The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-06

represents. He was a hard customer
to suit"
How so?" inquired Eustace with
suppressed but vital interest.
Made me go over all our plans. Just
by chance | happened to unroll that
special n you always said would be
the kind of a place you would build II
you ever got that far l told him about
1t. He seemed to take it as an evil
dence that 1t must be ideal If 1t repre-
sented your artistic ideas, lugged 1t
away to the city to show his client and
was back promptly. Build it, was his
simple order. Let Mr.. Lee give 1t spe-
cial attention from start to finish, and
went to the bank and deposited the
entire amount of the cost estimate"
Many a time in a task that went on,
as in a dream life, Eustace Lee won
dered If coincidence, fate, were at
work that the home he had blocked out
in fancy, always with Elaine as its
queen, Should have been ordered for
the beloved spot so dear to him. Gould
1t be that any of the Marsh family de-
signed to return to the town? He
dreamed, he marveled, he hoped.
A great deep longing was in his
heart as n evening he stood before
the new structure, all finished. Even
the grounds had been renovated.
There, too, were the two trees, sur
rounded by a pretty parterre Of flow
ers. Almost the tears came to his
eyes, for all this appeared as the full
fllment of the fondest dream of his
life.
The lawyer in the city was notified
of the completion of the house. Then
there came a telegram to the Office.
The wne of the new home would be
down on the evening train and would
meet Mr.. Lee on the grounds to take
possession.
1t was a beautiful moonlit evening
as Eustace walked from his home in
the direction of the new villa. His
thoughts we're sad, for the work had
occupied his mind, 1t SO reminded him
of his lost love. The beautiful struc-
ture and lovely grounds were irradi-
ated with a liquid light that lent a
dreamy effect to the scene. Eustace
expected that the lawyer and his client
would be about the porch, but found
them not.
Then suddenly he gave a great start
and stared weirdly in the direction of
the two trees. He strained his vision
to view a female figure standing di'
rectly beneath their branches. 1t was
quiescent, statue-like, yet it seemed
to exercise some indefinable influence
that drew him towards the spot. Slow.
ly he advanced, nearer and nearer he
approached a girlish form robed in
white. statue-like in pose; but true
blue eyes and a longing smile showed
forth from the lovely face.
"Elaine!" he cried in a gasp, and al
most reeled where he stood.
She put forth both hands. He was
all a-tremble as he inclosed them In
his own. She transfixed his gaze
Thus in silence, rapturous, intense
they stood for some moments.
"You-you have returned" he man
aged to utter, incoherenly, at last.
"As you see," responded the sweet
tranquil tones of yore.
"And-alone?"
Her glance fell, as her face sad
dened. A tear stole down her cheek.
my father died six months ago.
she said.
"And-and others?" he questioned
stumblingly, breathlessly.
There are no Others" responded
Elaine. There was only you. Through
adj the years l wondered if you re
membered our pledge. l came to the
city and found-and found"
THAT you alone filled my hearth
cried Eustace. "Oh, my cherished
love! Can you not understand that
and, true to the end, had you passed
by, my heart would culver under youl
feet had it lain for a century dead!'
She turned towards the beautiful
house, her face radiant in the white
pure moonlight. She drew closer
closer into his %sheltering arms, as she
murmured r~apturously:
"Your home-mine!"