Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-11
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
His Loue
By CLARISSA MACKIB

t
/ tier paced the floor with long, i'm
patient strides. Passing his first youth,
be was rated among obdurate bachelors,
but his eyes had never lost their gay
challenge nor his inner vision its boy
ish ideal. =.
AT last he left the inn and walked
into the country. Many changes there
were since the old happy days, but sew
eral familiar landmarks remained; so
when he came to dim lane that dipped
down between ancient cedars he stepped
over a broken gate and approached
the house by the well-known way,
across the orchard and through a gar
den Of wonderful roses.
Under great beech tree there was
group Of wicker chairs, a tea table, and
a woman sitting alone. He could not
see her face only the shining golden
hair and the fluffiness Of lavender
gown. She did not see him, so he had
time to study his racing pulses, to re-
mind himself that she was probably
married. and If not married to have
learned to detest him for what had hap
pened to break their engagement. FIJI
teen years lost out of a woman's life
is tragedy If love has cheated her: he
deadly cordiality, polite Indifference
anything save the glad recognition in
her eyes when she turned and placed
her hand In his.
"Dore!" he exclaimed, time has
stood still in Roseland'
Don't tell me have not changed"
she pouted, fitting flawless face to his
Fifteen years does make difference !"
He shook his head helplessly. How
did she maintain that elusive charm of
eternal youth? He felt years older, and
yet he knew that they were nearly of
an age. Yet here she was. untouched
by the years a thing Of wax, immobile,
unfeeling. He had left her in this very
spot-how defiant she had been ruth
less in her condemnation He had pic
tured her now a sad woman, at least
a well poised woman, grown away from
grlish folly, perhaps companion for
him in their soberer years-and she was
youth incarnate still.
1t made him feel older as he talked to
her; replied to her questions about his
explorations; his long absence in
Africa. He wanted to ask about her
people, but her replies were evasiye.
My aunt will be out presently she
FASTENED to say, and then, You came
straight here from Africa?'
Almost straight line" he smiled.
i knew you would come.
How did you know"
Your arrival in New York was her.
aided in the papers-such distinguished
prodigals do not creep home unnoticed.'
He laughed. but his eyes were prob
ing her careless face; there was no
trace Of embarrassment. no conscious
ness that she remembered their pas
sionate young love, sacrificed on the
altar of bitter quarrel. She must have
been very happy all these years tie
must know. II have never heard
he said directly. Are you married, or
are you still Dore Trent2'
gay camaraderle of her voice. Dear
me, yes, l am still Dore Trent. Life Is
SO full Of delightful things I want to do
II ever escape from this stupid gar
den."
You are tired of the garden1"
You would be, poked away here for
80 many years" Her brown eyes looked
beyond the garden walls into the world
where her restless feet yearned to wan
der, while he, who had roamed the
globe, came into the garden a-tiptoe,
afraid of disturbing Its haunting mem
ories--the hot, sweet breath OF many
roses, the heavy scent Of day lilies, the
tender fragrance Of mignonette, pinks
and pansies.
During all the lonely, wandering
years his memory Of the garden had be-
come precious solace, beside jungle
cCamptreS and mirage at the end OF
long trails. He had been prepared to
hnd her married, older, perhaps dull
and uninteresting, and he had been pre-
pared for disillusionment but somehow
her extreme mOdernity. her veneer OF
youthful hardness, shocked him. She
hat xxhtf Ca oir ha
had left there
she said suddenly. "Your hair is quite
Oily thin you we're I used to call you
lto myself, of course), the living skele-
ton, but do remember you could play
wonderful tennis. And there was Roddy
what became Of your dog?"
Dead, long ago." he answered
him. e''
She was yawning widely. "Oh, ex-
Juse me, | know ] am boring you to
Geath' Please wait a moment" She
jumped up jerkily and he stood there
TetChlng her graceful flight toward the
o'u house among the elms.
~, iow horribly young she was Well,
NE was full of surprises like this. He
maG been SO sure of finding the garden
dnu some trace Of the girl she had left
tWhlnd' lie frowncd, for she was re
nWnihg' fitting on her high heels, her
""HEhanged face gay and happy.
pehihd her came woman, slender,
;sl st;ascetHl moving quietly in rhythm
lh the gentle sweeping of the elms in
H. soft wind, with the rufling breeze
mst 'swept over the pansies. She step-