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quiry in,her eyesT, Sol explained how
sorry I was to go, and that it was
unavoidable. I was not going to rem
the house, though, and would she
take care of Tweedle, since she
seemed fond of him?
She looked at me ver strangely,
"Is that all you want 01 me?" she
asked.
"I wouldn't dare to ask more of
you." I answered.
"Yes I'll take him," she whispered,
and, turning suddenly, ran into the
house. I fancied she was crying.
When I went to say good-by I was
told she was indisposed, but she sent
word that she would take care of
Tweedle.
I was a whole year in California,
because the business had more ram
ifications than I had expected. I
thought a good, deal about the girl
and wondered how Tweedle was get
ting along. When I got back to Mont
clair the house was closed. I was
sorry I missed the girl and Tweedle.
I had no more business in the city.
I spent all my time in my home. I
found I was moping. One day Mrs. J
isriggs iuiu we uuu it was aaiu me
house was going to be opened up
"again. That was correct; a man and
woman came to live in it Two days
later 'I saw the girl under the peach
trees. I went over to her. She was
surprised to Bee me.
"We have just come down for a
week to arrange about the sale," she
said. "We are living in Washington.
Did you want Tweedle?"
"No," I answered, 'but 4 want you.
I have missed you. I never knew "
She interrupted me. "You should
have told me before," she said. "I
have beeii married three months now.
But I think " hysterically "you had
better have Tweedle:"
"No,' thank .you, I don't want to see
Tweedle," I replied. That is all I re
member of that Interview, except
that a man's voice wassailing some
where behind the peaehtrees. ' After
ward I thnusht Mrs. Rrisre-s IfinlrPrl nf
me strangely.
Two or three years passed. I had
bought the old house and lived there.
Somehow I liked to associate it in my
mind with tthe girl who had walked
among the peach trees. I believe my
neighbors regarded me as a misan
thrope. As a matter of fact, I lived
very largely in visions. I knew thati
I had missed the opportunity of hap
piness, because it had not dawned oh-(
me that the girls among the peach
trees was a woman of flesh and bloo'd
instead of a fairy.
I liked to sit under the peach trees
when they weer blooming. I was seaf-t
ed there one day in early May, whenj
I saw a ridiculous little black, woolly,,
dog come through the gate. The crea
ture seemed to recognize me and tje-j
gan frisking about my knees. When,t
I stood up my knees were shaking,
because I was looking at the girl "Who
had sat where I was sitting, now.
"So it was you who bought thisr
place?" said the girl.
"Yes," I answered, 16oking at her
in wonder. She was changed a good,
deal; not in features or figure, but,
spiritually, I thought There was ant
expression which seemed to betoken,
suffering. But it seemed absurd td
me that she could have suffered.
"Why did you buy it?" asked the4
girl. ,
"I would rather not tell you It
ought not to," I answered.
"Tell me," she said,
"I wanted to think of you. You,
see Llearned too late that I I had
loved you."
"And I never thought you loved"
me," answered the girl. "That" was
why I married because I felt too
wretched to let my thoughts dwell
on you. You see, Kwas so simple
it never occurred to me that I could''
think of you after I was married to
another man."
"But you have?" I cried. ,
The peach-tree girl's head drooped
down and I saw two tears trembling
upon her eyelastes. And then well,
I forgot that she was married. i
She raised her head. "My husband
