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Show Ij Jlv,, Not a Love of the Moment Jj By Elsie Endicott J I 1 !f I ii h j tu HE came down -the I I steps of the post- i I 1 ffl&o ) offlco, with the f 1 IpV evening mail in her r ' I vlk bands. Her moth- T I Sk 1 er 8d waiting, V 1 and they started V fiiiSffl down the street J JEP chatting away bus- ti p srJwT-n "Vivian, I dread i to think of this school year coming to ?j a close. These week-end days, when ' you como Lome to me, aro liko two 3 gems, they are so precious." "I know, mother, how you feel, and i; they are just as dear to me." 3 "But tho weeks persist in rolling by, '. and soon it will bo the last of June, Z and they will be all over," went on her mother. !"Thcn you will have me every day, and think what a busy, happy timo we are going to have this summer, sewing tho long white seam," "Tho long whlto seam is sadly out of date," laughed her mother; "but wo shall run the sewing machine, and sing whilo wo run it." "Mumsic, do I not recognize that straight back and gray suit ahead of us?" "I presume you do; but lest you don't, I will inform you that that is one of our handsomest and brightest young business men." Then like a couple of girls they giggled, instead of behaving like a proper school ma'am and her elderly mother. Both women had their eyes focused on the young man's back, and wero surprised when ho turned abruptly to the left, and walked briskly up the graveled path of the Bigelow place. The house sat a few rods back from the street and half way up to the front door, an arbor had been built over the walk. Before Vivian and her mother had quite reached tho gate, they could hear a Bweet vibrant voice exclaiming in tones of joy. "Oh, you dear boy! You did como to mo the moment you received my message. mes-sage. I knew you would. I just couldn't stand it without a sight of your dear face. You didn't think I would ever follow you here, did you? But when I found out just whero you were there was no holding me. Now put your arms around mo tightly and kiss mo good." When tho two women Teached the gato they could not possibly have helped pausing and looking up toward tho arbor. What they saw was a tiny flguro in white, with her arms stretched stretch-ed up to tho neck of tho big young man. Ho was in the attitude of one who bends willingly to drink in such adoring words. The kiss sho asked for was given as though it wero her right Then this shameless young man seated himself on the rustic bench, and drew the slight figure down beside him. Ho laughed happily and appeared to bo preparing to enjoy himself. With one accord mother and daughter daugh-ter moved on. A friend meeting them just then might havo wondered what bad news the evening mail had brought. Tho daughter hastened her utops so fast, the mother could scarcely scarce-ly keep pace; until they reached their own home, when Vivian's feet seemed scarcely equal to lifting her tall, young body up tho piazza steps. A chair standing in tho corner, whero tho vines wero thickest, held out Inviting arms. Sho sank lnto.it with such a gesture of bewildered misery mis-ery that her mother turned hastily Into In-to tho house, and stopped lost In thought That tho young man, who had seemed to think Vivian, tho girl for whose sake only, the Bun rose and set, could be entangled so deeply with another woman that sho should feel free to follow him, and be sure of a welcome also. How could he bo so deceitful. And tow was it to be all over between them? mVb. King stepped to tho window. Vivian sat in the same attitude, her faco turned wearily to one side. "This will be terrible ter-rible for her," thought tho distracted mother, "and her weddiug day only three months away." Suddenly Vivian sat erect. There were voices coming up tho street. A sweet, high-pitched voice, mingled 4 with a man's deep tones. Mrs, King moved hastily to the door. Footsteps were coming up the walk. How did the young man dare. Samuel Archer, for it was he, helped tenderly up the steps a tiny woman enveloped in an elaborate evening coat, with a sparkling spark-ling scarf over her fluffy, puffed hair, Bright bluo eyes, behind shining glasses, and soft, pink cheeks, completed com-pleted the vision, that nearly took away tho breaths of mother and daughter; for Vivian had stepped bravly forward to meet them. Tho bewildering be-wildering littlo stranger stopped at the steps and stood blinking in tho strong 'light that Mrs. King's trembling fingers had turned on. In a slightly embarrassed manner Sam Archer stepped to Vivian's side, took her hand, and led her up to the little lady. The red blood of honest prido made him handsomo to look upon. up-on. Threo feminine hearts warmed to him as never before. His eyes lin gered on his fiancee's beautiful faco as he spoke her name. "Vivian, this is my sweet little grandmother; the only mother I havo ever known; who has taken the great trouble to como hundreds of miles to sec me and meet the girl who is going to bo so good as to marry me." Mrs. King wondered if ho could seo ! see as she did, the swift joy that camo ' to her girl's expressive countenance. Vivian bent one kneo and put hes arms about her futuro husband'2 grandmother, as though she had been a little new scholar. "I think it is flno of you to have come so far to seo your grandson. I am suro you lovo him dearly." Then IH the beautiful young woman and the lovely old one, kissed each other ten-derly, ten-derly, with a lovo that was born of tho moment, and that never afterward faded. |
