The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-04-26
MY LOVE STORY.


Are there no underwriters for human
hopest for the most precious of interests is
there no insurance."
| had been tempted all day, tempted
by fate and the devil. All srmmcrlono
| had been trying to clasp hands for a
life journey with a man did not love;
man noble of soul and born to the
purple, who set up high lineage against
my poor gifts of beatty and song. He
threw some love into the scales, too, but |,
God help me, had none to give in return.
| had bartcrcd crewhile my whole pos
sessions for few glanccs of dark,
dark eye, and my note had gone to pro-
test.
Could I, could I? 1t kept following
me about with fateful pcrsistency, for
tonight was to give my answer to my
high-born lover.
tried to look things in the face, to
count the cost.
Money was a good thing; it insured
one warmth in winter and delicious cool
ness in summer, and prettineSs and
dalntlncss, and the entrance into good
society. Yes, money was Il good thing,
and position and power, and houses
and lands. So far, good; but my soul
hungcrcd and thirstcd for love COM
mcnSuratc with my own, which this
man, who offered me purple and gold,
had it not in his power TO give, or, let
me qualify that, had it not in his nature
to give.
The stars came out golden and soft,
and tho fragrant summer dusk crcpt
around me where sat inhalng the scent
Of the roses. Ambition and love tore
my heart by turn, and WEAKNESS, too,
put in poor ritiful plea, for 1 was SO
tired, SO tired.
1t was brilliant future that Reginald
Dacre offered me, wherein toll and
WEAKNESS could never come. Thought
of the purple and fine linen; the lux
uriOus rest; the emolumcnts! Then my
daily life passed in review before me
that of companion to u naughty, fine
lady, and Il singer in fashionable
church, among fashionable saints and
sinners. | began to Groom over the old
satire:
".In church which is garnishcd with mulion
and gable,
Wit. altar and rcrcdos, with gargoylc and
groin,
The pcnitcnts' dresses are scalskin and sable
The odor Of sanctity,s eau de cologne.
But surely If Lucifcr flying from Hadca
Could gnzc ut this crowd, with its panicrs
He would say, looking round at tho lords ana
the ladies.
20 where is All Sinners, If this is An
SaintsT"
had entered upon this life from an
unloved and unloving home, home
doied out to me by the tardy Justice of
grand-unclc who had robbed mo of nv
inheritance. I thought at first / might
find the sangreal somewhere in this
new country, which seemed so fair, but
alas! / had not even heard the swish
of wings.
! thought of it all-thc fever and tho
fret; the petty jars; the misundcrstand-
ings; the pain of incOmprchension the
mgucrdoncd toll; the tagging hours;
the awful pauscs.
This or marriage; this or marriage
It seemed written like n placard on
earth and sky. 1t seemed bound like
phylactery upon the browS of the peo-
the word marriage lost all its signit-
canoe for me, as words do after oft re-
pcating. Did it mean misery or happi-
ness, bliss or woe? This marriage
IT, rung its changes through my brain
was it God-appointcd? Did it mean
God blessing or His curse?
LOU huO" L ulu nOG love lnlS man
who offered me rest from my labOrs.
He had not power to evoke one thrill at
his call. But then love is only one
reason why one should marry man.
There might be love and plenty of
money, and yet one go hungry all ones
life. I have known such things.
I had tried to make my life straight
and fair | had tried to keep clean
hands and a pure heart; tried-God
who knows the secrets Of all hearts,
knows this-to fight despair
- Long, green days,
Worn bare of grass and sunshine; long calm
From Which the snken sleeps were frettod
out
Be witness for me-.
We see through shadows all our life
long We come into this world with
out our being given a choice as to our
advent, and 60 out ofitinthe same man
ner.
We have not been consulted as to
birth or death More and more the nroyor