Show I 1 I 1 MEANT ANOTHER IVIAN MAN BY LOUISE when will you come back asked the woman next spring answered the man just when the leaves are green I 1 shall be here with you again they are yellow now said the wo man her eyes on the fading trees about them A cold little wind sent plenty of bronze and golden treasure fallen from their branches scurrying about their feet there was a emell smell of damp earth and bracken in the air on the gray river beyond more yellow leaves float ed heralds to the water fowl of toe the coming winter it Is not easy in the autumn to think of spring the young woman sighed as she looked it will seem a long time she said but spring comes every year lust just the same the map reminded her it Is here really all the while burled buried in the bark and the earth just waiting tor for the signal to come to life again I 1 was not thinking of the spring just then said the woman but of you what are six months asked the man six months out of a lifetimes 7 9 everything or nothing the woman returned you may forget but on the other hand I 1 might remember the man slipped an arm through hers caressingly come marion marlon cheer up I 1 refuse to be depressed pressed by dismal prophecies I 1 a am in yours you are mine nothing can alter that save death and another woman the words slipped from her almost unconscious ly you will meet so many on your travels and the nearest woman Is al ways the dearest you talk as it if I 1 were some silly boy the man frowned have I 1 ever given you cause to be jealous of me marlon no she answered truthfully but then you have never been away before next time you shall come with me the man promised her we shall be married marion marlon when the leaves are green he ile caught her to him with a sudden passion marion varion think of the spring and me he whispered to her but womanlike she could only think of the coming winter A man and a girl walked upon the grassy slope of a hill in southern france all about the crocuses gleamed like jewels among the grass the sun was daffodil the wind had handfuls hand of violets the sky was a big hyacinth I 1 love the spring don t you said the girl turning a pink and vivid face to his it makes me feel as if I 1 were betas being born again everything seems so fresh and new you make the spring for me an sered sw ered the man and his hand touched her dark uncovered clr h but I 1 don t make the sun and the buds and the flowers objected the girl smilingly and nd the leaves see how green they aret are his ills hand fell from her hair when the leaves are green what had he promised another woman last year yeara to be back when the leaves were green again the leaves were green he ile caught hia his breath then suddenly a thought came to hia his aid the trees were green here yes in the south but in eng land they would still be bare and toss empty branches to the sparrows and the wind he ile had another month at least he ile turned impatiently to the girl kiss me he said imperatively their lips met in april trees are green but april came and went and one woman walked alone may june and july sped by all rose and gold august stalked through the land with a scythe beneath his arm september red cheeked with wind blown hair passed like a dream among the or chadds then came october and the tall fall ot of the leaves A ma man n and a wo woman cods an walked together through the woods to where the water gleamed among ahe trees like a big white bird with wings out stretched you are six months late the woman answered dully but journeys end in lovers meet ings he returned lightly business kept me sweetheart not my will you you are six months late the woman ma n said again too late she add ed significantly he ile stared at her what do you meana mean he asked she turned suddenly and faced him a red spot of color in either cheek her eyes dark intense what does it mean she asked when a man leaves a wom woman a 11 for months without a letter or a word vord it means another woman what does it mean when a woman left alone foi for months turns to somebody else for companionship it means another man and you promised to wait for me the man was white to the lips she laughed a bitter little laugh till the leaves were green you said well 1 I waited but now she pointed all around to where from every tree the leaves hung brown and gold they were everywhere beneath the paths even upon the water they lay jay yellow floating seaward like the little fireboats that hindus send after their dead I 1 A two faced person makes a epe spec clarty of barefaced bare faced lies u 1 |