Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-09-17
Love that Lives.

Love that Lives.
1t often happens in the strange med
ley OF hunan events, paradOxical as il
may seem, that Glove that lives may
become lost or dead as far as the union
OF the parties is concerned. Why is il
then, that under the trying circum-
stances Of being parted it lives again
more wildly, and often assumes q
beauty and halo that it had not other.
wise possessed Is it because the Ger.
tainty and perhaps the safety of posses.
sion dampens the ardor of our feelings
when the object is affirmed, and pro.
portionately weakens its value? But
when lost or unattainable, imagination
embalms the loved ones in our memory
and invests them with incalculable
charms. It is certain, whatever may be
the reason, that in some breasts the
feeling remains firm and intense and
only to be quenched in death.
Such was the case that came under
my observation several years ago
Business at that time called me to Phil
adelphia. In that city I casually met a
gentleman whom had known we'll,
when We we're boys, as We had been to
school together. but whom 1 had lost
sight of for many years. He was re-
siding at the same hotel put up at; he
was very glad to see me, and cordially
invited me to spend the evening with
him in his room. He was a man be.
tween fifty and sixty years. of very
gentlemanly manners and of rather
distinguished appearance. His counte-
nance was pleasant, but grave, and
there was certain expression on it,
- ii he had known great sorrow and
no common one either. He was o
merchant of wealth and standing in the
city.
After had transacted my business
and had my supper I went to his room.
We passed the evening pleasantly over
our wine and cigars, conversing of the
various events that had occurred -.
our lives since we we're boys, OF our
old schoolmates who went to the &C.
ademy with us, OF their subsequent
careers. etc., when it happened, ACCT
aentaliy, to occur to me, and I asked
him 1t he knew whatever became Of
that pretty girl. Florence Mason, who
was with MS at the academy. He was
missing q glass of wine to his lips as
asled shs Question. His hand trembled
20 that he set it down, and was sur.
rsised and pa;asd to ses Cue palior of
his countenance. I felt in q moment I
had touched q tender cord, and was
sorry. he shsrtly, however, recov-
cred his composure, and said:
There are sad memories connected
with that name that do not like to
dwell upon. but you are an old friend
and you know her. So I will tell you
the story. You will remember that I
was rather green boy at school; proud,
shy and sensitive, I was not generally
popular, and made but few friends,
In fact you was the only boy that
seemed to understand me. For Won ]
felt warm friendship. There was an
other one and that was the girl you
mention. There was something 80
pretty, SO sweet, unpretending and
confding about her that the better T
became acquainted with her the more
1admired her-and she, too, like you,
After awhile, saw through the pride
and reserve in which l wrapt myself,
and caught o glimpse of the warm
heart within. and then she, too, gave
me her friendship. It was q peculiar
kind of pride, that of mine. I had
abilities that only wanted opportunity
for development. and I could not bear
to be looked down upon because was
poor. The aunt, with whom she was
staying while attending school, lived in
the village, SO that I saw much more
Of her than perhaps you had had any
idea. Ihelped her with her lesso ps.
walked With her from school, and in
the evenings was glad to make any ex-
cuse to be able to see her. In fact
vas fascinated with her, even then. In
the course of couple of years she
finished her course of study and re.
turned to her fathers home in New
York. I had left school some six
months previous, and was clerk in q
large dry goods importing house.
Vas poor, and working hard for peei-
ton. Her parents we're rich people
md ] do not think looked with much
complaisance on the acquaintance of a
poor dry.goods clerk with their beauti-
fui daughter. Still I managed to see
her now and then. and although the
rest Of the family treated me some
what stifiy and rather coldly, I always
had warm welcome from Florence
and that was what / most cared for.
Two or three years passed in this way.
Meantime she was rapidly developing
into beautiful woman. You have no
idea how lovely she grew. Her cheeks
we're bright with the roses of health:
her lips rs red as cherries. Her large.
liquid hazel eyes seemed to look into
your very soul with their trusting
con6ding gaze.