The Lamar register., 1919-01-08
THE LIVING MEMORY
BY MILDRED WHITE.


over the high roofs beneath the glarlng
July sun. There II was again. that
evnslve memory of something sweet
and half forgotten What had hap
pened TO him In his heretofore salts
fed middle age. that vague longings
should reach out from the past?
Business sand its success had for
years absorbed him. blotting out all
that had been before, making wealth
alone his goal. Now, wealth was
achieved, what had IT brought him?
L.illlas had dropped out of his life
so long ago he had lost regard for
her when she had chosen In preference
to himself sort of wandering nomad
idealist, while he. John Ruggles. even
In that long ago. showed unmistak-
able business promise.
II was In his youthful engineering
capacity that he had visited the little
village almost buried beneath Its en-
clrcllng hills. Lillias had met him In
the quaint flower garden Of her home.
and II had been VIII who took him
there. VIII, who. lazlly curious about
Johns work. had made friends with
the engineer upon the highway. VIII
had been kind to the stranger, had
made 1t pleasant for him in the lone
ly village, offering the hospitality Of
his own small home.
John Ruggles had been glad to ac-
cept. There were valuable books on the
crude shelves OF Wits one roomed
misunderstanding curios from all
parts of the world-and VIII had TAX
en- him to see LIlllas; when the engi-
neer looked Into the girls rare blue
bell eyes he decided to remain indef1n-
itely In the village. Decided calmly.
to win her from the man whom she
loved and make her his own. and John
Ruggles had failed; that was all.
Then he went back TO the great city
where biuebell eyes and fair fnces are
"but a thing apart" and not mans
whole existence" Many women had
come and gone In John Ruggies' life
since that youthful time. and he had
been content to let them go: without
companionship of women his life seem
ed complete But now
Across the tall chimney tops ro-
ory not unmixed with pain. OF u grass
grown village street. quaint old gar
den set back behind cedar hedge;
and about the garden In his memory
dream moved the girl Lillian.
John Ruggles turned abruptly to
press an electric button. He would hu-
NOR his fancy. satisfy this clamoring
Impulse. by a walk down that same
village street. peep into the old gar
den which upon actual observation
would undoubtedly lose Its fanciful
charm.
Lillias had married VIII: poverty
then must be her dover. Uncared for
women do not as rule grow in at
Reality should forever
silence this tormenting memory. so In
explicably awakened.
But first he must dismiss the new
whose work his secretary
had pronounced hopeless. Again John
pressed the electric button.
II was the secretary who responded.
"The new stenOgrapher had not re-
ported that day for business" he ex-
planned, "and her dismissal would be
Realizing her own un-
htness for the position. the girl had
telephoned a resignation. Unbusiness-
like to the last In method" he added
The great man paused reaching for
bis hat. 81 recall the young person."
be said "She possessed at least the
quality OF respectful courtesy" The
bowed. "with a personality
quite too diffident for office work." he
replied. "as one could tell from q
giance of her eyes"
Her eyes," the casual remark came
10 John Ruggles like a flash OF inspir-
alton. Here was the solution of his
awakened memory. the eyes of the lit
lie stenographer he suddenly recol-
ected were strangely like the blueben
,yes of Lillias.
Life was unsatisfying." he told him. !
Ielf as he crossed the marble door
II the railroad station, wealth, power.
what had they to do with happiness
the slusive7 Where might II be
'oundr'
The village street was unchanged, |
he familiar houses too. like those Of
Suddenly the man drew In his
'reath while his eyes widened as II
eeing vision. For about the garden