Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-07-13
PANE VERSUS LOVE.

"It cannot be
As these words fell from Helen
Armstrong; lips she arose from her
eeat, an old overturned boat, and
moved slowly toward the waters
edge.
For a minute her companion, man
of perhaps twenty-five, hesitated !;
then he joined her, repeating:
cit cannot be, Helen ? Surely you
are not in earnest. You love me,
have you not said it? and yet you
refuse to become my wife"
Edward, L"
"You did not mean it, quickly in
terupted Edwin Bennett, adding (:
Come, darling, why should not We
be happy? p And he drew her hand
within his arm.
For an instant she let it rest there,
then slowly bnt firmly she lOosed his
clasp, as he said:
"For two years you and / have
been friends. In that time did you
ever know me TO change after had
once decided upon anything?
mo, but answered her COM
panion quickly, while she, unheeding,
goes on with:
you know the one great desire Of
my life is to win fame as an artist.
Could / do this as your wife 2"
"Why not, Helen? Would not do
anything in the world to help you p
came the proud answer, as Edwin
Bennett bent his eye fondly upon the
fair face beside him.
mo, Edwin; as a wife l could
never hope to obtain fame. Marriage
brings to women so many cares that
there is very little time left over for
other work. ! should not make you
happy. I should be constantly long
ing for my old, free life"
"If that is all am not afraid to
risk my happiness, Helen" answered
her lover, a more hopeful look light
ing. up his handsome face.
"Think how for FIVE years." con-
tinued Helen, II have worked with
the one end in view. Ny home, you
are aware, has not been particularly
agreeable. Uncle and aunt are kind
in their way, aud have always let me
have my own will about painting
providing it did not cost them any
thing. As for love or sympathy, you
have seen how much they have yield
ed to me"
"Seen and felt for you, Helen, Goo
knows. And now that I will make
your life, if love can do it, one happy
dream, you will not; and yet you d.
not deny your love for me"
| For q second Helen's eyes rested
longingly upon the face Of th,
man who loved her so dearly; theu
into their dusky depths crept an in
tense, passionate longing, as the,
swept the horizon and noted the glo
rious splendor, of the setting sun
while she exclaimed:
"0h, Edwin If | could only repro
duce that sunset just as it Isl If
only could /"
With an impatient sigh he turne,
, away.
{ always her art, never me; per
J haps she is right after all. It woul
always stand between n"
She, not noticing. went on with
''If it would only stay long enoug
: for me to catch those colors, but NJ
: it is fading now"
ii Turning. Helen found that he
companion had left her side, and stoo
J few yards away.
Edwin" she called.
In an instant he was beside he
: everything forgotten except that sh
, was the woman he loved.
Z 81 wanted to tell You how goo
! Mr.. Hovey is. Ii seems he was as
: quainted with poor papa years az
, when | was baby, and therefor
{ feels quite interested in me. Yo
( have heard how he praises my worl
and last night he proposed
"Proposedil' exclaimed Edwin Bel
nett. hotly. "Why. you don't mea
/ to say that old man actually ha
1 the audacity to ask you to MARI
: him?'
a How ridiculous 1 How could yo
: think Of such thing ?" answered He
e en-, q ripple Of laughter escaping fro
: between her pretty teeth. asshs CO
q tinued:
le No; he proposed. ifI were wi
II ling, to send me to Italy for two veal
l. he, Of course. defrsying the great
IL part of the expenses. He said VIII
/ became famous / could refund hi
the little amount Il wished. Was
:. not generous of him? just thing, Il
a years at work among the old naste