The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
slAEcAlNG AFTER rRufa.
The Realization Was In Weird Biscord
10 the Anticipation.


She was young and far, aud she
searched for Truth, but her frequent
visits to the welt brosght no discovery
only the reflection Of her beautiful
face In the water.
One night a knock came ut her
door, and she spraug up aud opened it.
There on the threshold stood bun.
die OF rags, which moved as II breath
ing. She shuddered rs she asked,
"Who are your" Then came Ahe an
swer:
81 AM Truth"
III would see your face" she cried.
NAY, innocent one, my face is not
fair TO look upon, hu. am Truth
The cold wind was blowing and
crying, and she closed the door. The
Truth she sought was pure and beau.
tiful, not loathsome, and with the con.
viclioR Of youth she was satisfied with
herself tt having refused this grew
some thing admittance. From that
day, however. strange visitors knocked
at her door aud each called himself
Truth
First oame gay party OF dancers,
whose graceful figures swaying to and
fro captivated her fancy; sheir mu-
steal voices held her as IN their tbrall.
Their visit was like d .lightful dream,
and she asked, "Pray tell me who you
are?" Add they answered, 1--WE are
Truth" So she believed for days
then she realized her mistake, and
that they were not Truth but Pleasure
Again she went TO the well, but there
found nothing.
A day dawned brightly and there
came another knock.
On her threshold stood lovely
child.
Its hair was garlahded with flowers
and its garb was spotless white.
When it entered, it was as il n por
ton OF the pure light OF the sun had
stolen into the room.
The child's aims were soon entwineG
about the neck OF the seeker aitel
Truth.
The odor OF the blossoms intoxicated
, her her heart beat with wild delight
tender kiss was stamped on hei
brow, and with gentle whisper, 81
am TRUTH" the child was gone, and al
her feet buds blossomed-the room
was lighter than it had been Tor years
The memory Of that vision remained
with her long time, but at last i
fled, and then she km W it was Love
not Truth
Again she went TO the well, We
found nothing.
Years after another knock came
Her heart beat fast as the figure Of
man entered. His manner WAS Hat
tering and full Of grace--his sc,
+ 8 emed honest.
She hsdnnever felt the influence o
other visitors exerted over her will
) the power OF this one.
She dared not ask his name, but a
he left he said, pressing her hand, :"
am Truth.
n For years she believed it, then cam
! d )ubt, and she saw what had heen he
8 ideal OF Truth was only Policy.
The next visitor was long bearded
bent old man, " hose face wa, furrowe
!. and whose hands were palsied.
From his feeble lips came the word
III am Truth" His stay was shor
q but she remembered that visitor, an
oft when the days we're drear she sa
d before her the trembling hands. tn
q thin snow white locks, the bent lori
and the quiveriDg lips.and che belle We
q she had found Truth.
3 But she was growing older now. ar
SOM thing told her that Sorrow W
u not Truth Then she went to the ".
n and il WAS dry. But there, far dow
in its depths, she saw toad "WI
g are your" she cried, ard hollc
ice replied, II am Tradition'
she turned her face toward home al
knew that the whole world lied al
! was deceived
That same night csme kn OK
= her door. She rose slowly and open
it. There stood the strange creatu
covered with rags--her first visitor.
"What would jour Who are you
Then came the answer, II a
= Truth"
II would see your face" she mr
INJURED.
"Nay, expe rienced one. my face,
not fair to see, but ! am Truth /"
"Yet wonld see it," she made a
swer, "for well know | how that Tru
is not what we would have il, nor is
fair"
Then the figure threw off its r
Z covering. and before her stAod ske
ton.
Nov she knew htr life search v
\ ended and that she had at last fou
= Truth,-Hewy Russell IVray in Phi
delphid Times.