Williams news., 1916-11-16

lost it somewhere from his pocRet. He recalled old boyish days and a cer. tain low window at the rear of the house. Royce started around the wing. Then he halted in sheer amazement. He had never known it's upper room to be occupied. It had been kept al. ways locked up. It was occupied now. A shade at an open window was flut. tering in the strong night breeze and he could see plainly into the lighted room beyond.
 A remarkable picture met his per plexed vision. His aunt sat in the center of the room. She was arrayed in the garb of bride. Veil, wreath, dress, filmy, almost eerie-like, she was garbed as if for a wedding ceremony. Except that the delicate filaments of apparel were old, yellow, in places frayed out and torn, she might be a bride awaiting the call to the altar.
 She sat rigid, though graceful, her set sad eyes, her whole pose one of expectancy, as though each moment she anticipated the arrival of her bridesmaids. Then the curtain Tapped close and the strange startling pic ture was shut from view. Royce rubbed his eyes, he marveled. He reached his room by the old surrepti- tious route. Then he lay awake, grop- ing vainly in his mind for a key to this uncanny mystery.
 His aunt greeted him at the table next morning, her old gracious, kind- ly self. She was still a beautiful wom- an under forty, and not trace of her face that she had been keeping a weary vigil that surely commemorated some vivid event in the long gone past.
 And for the first time that afternoon Royce learned of the romance in the life of his aunt. Ten years ago she had been engaged to a man named Rolfe Gregory. The marriage day was set, the evening arrived. She was all ready for the ceremony when note came from Gregory. He bade- her farewell forever-he could not marry her. He would love her to the end of life, but a great barrier had been raised against all future happiness.
 And Aunt Marcia still loved her re- creant lover, thus Royce reasoned, else why this annual vigil, remindful of the expectedly most happy moment of her life? Royce began an investiga- ton. He located Rolfe Gregory in city five hundred miles away. He de voted the money Aunt Marcia had given him to ferreting out this man.
 Royce found Rolfe Gregory leading a lonely bachelor life, sad, cheerless man of forty. He formed his acquaint ance, he learned his secrets.
 On the eve of his wedding his father was confronted with a prosecution foI fraud in his business. In no way could it be averted save through money. In no way could the money be secured except through Gregory's marriage to an heiress who loved him. He made the sacrifice, his wife lived two years Since then he had lived hermit life existence, ashamed to seek again the only woman he had ever loved.
 'sThere is someone to see you in the parlor, Aunt Marcia" Royce said one day, ga broken, penitent man with listen to it?"
 "Is it Rolfe Gregory" she spoke, and sweetly, patiently.
 "Yes, Aunt Marcia"
 q knew he would come back to me in time," she said simply.
 He had come back-to remain Their tears mingled and then their kisses. Time had not soured them. It had mellowed them, had made them patient and forgiving, and a future lowered.
 It was a future hallowed by another issue: the regeneration of Royce Liv. ingston. He had done a grand act in bringing those two starving souls to- gether, and, somehow, a new ambition and manlier impulses came into his young life.