The Topeka state journal., 1921-10-07
EDening Story
His Love.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.

=
he was rated among obdurate bache-
lors, but his eyes had never lost their
gay challenge nor his inner vision its
boyish ideals.
At last he left the inn and walked
into the country. Many changes there
were since the old happy days, but
several familiar landmarks remained;
so when he came to a dim lane that
dipped down between ancient cedars
he stepped over broken gate and ap-
preached the house by the well known
way, across the orchard and thru a
garden of wonderful roses.
Under a great beech tree there was
a 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 law
ender- gown. She did not see him, so
he had time to steady his racing
pulses, to remind himself that she was
probably married, and if not married
to have learned to detest him for what
had happened to break their engage
ment. Fifteen years lost out of a wo-
mans life is tragedy if love has
cheated her; he was prepared to meet
frozen calm, 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 a flawless face to
his. Fifteen years does make a diff
ferencer'
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, un-
touched by the years, a thing of wax,
immobile, unfeeling. He had left her
in this very spot-how defiant she had
been, ruthless in her condemnation.
He had pictured her now sad Wo-
man, at least a we'll poised woman,
grown away from girlish folly, perhaps
a 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 evasive
my aunt will be out presently" she
fastened to say and then, you came
straight here from Africa ?"
Almost a straight line he smiled.
81 knew you would come"
slow did you know"
"Your arrival in New York was
heralded in the papers-such distin-
guished prodigals do not creep home
unnoticed."
He laughed. but his eyer were prob
ing her careless face; there was no
ness that she remembered their pas
sionate young love, sacrificed on the
altar of a bitter quarrel. She must
have been very happy all these years.
He must know Il have never
heard" he said directly. Are you
married, or are you still Dore Trent?"
She laughed and he WINGED at the
gay comeraderie of her voice. Dear
me, yes, I am still Dore Trent. Life
is so full of delightful things I want
to do if ever I escape from this
stupid garden"
You would be- poked away here
for so many years." Her brown eyes
looked beyond the garden walls into
the world where her restless feet
yearned to wander, while he, who had
roamed the globe, came into the gar
den a-tiptoe, afraid of disturbing its
haunting memories-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
become precious solace, beside jun
gle campfires and a mirage at the end
of long trails. He had been prepared
to find her married, older, perhaps
dull and uninteresting, and he had
been prepared for disillusionment; but
somehow her extreme modernity, her
him. She was SO unlike that white
faced girl he had left there!
You have changed a great deal"
she said suddenly. Your hair is quite
gray and you are not thin-how hor-
ribly thin you were! 1 used to call
skeleton but I do remember you could
Roddy-what became of your dog?'
Dead, long ago" he answered
tersely, for she had given the dog to
him.
She was yawning widely. "Oh, ex-
cuse me, 1 know I am boring you to
death. Please wait a moment" She
jumped up jerkily and he stood there
watching her graceful flight toward
the old house among the elms.
How horribly young she wasi Well,
life was full of surprises like this. He
had been so sure of finding the garden
and some trace of the girl he had left
behind. He frowned, for she was re-
turning, fitting on her high heels. her
unchanged face gay and happy.
Behind her came g, woman, slender.
graceful, moving quietly in rhythm
with the gentle sweeping of the elrns
in the soft wind, with the ruffling
breeze that swept over the pansies.
She stepped delicately, showing slen-
der gray silken ankles and tiny gray
shoes. Her small, white hands were
bare of rings save a great square cut
sapphire on the third finger of her
left hand. Her face, rweet and young
with added beauty that The years had
brought patience and hope. The
tender touch of time had merely 1leck-
ed her fair hair. Her eyes were un-
changed, as their hands met.
''Dore," he sighed contentedly. 'T
thought at first she was you"
MY niece PauPs daughter. She
| lives with me. They say she is like
me. She was five when you went
away"
'T remember" he said dazedIy.
What did he not remember about that
magic garden? She was everything
he wanted and hoped for. All his
! dreams come true. He bent to kiss
her hands and the girl Dore slipped
away into the garden. Under sthe
| beech tree Love was walking in
more stately measure, and the girl
smiled indulgently, but when she
! looked again she found that love had
forgotten the wears and the two look