Show 7 V 7 she wearied for him all the winter watched and waited too but it he ever chanced to go by the happy chance of seeing him was not hers during the previous spring and sum mer and even late into ahe autumn it had been different once or twice in every blessed week h had come to gladden the days U set them in jew aled frames in her memory s gallery or he had not strictly ing come to her she had yet seen him happened to see him been permitted by kind fate to speak with him mot that he failed entirely to seek her out there was denying the ban diness of the small riverside house where she lived with her widowed mother as a place to drop into tor tea or a restful chat the first time he had entered that gate a humorously dripping object of compassion out of an overturned sail ing boat the almond tree against it was pink with blossom and he al ways afterward associated her with the fragile pink flowers weaving many a dainty compliment tor her out of the sweet resemblance which a poetic fancy helped him to keep vividly before him at least when she was bodily before him also by the time the almond tree was thick with leaf he had grown n in timaly at the little riverside house to the privileged point of inviting her into his boat whenever as sometimes happened he was bound to no special destination she was so young such a child such an embodiment of april tears and sunshine and all the intangible mock ing galty of spring to set against his almost world wide experience and his ripening years so her influence on him was as ephemeral as the flower of the almond tree delicately sweet while it lasted but to be overpowered by the next succeeding interest just as the al mond blossoms are overpowered and scattered by every wind that blows A delight of a day too unsubstantial to weather the night but it all her charm was dent to help her it served working mysteriously against itself to help him and also to help one near to her through her very immaturity of mind her youthful perfection of body in some strange way he seemed after a time to reach appreciation of the woman who had brought her into the world a woman who in spite of her undoubted conversational powers guarded her personality with a jeal ous armament of silence and reserve who seemed to shrink from any friendship which gave a hint of curl dosity or even of interest pressed ever so slightly home yet for all her care put her sue cess tully off her guard there would leap at rare moments into her cul aured manner a manner that he knew the light hearted gaiety her daughter had inherited completed made satis made real by all that life had taught her he grew to longing tor those depths eagerly passionately that he might gain rest in them sunned there by her lighter manner sustained by her truth and steadfastness one whom he looked on as a had led him with a ch a s sur of touch within sight of ohp orld s greatest good he knew now what his life had always lacked h faced his remedy he was in love at last and for the first time but not the child yet he must haye been blind indeed if the long summer had not served to let him into the child s pitiful secret had not taught him how the mothers love set the welfare of her child be fore her as a shrine decked tor per letual sacrifice so for his part he set the dreary winter months between them and him self it was his sacrifice yet he strewed his flowers although he real an embed ment of tears and sunshine iced even in the act that it would bet ter have become to leave the stones standing bare look out tor me he said when the almond 13 in blossom he was not able to decide what the future held for him or if he decided one thing one hour he swept it away in favor of its opposition the next but the moment he saw them again he knew his fate read it in the girls slad nese of welcome in the mother s glance of arm just touch ing him but settling on her the girl s 1 beauty was not quite so radiant waiting and watching had dimmed it a little although the havoc waa no more than a fe v days happiness would mend the mother looked ill and worn but no less beautiful t him fur that he had come not only because the almond tree was in blossom and he had promised but also because he had reached that point when he could no longer keep away I 1 lov you he said and since her eyes hurt him added quickly I 1 must tell you although I 1 1 now what you will have to say to me not all perhaps she said you cannot know how I 1 love you until I 1 tell you but it must be only this once she Is so oung he pleaded presently she will soon forget she Is too like me she said and I 1 never forget I 1 married thought lessly she went on without real love this Is my punishment and I 1 must bear it he nerved himself to a supreme et fort trying to catch her spirit of sacrifice while it brushed round him would it help ou if I 1 took her ho said as a gift from you and tried I 1 love you he said to make her happy doing the best I 1 could for a moment she stood stunned her ees kindled with the admiration that was his reward no she said at last she would find out enough to spoil the happiness but how good of iou you would give up all for hera he questioned that Is what this means she said and it her turn the right of youth so I 1 must give up hope of you to prease youa he asked yes she said and my love for you has taught me so much about you that I 1 know that ou can do it oh it Is hard he cried gut in answer she only turned hoppess hop eess eye to him and robbed him in silence 0 the power to say more yet before they parted he claimed one thing from her while abandoning so much it she calls on you one day tor our appreciation of a more suitable lover will you send for me then he urged and her promise to this she yielded to his importunity but she shook her head wearily the girl seemed so entirely her second self to her but his last sight of the girl was a little figure in pink under the pink blossomed almond tree and seeing her there turning to wave a hand an other privilege of youth than the one her mother had mentioned flashed across him the right to change his mind to love again and love better to renew its fancy with the wand ot time as the sweet almond blossoms are renewed each spring coming ever as a surprise yet ever the same so she flung hope like a perfume after him all she could give him that he cared to have sketch |