity. He saw the name Bir-
minghanl Why, that was his home
since his mother died. He had al
ways meant to, until he heard of
Miriams marriage, and then he had
dropped veil over the past. Now
he had sudden longing to see the
little place again.
He took his suitcase all he was
carrying with him-and got Off Two
other passengers were leaving the
train. One was man about fifty-fve,
the other a girl of nineteen or twenty.
AS Stanley stood on the platform she
turned, and he saw Miriam looking at
him.
"a, He raised his hat automatically,
gaspad and stood staring at her fool
ishly. The girl looked doubtful for a
moment then she whispered to her
father, who. turned with a puzzled ex-
preston upon his face.
Il beg your pardon" stammered
Stanley, "but my name is Robert Stan
ley, and IL seemed to recognize"
"You did," smiled the man. What
an odd meeting! My name is Roger
Lesion, and this is my daughter
Miriam. Her mother often spoke of
you
Il knew you from your photograph,
Mr.. Stanley, at once said the girl
smiling. Though it was taken before
I was born"
Il feel complimented,' said Stan
ley.
Are you staying in Birmingham
inquired the other. IF so you must
be my guest. hope you won't refuse,
for my wife always spoke SO kindly
of you; in fact, I understand you were
an old admirer of hers?''
Kindly of him? Could anyone have
ever spoken kindly of him? Stanley
was unguarded For the first time in
score of years he dropped the mask
of GOODNESS that he presented to the
world.
And know all about you,' the ell
derby gentleman continued II was
saying to Miriam only yesterday that
you must be harassed to death by
those Wall street scoundrels. We hope
you'll best them. You see, we all
speak kindly of you in Birmingham.
1t will be a great honor"
Before Stanley could recover from
the surprise of this dramatic meeting
he had accepted Leston's hospitality
overnight. But on the following morn
ing he found himself unable to rise.
1t was nothing serious, the doctor
said, but weeks OF anxiety had broken
down Stanleys strength. And, com
ing back to the old town, with its boy
hood memories, he had yielded to the
weakening and softening influence.
He was like runner who drops ex-
hausted at the end of a race. For
five days he did not stir from his
room he was too exhausted to leave
his bed even, during the greater part
of them.
Lesion had scrupulously respected
his secret, and, as Stanley had given
out that he intended to spend a week
in tho mountains no anxiety or sur
prise was caused by his disappear
ance.
On the sixth day he came to the
conclusion that the old life, always
hateful, was now impossible. But the
idea OF running away hao somehow be-
come equally impossible. Life seemed
construable only in terms OF the lit
tie town and-Miriam.
In the girl he saw his old love,
fairer, and with the same winning
charm and sweetness. And with the
new life to begin, it seemed unbeliev-
able that he should not have Miriam
to share it.
That night he had frank talk
with Mr.. Lesion. He had already
showed him much of himself, but now
he barred his life from the beginning.
He told him his hopes and fears. how
he had planned to run away, how the
strange meeting had affected him.
1T may sound strange to you, sir,
in man of forty-fve,' he said, but
feel Nike a young fellow coming to
you to- ask for your daughters hand
II Miriam does not consider the diff
ference in our ages an irreparable
disqualification, may have your per.
mission to ask her to become my
wife?'
Lesion clapped him on the shout
der There is no reason why you
shouldn't, Robert" he said. Il don't
think age changes our real natures
very much. 1t would give me much
happiness. And | believe you are
the only American man / know who
has gone to the father before going to
the daughter"
Stanley found Miriam in the gar
den.
Il have come to say good-by, ne
said taking her hands in his ~ m