The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-13
AFTERWARDS
BY cLARissA MAckIE.
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very behuiiiul picture. Inc TACT thht
her abundant hair was snowy white
did not detract from her beauty, for
her colorlng was delicately pink and
her soft eyes as black and expressive
as they had been In her girlish days
of perhaps. twenty years past.
Electa looked through the wire
screened door into the garden with Its
prim rows OF lockwood, smelling warm
and pungent after the light shower of
rain. She smiled little sadly and
turned away into the cool parlor.
at was on an afternoon like this
that he went away" she murmured
wistfully.
II was a very restful room, with n
faded Turkey carpet on the floor and
old mahogany furniture scattered In
comfortable confusion.
II get tired of waiting sometimes,
she murmured TO herself, "but he said
he would come back some day, and
know he is not dead"
For twenty years she had been wait
| ing for the return Of this adventurous
lover of hers. He had Jared forth TO
seek his fortune and five years after
ward his letters had suddenly ceased.
Since then Electa had heard no word
from him nor of him. Her parents had
died firm in the belief that Robin
Gaines had deliberately dropped out of
their daughters life, and they begged
Eiecta to forget him and marry an
other.
HE will come back some day." she
said with the faith that only woman
can hold.
Perhaps 1t was this belief in his re-
turn that kept her from growing old.
Now. she was more beautiful than she
had ever been as a girl.
A handsome touring car rolled away
from the village hotel and turned down
a pleasant elm-shaded street. Beside
the chauffeur sat a middle-aged man
Of distinguished bearing with a pair
of bright blue eyes set in a bronzed
countenance.
He glanced at the pleasant village
homes set in the midst of the green
lawns and flower beds, and all at once
his gaze contracted as though he had
been suddenly reminded of something.
At word from him the machine
stopped.
"What place is this?" he asked OF
the chauffeur.
"Stonedge. sir"
by Jove-Stonedge The man
looked up and down the street, survey
ing the houses with a new interest in
his fine eyes. Old memories appeared
to be struggling for recognition, for his
face changed rapidly.
II used TO live here, Peter" he said
to the man.
Eyes, sir"
MY father was rector of the church
and / lived in that little brick house
adjoining the church-see 1t there
half hidden by ivy?-for FIVE years.
Tove had forgotten all about Ston-
,dge-haven't thought about it for
vears."
Its a pretty place, Mr.. Gaines"
mighty pretty, Peter. Drive slowly
i'll you come to the corner and then
urn to your right along the river
DAD"
AS the car moved noiselessly along,
robert Gaines scanned the houses with
uestioning eyes. He looked a little
ably at the village that had harbored
few years Of his happy youth. Now,
e was no longer happy-he had drunk
is fill of adventuring and travel and
ow, In middle age, he had come back
D his own land to feel himself stran-
er there.
The river road brought back another
lemory. With the sight of the long.
w, red roof that had sheltered Electa
ayton came queer pang of remorse.
e had forgotten Electa until today.
letter in which he had told her not
wait for him, as he had failed In his
lest for fortune--it was the day ne
I'd lost everything.
She had never replied and he had
1t her out of his mind and, full OF
e spirit Of adventure, he had forgot
n her. He had never cered for any
her woman.
Peter had stopped the car 10 front
Electa's gate.
Robin looked wistfully through the
LIST of green leaves. lie wondered If
ecta was aiive-if she was married?
,rhaps that little lad playing In the
rect was Elscta's boy He leaned
ON the car and spoke to the child.
"who lives in that houseT he
ked.
Miss Dayton" was the child's start
Z reply.
Miss who?" asked Robin. almost
rshly.
Miss Lecta Dayton" answered the
y, and he sped joyously away with
, silver coin Robin tossed to him.
Wait for me. Peter. I'm going in
e to see an old friend" directed
bin, and he left the car and entered
J garden.
When his foot grated on the front
zza Miss EIects came to the front
Or.
FOR a brief instant they looked at
h other through the screen door.
Electa ?" he said hoarsely.
Robin 80 she cried joyfully. II
w you would come back some
-