Year: 1866

| olu uihn oa'ton's Iand, all but piece cnt
of by the railway. The Smiths were all in
the graveyard, and tho brown girls had
changed their names to q Woman. Nobody
remembered INC, with my great mans
moustache and beard, for the smooth
faced young fellow who had lived among
them and the only house unchanged was
the widow Naples. She lived there sill.
and her son with her. She had hair as
white as snow now, and Ia he middle of
his head was great bald spot such as
students have, nine times in ten, before
they are forty.


There was a gided sign-Dr. Maple
on the side Of the door, and hc had gig
that wns ail. wondered whether should
iud Dimple thsre. After q while saw
her down in the meadow milking The cows.
calling them by name, as she did hi the
long ago | half expected 10 hear Crum.
ME called. they looked so like the old ones.
1t was not girl who MIXED them pow, for
l bad been away fifteen years, hat wo.
msn-a very handsome woman Of two and.
thirty. She did her task d fly, aided by
little girl who came with her and went
away, not seeing me. Blu, had seen her
glance over the fence where another youth
was plowing as ] used to plow, and won
dered II she thought. She had the same
black eyes and the same golden hair and
l bad been right about the face, it was the
loveliest in the world.


could not rest after that. rode past
the house daily sometimes l saw her,
sometimes not. At last lucky, or un
lucky chance befell me. | was thrown
from my horse, broke an arm and rib, aud
was carried into DR.. Naples house.


was in pain, and as grew better be
gan to know that Dimple was my nurse
Her hand smoot he'd my pillow and gave
me my medicine. Often she kept vigil at
night. and gave me my medicine Often
she kept vigil at night, and her face was
always gentle and her voice low. Whst
an angel she seemed to me and even then
J could not but notice that her countrified,
girlish ways were softened down, and that
she was quite lady. d r~...s.


She knew me, for she called me by name;
but What did she think of mel That was
q problem /. could not solve, ASH grew
better i knew that must solve it some.
how. had loved, Dimplo once, and 1
loved her yet, with sort of new love-, 90,
born Of the present as well as the past
md wondered whether she bad kept sin
gle for my sake 80.


At last spoke to her.


Dimple, l said, will You come here


She was sewing in The fading light near
the window, but she laid down her work
and came to me. ~a


Do you want anything. Mr.. Jasper


/ do few words with Won


Aud welcome, she said smiling


am so much better IL said, that /
shall 60 home soon. want to thank you
for your kindness. You have been SO good
to me. t


I've only done my du'y sir.
But to me, l am so undeserving


You broke your arm, aud were i'll. We
women never think further than that.


T.. All, but you must proved myself such
worthless dog, ug ago.


SO long ago I've quite forgotten it, said
Dimple. You'd better sleep now.
can't D.mple. Nor can l forget
Those old times were the happiest Of my
life.


These will be the unhappiest il you .sls
any more, she said l shall call the doc
tor. Your head is quite hot. Wei; have
You in q fever next. And 10 minute in
came DR.. Hal Maple, making me Jealous in
moment by the bright smile be won from
Oimple and by the look he gave her.


Sleep / slept none that night, and
there was fever at my heart il hot in my
brain.


l found no mere chance Of speaking to
Dimpe for some days, fume as might
by that time l was well and ready to leave
the roof which had SO Hospitality sheltered
me. thanked the doctor and his mother,
and looked for Dtnple. She was not there.
II was the milking hour, and she was in
the meadow.


To the meadow l went to venture oil
to lose or win for life. I leaned against the
bars with my hurt arm in sling and
watched her. She was teaching the little
girl to milk, and laughing at her blunders.
Soon she saw me aud nodded


l have come to bid you good bye. said.


Good bye, Mr.. Jasper, she answered
aud crossed to me and held out her hand.
I'm glad you are we'll Don't break any
more bones. This has been o pretty seri
Gus time with you.


| was near death, believe 7 l said.


Yes, but for the doctors skill you might
have died


And your care.


She shook her head.


1 did nothing.


You did all, Dimple perhaps you did
more than you know. You can't tell what
thoughts were in my mind-how bitterly
rued my heariless conduct. II thought
had grieVed you, L


She shook her head.


/ was young thing OF seventeen, she
said, and bad romantic trust in human
nature. | was shorked, and J did fret a
little. Pm ashamed now that could have
grieved for such little thing.


A little thing. Dimple


Yes. the love tina, could change is too
small thing TO grieve or even think of.


l cannot convey an idea Of the placid
way in which she spoke, 40. tauniing me,
only uttering q truth she knew TO be one


But was flushed and excited.


My love has never changed. Dimpls.
said. was only mad for while. have
never loved auy one bnt yoa. l never
shall. My heart has been empty since We