The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-08-14

|sSpyr.sht. 1911. western Newspaper Union.
3, MILDRED WHITE

The could remember. His patient adors
Gtion, was like that Of the shaggy dog.
who adjusted his devotion to her
needs. When Lydia desired to walk,
Jack, the dog, was all joyful anticipa-
tion, when absorbed in a book she ig-
nored outside sunshine, Jack content
eddy lay at her feet. 3
I s Often as he sat late at night at the
desk in his store of Books and Fancy
Articles, Ifhe longed to throw the thing
up, and 60 to the city, but there was
Lydia! He could not bring himself to
leave her--Lydia, bright-eyed and win
some, with her indisputable charm.
rhe homestead was growing old and
worn, and when that slow accumulation
III the bank should be sufficient, Dan
hoped to remodel the house, and then,
Ills heart missed a beat at the thought,
II Lydia still was kind, he would dare
to ash her to share it with him. To
what height Dan planned and added
Ills figures, Lydia pulled red tam
over her waving hair, and walked with
Jack up the hill. -
AT the very top an auto was stalled,
ifs previous occupant working over
silent engine.
II wonder" the man asked pleas
antly, elf you could direct me to
garage?" And as Lydia was return
ing that way, they walked down the
/ hill together. He was the son of old
Lawyer Tiles, as it happened, and had
come back to look after his mother's
estates. Perhaps the Hooking after"
might have been accomplished in
Shorter order, had Robert Tiles not
met Lydia. AS it was, the days length
ened into weeks, the weeks into
months, still he remained in the coun-
ffy town.
To Lydia, the courteous modish
young man Of the city, was delight
fill Innovation. Her cheeks We're flush
I Ed withApride as he led her into the
Country club, his generous gifts Of hot
house roses, never ceased to bring q
sense of joyful surprise. And Dan?
Well, she remembered him with a
smile, just as she would stoOp to pat
Jack's shaggy head. And thenS came
one glorified night when Robert Tiles
took her into his arms and told her
that he loved her. The next day he
( was going away, back to his mother in
California, but when he came again
30 he said, they would ANNOUNCE their
engagement, and be married. Lydia
could hardly discern his departing fig
Tre for the tears in her eyes, Jacks
head brushed her hand in sympathy,
HID turning, she found Dan looking
11wn upon her.
ass1sI--1 couldn't help 1t friend" she
said softly, u just had to love Rob
eft.''
Dan nodded silently, understanding.
The days were long after that and the
column Of figures at night seemed so
Useless to unravel. And now it was
the months which grew into year,
and more years, but Robert Tiles did
not retuSn. Letters came bringing
doubtful comfort to Lydia, and those
telling Of brilliant achievement in Rob
ert's profession Of law-she took over
tDread to Dan.
Cheerily confident was Dan. "Of
course Tile would be back soon," he
encouraged, ''then Lydia would find
her happiness with him out there in
that golden country"
But Lydia's eyes clduded doubtfully.
Oh! I could not 60 away" she
breathed.
Dead hope revived in Dams heart
that night, but the next morning It
+ was destroyed. Lydia came running
over bringing letter.
From Robert" she explained, her
voice sang, "he's coming back"
Dan saw the luxurious car drive up
tOS Lydia's door, saw distinguished
man ascend the front steps. Then Dan
+ turned away. Years had brought to
that other man assurance and power,
while to him mercilessl Dan studied
HIS own face with its lines Of sadness.
Lydia waiting in the quaint parlor
j felt strangely difddent, as Robert Tiles
advanced to greet her. All at once her
little blue frock seemed very inferior.
The color fl her cheeks still held its
youthful freshness. her eyes shone
bright through all the years, but there
was quick Disappointment in the
glance he cast upon her; through ev-
cry nerve she felt its keenness, what
could it be-? Then while responding
Absently to the easy grace Of his con-
tersation, the realization came to her.
BE had forgotten, through his years OF
/ travel and study, that she had re-
NAMED here in this one little town.
The women to whose society he was
Accustomed, had found also his oppor-
tunities. Sweet and fair she might be,
hut she was after all only Lydia OF
Earmisdale."
You will excuse me-" she said hur@
fiedly. and put forth her hand-"good-
by."
There was evident relief in Robert
I Tiles perfunctory hand clasp. Across
10 the old homestead ran Lydia. Her
eyes smarted with sudden tears as
HE saw Dan through the window his
face Graded in his arms. A passion
of tenderness stirred her heart, how