The state capital., 1892-03-05
HARRIET CLARKSON.
Sho Waited, and Her True Lover
Came at Last.


Came at Last.
Mrs. Clarkson only smiled. She wa
given to only smiling, anyway. when
ever her daughter set her head on ont
side and let fall some wise little de
cision from her ever busy brain. So
as Miss Harriet leaned forward ant
complacently surveyed the tips of he
new slippers as she said: Il wish tha
| had lover; I'm sure that | coulc
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 tha
the little chair was set violently rock
ing. Going to the mantel, she raised
her pretty arms above her brown heat
and contentedly studied the fresh
young face in the mirror
"Well," she laughed softly in the
midst Of faint yawn, '1'm dreadfully
anxious for him to come. I'm tired OF
this do-nothing lifer'
Let him come wien he may, and
let us pray that he come in Joy and
peace, " was the quiet rejoinder.
That had been less than 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 mist of
pity struggling to the gentle gray eyes.
A schoolboy's note was the catise 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. I have tried, but ain not
strong enough to beat it back. 1t is burning me
up, Harriet even if am boy. l think that
this will make man of me. AT least, it 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. Clarkson
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
pillows and sobbed.
'Oh, why did | ever want a lover?
And why did he do it? 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:
II, 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 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 controllab BILE, and
a sweet dignity had begun to soften
the old-time girlish joys. 1t was the
day berore her graduation, as she was
hurrying through the hall on her way
to the library, when Prof. Palmer APP
peared before her. A little paroxysm
Of pain seemed to go over his sweet, old
face, as he hesitated. A puzzled light
cleaned in Harriet's eyes, for she did
not understand why his face should
pale.
Miss Clarkson," he at last said, IF
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:
II fear it is wrong, but cannot help
It. | cannot let you go away with
out telling you that | love YOU. II
know that / am selfish, but am not SO
Did, after all-only sixty-fve. And |
lnconsciously a deep pleading crept !
nto his soft, old voice, and his trem-
bling hands clasped.
Again mighty pity filed her heart.
How she loved the kind. old man, with |
lis handsome head and wide-opening
leart! And yet, not at all as hus-
oand, but as an instructor, an adviser,
! friend, whose gentle concern had |
lone so much toward making her col
ege life success. Her lips trem bled |
IS she faltered:
''Dr. Palmer, i am truly sorry. |
annot be thankful enough, either. for
am not worthy of such a rich love as
ours. But ! shall be frank. | do not
owe you and | never can love you as
'ou wish. !"
He sank into a chair at his desk,
While already calm resignation had
'egun to steal over his features.
II see, you are right 1t was wicked
or a man of my age to wish TO possess
Q young and beautiful woman as
ou.
Harriet demonstrated at this, but he
Rly said:
mo, go now, and forgive the weak
ess of an old man"
His head fell forward on his arms,