The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-04
HARRIET GARRISON.
She Waited, and Her True Lover
Came at Last.

Mrs GARRISON only smiled She was
given to only smiling, anyway. when
ever her daughter set her head on one
side and let fall some wise little de-
'cision from her ever-busy brain. So,
as Miss Harriet leaned forward and
complacently surveyed the tips of her
new slippers as she said: 81 wish that
1 had n lover; I'm sure that could
manage one" the mother took another
stitch in the dainty cambria and re-
marked: There is plenty of time vet,
Harriet mine"
Harriet started up in such haste that
the little chair was set violently rock
ing. Going to the mantel, she raised
her pretty arms above her brown head
and contentedly studied the fresh
young face in the mirror.
''Well," she laughed softly in the
midst of faint yawn, "I'm dreadfully
this do-nothing lifer'
Let him come when he may. and
let us pray that he come in joy and
peace" was the qNet rejoinder.
That had been less than a month ago,
and now Harriet stood before the same
mirror; but it was different face that
the glass pictured nova perplexed
brow, scornful lip, and yet a mist of
pity struggling to the gentle gray eyes.
A schoolboy's note was the cause of it
ala little hastily scrawled note. but
hot with an unframed passion. And
its frank despair was what hurt her
most.
II know that you cannot forgive me, but
can't keep from it. l have tried, but am not
strong enough to beat 1t back. 1t is burning me
up. Harriet, even II am boy. / think that
this will make u man Of me. At least, 1t will
put mans heart in me-"
Harriet read it over and over, and
each time there rose before her vision
of an honest young face and tears lying
in the eyes hardly dry as yet from the
grief over the lost ball. Mrs. GARRISON
said never word, for she knew that
the confession would come in good
time At last Harriet tossed her the
note, and, throwing herself on the
couch, she buried her face in the soft
pillows and sobbed.
''Oh, why did ever want a lover?
And why did he do it? l knew that he
liked me, but never dreamed of his
loving me-"
Mrs. Clarkson read the poor little
note with a sigh; then, drawing the
brown head to her shoulder. she said:
81, too am sorry from the bottom of
my heart. But he and you are only the
instruments of fate. Every boy some
time in his boyhood loses his heart to a
woman older than himself 1t is his
first love and his first great sorrow. 1t
does put mans heart in him. But he
gets over it-that is, the sting is gone
but he always remembers it, for the
first love is the sweetest. This is your
FIRST lover, and he has not come in JOY
and peace. BE woman and dea
gently with him."
Harriet dried her eyes as she went to
her desk But womanhood seemed to
have suddenly opened within her, and
she was surprised at her own gentle
ness Women are both womanly
strong and womanly weak, and the
tender, almost motherly note that she
wrote in reply was an example of the
first, while the big, round tear which
splashed unexpectedly on the address
was only a betrayal of the latter
And SO Harriet, in her twentieth
year, cried over her first lover and sent
him away.
Four years went by. The curls had
become little more controllable, and
al sweet dignity had begun to soften
the old-timc girlish joys. 1t was the
day before her graduation. as she was
hurrying through the hall on her way
to the library, when Prof Palmer APP
peared before her. A little paroxysn
of pain seemed to go over his sweet, old
face, rs he hesitated. A puzzled light
cleaned in Harriet's eyes. for she elid
not understand why his face should
pale.
"Miss Clarkson," he at last said, I'll
You have time should like to see you
in my Office moment"
She followed him wonderingly, and
yet half in dread but it was not till he
had held open the door for her to pass
in that stately, elegant old style of his
that he said:
Il fear it is wrong, but cannot heir
it. | cannot let you go away with
out telling you that love you.
know that am selfish, but am uo< SC
old, after all-only sixty five" Ano
unconsciously a deep pleading crcp'
into his soft, old voice, and his trem
bling hands clasped
Again mighty pity filed her heart
How she loved the kind, old man, will
his handsome head and wide-openine
heart! And yet, not at all as hus
band, but as an instructor an adviser
friend, whose gentle concern hat
done so much toward making her col
lege life a success Her lips trembl eC
&s she faltered:
"Dr. Palmer. ! am truly sorry,
-sannot he thankful enough, either, 90