The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-04

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love you and l never can love you as
you wish" Il,
He sank into o chair at his desk,
while already calm resignation had
begun to steal over his features
II see, you are right 1t was wicked
for a man of my age to wish to possess
SO young and beautiful a woman as
you"
Harriet demonstrated at this, but he
only said:
mo, go now. and forgive the weak
ness of an old man."
His head fell forward on his arms,
and Harriet waited only long enough
to reverently press her lips to the
snowy hair. Then she glided swiftly
out with her hands pressed tightly to
her throbbing temples, murmuring:
81 once thought that it was wom-
ans hour of triumph when man told
her of his love"
So Harriet wcpt over her second love
and turned from him.
However, no one dreamed how her
heart achcd as she was saying good-by
to group of schoolmatcs, when the
handsome young Grant Conway took
her hand, with the same ease and pure
friendliness - nothing more, nothing
less-as the rest. A travelling veil hid
very pale, tear-stained face as the
train drew away from the little college
town, but twenty-four is an age at
which woman is strong, and none of
them guessed.
They marvelcd. though. as two,
three years stole by, and still she held
all men back. 1t was her fault entire
ly that she was not married, for her
quiet sweetness had a certain air of
guarding about it which barred them
from the critical point
Twenty-seven! Her birthday to-mor.
smile as she leaned toward her mirror
and noted the gray hairs beginning to be
limited over her temples, but some way
she found instead that the whole
image was suddenly blurred. Turning,
she dropped on her knees and buried her
head in her pillows. There it was all
thought over-the boy and the old man
and the others, noble and true men,
too, who might have loved her If she
had let them. She did not choose a
lonely existence; on the contrary. she
shuddered at the narrow, one-sided life
that she was living. But still there
rose before her that handsome, proud
face which she loved better than all
the world, and she could not forget it.
She had seen him twice since they had
left school, and he had been gracefully
pleasant with her, but then he was just
as cordial with some of his other old
time friends, and his open, frank at
tention made poor Harriet's heart bleed
more than cold Indifference would have
done.
Why did she cherish such an empty
longing? Why could she not forget as
did the boy, whose three romping sons
she had fondled the other day? Why,
yes, why could not she even be like
dear DR.. Palmer, whose grave had
grown all sweet with fresh grasses
and white pansies that very spring?
And as she murmured over again the
little prayer whose pure simplicity she
had never outgrown, her Now lay
me down to sleep" became almost a
pleading for the sleep which blesses us
forever and forever.
The next day passed uneventfully;
the usual amount of presents and we'll
wishes, but still it's sadness filled her
heart to overlooking. Life had become
sorely serious to her-would it ever be-
come sorely useless?
1t was after nine, and fortunately
the last caller had left early, when
Nora appeared at the door and NUT
tered, as was her custom, an unintelli-
giblc name. Harriet turned mechan.
ically for she was weary, but the form
advancing from the hall made her
catch her breath How handsome he
was! But she quickly recovered her.
self, and tried to smile as she held out
her hand.
II am glad to see you, Mr. Conway"
Eyes, thank you, Harriet"
Harriet! His air of confidence startled
her and yet overpowered her. So,
when he went on, calmly holding her
hand with gentle, though not passion
ate pressure, she could only wait.
Harriet, hryc come for you at last
Has the waiting'been long?"
Come for her? She could only trem-
BILE, at which he smiled quietly and
calmly continued
Il could not speak to you sooner. for
had not my life settled Now am
certain as to my future and l have come
for you"
Not word about love, not ques-
tion, not sign of fear on his part!
And this was the way that she was to
be wooed-she whom all the entreaties
and avowals of youth and age could
not affect. Yet abe wavered. She was
angry with her pride because it did not
come to her aid, and yet she could not
even withdraw her hand. He saw, he
evidently understood for he quietly
took her other hand, hanging passively
at her side, and smilingly repeated:
81 have come for you, Harriet"
What should she do? Or, better
what could she do? Nothing. but
stand there till her lips began to culver
and the tears welled up in her search
ing gray eyes Then the man of the
world-this man who knew so we'll his
power-bent down and kissed once her
upturned face. and laughed:
There. Harriet, don't cry. 1t is only
| Il