Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-06-22
HARRIET CLARKSON.
She Waited, and Her True Lover
Came at Last

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Mrs Clarkson 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
/ had lover; I'm sure that l could
manage one" the mother took another
stitch in the dainty cambria and re-
marked: There is plenty of time yet,
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, ''Tm dreadfully
anxious for him to come. I'm tired OF
this do-nothing lifey'
Let him come when he may, and
let US pray that he come in Joy and
peace" was the quiet rejoinder.
That had been less than q month ago,
and now Harriet stood before the same
mirror; but it was different face that
the glass pictured nova perplexed
brow, a scornful lip, and yet 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
It's frank despair was what hurt her
most
IT know that you cannot forgive me, but
can't keep from 1t. I have tried, but am not
strong enough to beat 1t back. It is burning me
up, Harriet, even If am boy. think that
this will make man Of me, At least, Il WIN
put q 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. Clarkson
said never word, for she knew that
the confession would come In good
sime 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 q lover?
And why did he do itP knew that he
liked me, but never dreamed of his
loving me-"
| Mrs Clarkson read the poor little
note with sigh; then, drawing the
brown head to her shoulder, she said:
az, 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. It 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 a 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
a sweet dignity had begun to soften
the old-time 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 ap-
peared before her. A little paroxysm
of pain seemed to go over his sweet, old
face, as he hesitated A puzzled light
cleaned in Harriets eyes, for she did
not understand why his face should
pale.
Miss Clarkson," he at last said, ''i1
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:
IT fear it is wrong, but / cannot help
It. / cannot let you go away with
out telling you that love you.
know that am selfish, but am not SC
old, after al-only sixty-6ve." And
unconsciously a deep pleading crept
| lnGO Ills SOU, OlQ NOACOp e1I0 D1o VI OA41-
bling hands clasped.
Again mighty pity filed her heart.
How she loved the kind, old man, with
his handsome head and wide-openine
'leartl And yet, not at all as a hus-
and, but as an instructor, an adviser,
friend, whose gentle concern had
done so much toward making her COL
lege life success Her lips tremb led
as she faltered:
Or Palmer, / am truly sorry.
cannot he thankful enough. either fol
1 am not worthy of such a rich love as
i yours But shall be frank. do not
love you and I never can love you al
you wish"
, he sank into chair at his desk
} while already a calm resignation had
begun to steal over his features.
, ~ see, you are right It was wicked
l for man of my age to wish to posses.
t so young and beautiful a woman a.
: you"
Harriet demonstrated at this, but h.
j only said:
mo, go now. and forgive the weak
ness of an old man."
: dis mead 1el FORWARD on his arms
d and Harriet waited only long enough
. to reverently press her lips to tn,
I snowy hair. Then she glided swift,
3 out with her hands pressed tightly *
her throbbing temples, murmuring:
81 once thought that 1t was won
ans hour of triumph when man toll,
Q her of his love-
So Harriet wept over her second low
and turned from him.
However, no one dreamed how he
!, heart ached as she was saying good-b.
to group of schoolmates, when tn
? handsome young Grant Conway tool
? her hand, with the same ease and pur
triendlipess - nothing more. Rothin