The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09

the others are married"
OF course they would be married. he
thought again: IL she had had six
teen.
And the baby"
"1s over my head must introduce
YOU" she glanced around. "She
was here a moment ago-probably
they've slipped over to Memorial to
dance-well; her father is there. and
Memorial is thick with patronesses,"
she smiled again. IL told you've
chaperon religiously nowadays"
I'm our day-it didn't seem to be
necessary" he remarked.
mo" she said thoughtfully, at
didn't" He saw her clear and inno-
cent gaze go backward into that past
and across his own mind rushed the
memory Of that long. that exquisite
intimacy. in which. in the flush Of
youth, he had never touched her lips
nor so much as held her hand. Then
suddenly he remembered other things
There were some who would have
borne little chaperoning even then"
he said brusquely but he saw that the
words did not reach her. For the first
time it occurred to him why the tend
ing Of fires had always been entrusted
to vestal virgins.
Tell me something Of your life all
these years" he said quickly, and she
came out Of her musing to answer;
There has not been much to tell:
we nave lived very quietly-with our
children. My husband she woke
up suddenly-"you remember my hus-
pand! and again, as when she had
spoken or her six daughters, an army
with banners looked out Of her eyes:
at least that was the impression they
made upon him.
Very well indeed" he added per
functorily. Il hope to have the pleas
ure OF renew ing our acquaintance"
Meanwhile he hardly heard what she
went on to say, So busy was he with
the inner vision Of her life. Six girls
and a college professors salary-it
was easy enough to see the rest: vet
she could afford to faunt banners in
her eyes, This woman had then the
capacity of living her dreams: she
would have kept the dream alive If
Ihen you have lacked nothing?"
he said.
on. yes" she answered quickly.
with an entire change Of manner: II
have no SON.
he looked at her silently a moment.
Thank you" he said.
Il don't need TO ask YOU ANYTHING"
her voice was quick with feeling
Howard has told ME all; but-you
have him"
Yes he assented. Il have him. BY
the way he spoke suddenly. turning
toward her the face he had half
aFeried, you spend your summers al,
ogunquitt, l believe?"
Yes: We have a kind of modes,
bungalow there; We had to go some
"here FOR the children, and it has been
good place for my husbands work "
Her companion smiled and frowned
together into the darkness outside.
where the Giee Club was singing Tho
other occupants of the room had
"GH'ed OUT TO the campus or TO Me-
moral. where the dancing was. FOR
me moment they We're quite alone. as
they looked down upon the scene be-
low, Her hand lay beside him on the
WINDOW sill; untouchable now as then.
TO m he ouked at 1t remembering.
ana dh !"ItprcSslb.e desire came upon
h.m {" know II she remembered. too
1t forced Itself from his lips
DO you remember"
She answered instantly.
Il remember perfectly. we stood in
this very window How 1t must all
come back to you tom ght-in your
SON"
How 1t must all come back to him.
lie longed TO know how much she re-
membered how much she knew. but
the silence Of the past was between
them. one has but one class day!
Yet he was conscious that he was
happier, even as things We're. here be-
side her than he had been since he
stood there last. She had done for
him again what she had done before
she had renewed his faith Of youth:
he knew now that some things were
puss .ble-eyen II not to him.
We'll, have YOU two rem.nisced up
the whole paste" His sons gay. sus-
p!cious,y gay. voice made them both
turn with start.
Child where have YOU been?' The
laughing reproach from his companio
fell on the elder mans ear vaguely, as
he gazed at the girl beside his son
She was taller than her mother, and
far prettier than her mother had ever
been. though this he could not know
and she had been TO college, which her
mother had not; but she had been 4
college exactly as her mother woulc
have gone. had carried the candle
dream in her eyes all through II. anC
when she smiled now at him sh,
smiled with her mothers very lips.