I'p the wide stairway and alongthe hall
came the subdued strains of the orchestra
humming softl\ lo itself behind the palms
lit the balcony, and the rippling melodics
mingled roluetauily with the sound of the
wheels of tin- late comers' carriages as they
rolled hurriedly up to the door,
The girl's beautiful eyes, sitll upon the
photograph, seemed lo grow dreamy with
recollectlons, and she forgot the watting
men and women of hyr set below. Two
years ago- iwo short years! Yol In that
time what a century of love a woman may
live, and wbol an elernlty of happiness or
pain I
Two years ago, and life held only happl
ness and hopes, anil now lint she would
not permit herself to think of now; the
present Is lo be lived, not thought of.
Whatever happened lit that present, matin
Utile dtlTeiviiee, The past was hers, secure
and no) to be ills)nrlied. Anti lo (lull past
she crept Itaek for one long, last look ere
It was pul away, forever perhaps She
knew It must be; she bad been told so
time anil time Again, but not until the
very night when site was to give her hand
lo her brother's best friend hail she fully
realized ll all.
Willi her heart throbbing as It had never
throbbed before, though she hail listened
10 tin' halting story from other men’s Ups,
she heard lint dimly what this plain, ear
Most man whispered, and when at Inst she
raised her happy face le Ids and he kissed
her passionately heaven Indeed seemed not
so far away.
