Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-01
OUT OF LOVES LABYRINTH,

Julian Creslcigh laid his cigar down
carefully and looked seriously Into Melville
Vests grave face.
ado you love her, Mclvilc?"
While Mr. West returned tho serious,
straight look with all his heart in his blue
eyes.
"With all my SOUL Julian"
"Does she love youY'
And suoh look Of passionate pride ac-
companed Ills prompt answer.
"Nly littlo durling! an sure of hcr!"
"Then," said Mr.. Crcslcgh, slowly,
pondcringly as if the question was unun-
swerable, except in QUO matter- of-iact way.
eff that is the case you and pretty little
May Warren arc in lovo with each other.
Why don't you marry hcr?'
"You naturally wonder Why" Melville
said, gravcy, almost wistfully; "und when
l tell you Chat my little May has refused
to marry mo for three years, and is sorrow
fully rcsolute as ever, you will wonder all
the more, knowing, | have just now told
you, how truly aud dcyotcdly VIC love each
other"
Crcslcigh frovncd in1uirirely.
"l confess do not understand such
conundrum," he said. "lf loved a
woman, and she loved me, not all the
powers of earth could keep na apart"
Melville smiled gravcly.
"AIy little May is not like other women"
he remarked, tondcr!y, rcycrcnt!y. ".Shc
is all that is noble aud conscientious, and
honorable; while realize she is spelling both
our lives by her rigid adherence to what sho
believes to be her duty, | yet cauuot but
admit it's honor and noblcncss."
The frown Oh Creslcigh's handsome
forehead depend into positive wrinkles.
"I give it up" he said, with long
drawn sigh.
"Let me tell you in dozen words my
darling's story: When she was 1G.-slc is
now 23-she went a summer with friends
in the country, and while thcre--chillrcn
will be foolish always-shc permitted the
attentions Of q young farmer, more from the
spirit of girlish fun aud coquctry than
aught else, and became engaged to him, in
the samo spirit Of hccdlcssncss, whc!.
she did not realize until she had returned
home and thought the matter over seriously,
and confdcd tho affair to her irculs.
Every effort has been made to break The
engagement except q public attempt, that
would be infinitely disgracclnl for NY little
girl to endure. But Morgan Fletcher
that's his name--will not give her up.
He declares she promised to have him, aud
he awears he will have her. 10 is rich,
and decent enough fcllow--but May
Warren'a husband! tIo writes her onoa Il
week, and has for several years, although
she has pcrsistently refused to see him aud
there the matter rests"
"Ilumph! Crc,leigh calculated forcibly.
"Of course May will never marry him;
but she thinks 80 long as she accepted his
offer sho is not morally free to marry any
one clsc."
"And SO both your happiness and hcrs
arc to be ruined because Of ono mistake in
a child's lifc?'
Suoh look of tcndercst love, and pity,
and faith shown out OF Mcllylle's grand
face.'
"Dou't say ruined, Julian, for, not
withstandiug tho strange barrier between
US, VIC orc very happy in each others love,
and May is u woman 70 worship with all the
strength of ones Iifc."
Nor could Juliun Cresleigh understand
how such relation could be maintained
when thcro was SO many cogent reasons for
having it otherwise.
Melville West went from Crosleigh's
Office to tho unprctcnding 'itto cottage
where May and her older sister lived, all
his heart stirred by the recital of their ro-
manco.
o-duy is ono of the days whcn l feel
cannot accept The fate in store for me-"
ho said to her, passioDatcly, wistfully, as he
took hey into his strong orma. "To see
you here SO pati,nt, so gentle, so sweet,
and loyal to nc, and know may not have
you for my wife-to know you work for
your daily bread, while / have riches and
TO spare. May, May, be pitifuI, and break
your word 70 that other man"
She looked at him with suoh bravo, sweet
cycs.
elbow can T, dear? an pcnnlcss,
and am only reaping tho reward Of eirish
folly, repontcd Of it as soon as committed.
While hundred or so miles away from
tho littlo suburban cottage where May lived
Morgan Fletcher paced tho sunny
Western piazza Of his farmhouse that self
samo winter afternoon----a tall, robust,
coarse featured man Of nearly 40, with
/. shaggy, auburn beard and hair, and bright
brown eyes, that woro almost cruelty possi-
" tive in their gaocoa.
Ho had just been handed two letters BY
nfarm boy who returned from tho VILLAGE
post Office, and ono, in May Warrens deli
esss bapdESilag nd hSsn eagerly ysaa