The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-10-07

known little enough of such in your
life. You like and esteem Paul above
all others, but perhaps you may not
love him Love is broad and deep
thing, and you are too young to under
stand what it really is. Go on thinking
of him as you do, if you wish, and al
ways treat him with the kindnest con-
sidcration, but do not go beyond that.
If he speaks to you Of love do not en-
courage him, and make him no prom
iscs. Tell him that you are young and
that wish you to wait Q year or two
longer before you enter into any COM
pact affecting your whole future life.
But perhaps this is all unnecessary pre-
caution. He has said nothing, and per-
haps he may not say anything for
long time tmay oe-are you sure he
loves you, Lou:se?"
81 know he does, mamma. IL can't
tell you how know it, but l do know
he loves me; and some day he means to
ask me to be his wife. am sixteen
now, and in year or two l shall be
woman, and then he will speak and
you will not object. viii you?"
'No, not unless I have better rca-
sons than I know at present. But a
year or two is long time, Louise, and
we need not consider now what we
will do then. It may not be necessary
for me to say aye or nay to Paul, for
you may see him differently then. You
may see some one else that may sup
plant him in your heart. ="
ooh, mother, that is impossiblel No
one can be to me what Paul is. could
not be so ungrateful as to give him a
second place in my heart, when he has
been SO good to me-"
The mother smiled again. She was
assured from these last words OF her
daughter, that Louise had mistaken her
heart, and that what She felt to be love
was only gratitude and friendship
She understood how easily one OF
Louise's age, and one placed as she was,
could deceive herself, and She could not
believe that the child knew her own
heart For long time she was silent,
and for time doubts, fears and misglv-
ings possessed her She realized how
easily one of the girls age and temper
ament could be deceivcd. She was in
experienced, and knowing nothing OF
human nature, judged all mankind by
her own standard, and reclloned all
hearts like hers, pure, innocent and
honest. Whether she really loved Paul
or not, he was her idol, and She looked
up to him as a paragon OF perfection,
and was that confident and trustful that
she would not, and could not, doubt him
in anything.
Such thoughts as these ran through
the mothers mind, and She tremblcd
for the safety Of her child. Then She
recalled all she knew of Paul. lie
was a man Of perfect character, and
in all the years she had known him he
had not been guilty OF an ungentle-
manly act. This review of the young
mans past somewhat reassu-cd her.
and She felt thankful that it was Paul
who held such an influence over her
daughter. She was far safer with him
than with most men.
So after considering the matter we'll,
Mary decided to say nor do nothing
to antagonize her daughters scnti-
ments. She remembered only too viv-
idlv what the result Of such action had
been in her own case, and:she knew that
Young lovers could not be driven. She
realized that harsh measures would
only bring the lovers closer together,
and result in the very thing she was
anxious to avcrt-a premature mar
riage. So at last, taking Louise's hand
in her own, she said:
do as I have told you, Louise; treat
Paul as kindly rs you can, and rencm-
Der him as your best friend, but DO not
make him any promises. He knows
you arc too young to think of marriage.
and he will not think it hard to leave
you free for year or two longer. You
are free to keep company with him and
70 love him, and when you are a year
older, if You want to promise to be his
wife Won can DO SO with my consent. !
think have offered fair terms, Louise,
and l hope you will consider them
such"
II do, mamma, do, and am willing
to do as you say, and know Paul will
be, too. I will never have any secrets
from you, and never go contrary to
your wishes laul and will wait, and
neither of US will think it hard, since
you wish it, but nothing, mother, can
part us. Nothing, nothing"
Alas that Louisa's fond hope was
doomed to be blasted, and that one un-
dreamed of should come between her
and Paul-comc in q way, too, to bring
her the trying ordeal of her life.
ITO be continued.