The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-07-13
THE FOLLY or YOUTH.
"There was a man In our town,
AND he WAS Wondrous wise"

And ne was w0ndr0us wise
A clear, sweet voice was singing this
senseless dltty, with many hooking va.
riations and operatic trills. A young
man swinging indolently in hammock
underneath the open window, laid down
his unfinished book and tossed away
his cigar as he listened to the merry
songstress.
'"The man was no fool" said he at last.
II will arise and do likewise"
The voice and its lovely owner had
uprooted settled predjudices and over
thrown firm convictions. Moreover an
underlying fear that he was about to
make second mistake in life caused
his heart to tremble and his feet to lag
Nevertheless, straight as needle to
the pole tended his steps toward that
upper room, and the musical destroyer
of his peace.
She was minding Mrs. Latimer's baby
as usual. Mrs. Latimer was q presum-
ably young widow, somewhat wan and
faded as to beauty which must once have
been remarkable; somewhat poorly off
as to worldly possessions, yet strongly
bent upon making the most of her second
chance in life.
The baby, meantime, being much in
her way, was either locked in the pro-
found slumber born of drugs or syrups,
or left to the tender mercy of some oblig-
ing -boarder.
Pretty Molly Daily, whose heart
ached for the neglected little one, often
cared for it during the absence of its
mother.
Harry Raymond was not the man,
having made up his mind, to beat about
the bush. He went straight to the side
of the surprised singer, who had sup
posed him miles distant, and then, the
babe being in his way, he caught it from
its astonished foster mother, and with a
dextrous fling sent it flying through
the air exactly into the soft middle
of great rug which lay just before the
window.
Poor Molly uttered startled cry of
protest. The child, contrary to all ex-
pectation and precedent, shrieked with
laughter, and lay, clutching at the sun
beams, jewel OF baby in b golden set
ting.
miss Daily" said Harry, earnestly,
''you know my faults; all my unhappy
story; that long ago loved an unworthy
woman, and that because of that love I
have walked for years wilfully blind to
all womanly goodness and virtue
and truth; through beautiful
woman lost my sight, through beau
tiful woman 1 have found it again. Tell
me Molly,"-his voice trembled with
earnestness-''if this love is to be the
crown and glory of my life or its second
folly?"
There was no need of words; he read
his answer in her sweet, downcast face
and tender eyes, he sealed it on her
quivering, crimson lips, and the baby
looked on and laughed.
Then, with a great crash OF wheels and
futter of silks, the baby's mother re-
turned so these two, as needs must, came
back to an everyday world, that some
how looked brighter and better to them
both than it had ever done before.
Molly settled her face into unbreaka-
BILE calm, and Harry lounged about with
even more than his usual nonchalance.
Nevertheless, the widow, who was wise
in her day and generation, saw more than
they supposed, and picking up her neg
leeted offspring left the room with sigh
for the dreams of q lost youth.
She had returned from her drive en-
gagged at last, but instead of the raptures
and radiance of first love. her soul was
disturbed by doubts, an uncer .ainty as to
whether she might not, by longer wait
ing, have done even better for herself.
But nothing of the kind disturbed our
youthful lovers, their days passed as
happy dream; the course OF true love
ran smoothly toward the delightful con-
summation of an early marriage in the
autumn.
One night Harry. grown strong in his
new love, determined to destroy every
vestige Of that first mad folly Of his
youth; letters burning with passionate
devotion, costly keepsskes, all were
ruthlessly destroyed. Then with q
pleasant consciousness of well dong he
slept the sleep'o Of the just, and awoke in
time for long early walk with his be-
trothed, from which they returned damp
but radiant. And in the doorway they
met woman, q newcomer, q gloriously
beautiful women, one that Titan might
have worshipped as no painted her in
flowing robes OF white and crimson and
gold. A woman who was q living, breath
ing dream of perfection.
At sight Of ner, Harry grew white to
the very lips; then, quickly recovering
himseli, greeted her with manly dignity,
presenting ct the same time his COM
pAnion.
II must be . bond Of sympathy be-
tween You two," he said with . sudden
- a. klviu - 18th