The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-02-04
PRIMROSE.

"You have decided to leave the farm,
then, Walter7"
az have" was the firm reply. "I
was not born 70 be farmer. ! am not
going to make slave of myself here all
my life for bare existence, when there is
q chance of fame and fortune for me in
the city,"
The girls fair head dropped, and her
slender fingers interlaced themselves
nervously as she said:
"Only chance, Walterl Think OF
what you are willfully throwing away
or vague hope"
Those men who turned their backs
upon the mean drudgery OF farm life and
became powers in the land depended
upon the same chance" he insisted.
/ am only woman" she said, with
a sad smile, but I have thought about
this matter since you talked of going
away. l know that for every one who
succeeds thousand 60 down and are
trampled under foot. One success
means hundreds of failures. 1t is law
of existence"
"You take gloomy view of it, little
friend" he said, smiling. cit seems to
me that you might find it in your heart
10 encourage instead Of trying to depress
me-"
She looked at him again mutely;
and as she stood there, wltn her mild
eyes, full of unshed tears, fixed upon
him, a momentary struggle took place
in his heart.
He had never been conscious how
much he loved her until this moment,
when they were about to part, perhaps
for years.
An almost overwhelming conviction
beset him that here, in the simple way
of life to which he had been born, with
the love of this pure-souled, sweet faced
girl, he had already found the all-in-all
of existence; but he shook it off with an
angry effort,
"Speak to me, Primrose" he said,
impatiently. cat least, advise me-"
"No," she said, quietly. "Advice
from me would be mockery in the face
Of your resolution. You will go out
into the world and work out your ap-
pointed destiny. ! can only pray for
your success"
Nothing could aid me more." he re.
piled, with n tremor in his voice.
" None 80 true and steadfast as you,
Primrose. will show you that am
worthy Of your best thoughts of me.
will work and conquer. When the bat
tie is over / will return and offer its
fruits to you-if you will take me with
them, Primrose"
a faint flush stole into her cheek.
81 know you do not think 30 meanly
Of me as to believe that good or evil for
tune car alter my feelings for you.
am not deceived, Walter. You leave
me with a double love in your heart
that which you have for me is divided
with your ambition. But. remember,
II time should show you how poor is
the fruit of ambition, that l shall love
you all the more if you come back TO
me poor and disheartened."
He turned away to hide his tears; yet,
with the perversity Of his nature, he
merely bade her farewell.
She recalled him with a hesitating
voice.
81 have saved this money, Walter"
she said "Will you not take itp
shall feel that / have helped you a
little"
She extended the purse toward him
with a wistful look that nearly un-
nerved him again. He took IL, and, ex-
tracing the money II contained, put 1t
back into her hand, while he hid the
empty purse in his breast.
81 will keep that to recall this hour.
And this" he continued, taking her
about the waist and kissing her lips,
shall be more valuable TO me than all
the gold in the world to cheer me in my
gloomy days"
Turning at bend in the road 10 look