The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-05-14
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ONE EVENING
BY MILDRED WHITE,

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COCOCOCoCoCtC OCOC'OCOCO
,Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper union)
The leaves blew in cracking hpaps
across the wind-swept veranda as the
man hurryng to escape an October
shower assembled the steps. To all ap-
pcarances the old house was vacant
darkly unwelcOmc the windows con-
frontcd him. and there was no re-
spon>c to his ring
The stranger fingered as though
loatb To leave, then went slowly
around the garden path. AT the lower
end of the house a light rewarded him
II shonc from n curtained window, and
The man went nnheSiiatingly to n side
door set in vinc-covered porch.
As he raised his hand to the old
fashioned door bell. he paused, struck
ny a comfortable homc-likc picture
inside. n woman was seated in the
glow of a rose-colorcd lamp Her face
was bent over the crimson wool she
was knitting. and her silvery hair in
curling tendrils touched her pink
cheeks. There was something singu-
larry youthful about that bent head.
Notwithstanding the Wilderness of its
soft coiled hair Though cold winds
shook the porch the woman inside was
clothed in dainty white. And present
~. as though instinclively aware OF a
watching eye, she raised her face in
the lamp light. while the man outside
caught his breath, as one who had seen
a vision.
Then no longer heSitant, his sum
mons pealed through the rooms. The
woman, arising, stood startled by the
table; as she uttered word. a great
dog came from beneath 1t. aggressively
speaking protection. The animal, pre-
ceding her to the door. she opened 1t,
awaiting the strangers mission.
The sound OF his voice was pleasing
assurance.
81 found no one at home In the front
of the house." he said "and so came
around here to beg for shelter. am
overtaken on dark road In the storm.
May | ask the liberty of running my
ear into the barn and. If possible, ac-
commOdatIon for myself over night.
Twice | have found accommodation"
he FASTENED to add at her stare of
astOnishment sin this same house"
81 see" The woman's voice sound
ed sweet in his ears.
Put YOU misunderstood That was
in the great part of the house which
is separated from my small wing.
live here-alone. My neighbors have
gone away for the evening but will 20
turn later"
She considered moment. her hand
on the dogs head. the wind tearing
around the corner tossed wet leaves
against their faces.
"YOu are welcome to wait in my sit
ting room until they return" she said
impuIsivey.
at may help you pass the time. Mr..
Cole" she said. But the man took a
chair opposite her own. regarding her
thoughtfully.
81 would like" he said "tO tell you
( of one evening in my life which this
one recalls"
She looked at him with n quick, in
wiling smile. then into her blue eyes
| came wondering. retrospective light.
at was on just such an evening
years ago" the man went on. that I
lost my way in this same road, and
begged for shelter for the night at the
same house. An elderly couple wei
coined me hospitality. and by their fire
side. in room like this. we sat and
talked of many things. They were m
terested in all that | could tell. while
nearby, her fingers busy with cmbroi-
derry, but her beautiful eyes often up
raised to mine, sat a young girl" The
man paused. "There seems nothing
more to tell about her than that" he
said musingly, "but her very presence
there, her personality. appealed to me
as no woman ever had appealed
fore.
at was she who babe me good night,
passing at last up the high stairway
with but one backward glance to soften
my disappointment. was obliged to
leave very early the next morning.
Back In my city home I realized in
establishment that | had not learned
the name of my protectors or more
about the young girl than that they
called her lie. Discouraging this
finality, to an ardent heart which
would have confidcd its affection to
paper seeking the faint hone of a 70
ply. The girls unforgettablc face
haunted me for year. Then a second
time | went back tn the lonely road
and sought shelter. Strangers opened
the door of the house strangers took
me in The old MacGrcgors were dead
they said.
"'Their daughterT asked breath
essly.
"'Dead Also they replied.
ut was as though my future had
ended suddenly before its beginning.
Yet IN my heart Ie' still lived. One
evening had made for me her person
atty a deathless thing. Always | saw
her silent, sweet, appealing"
The man arose. his face was white
with emotion.
''Toniglit," he said, Il came again."
The woman arose also She spoke
softly. hastily.
"l-rencmber it ALL" she said. ~