The Press., 1894-01-04
HER ONE LOVE.

Here I stand in this old shop sur rounded by all sorts of castof furniture. The carvings on my frame are etched in gray with the dust of many years. and the brilliancy of my face is partly gone, giving me an appearance anything but like the reflective beauty of my youthful days.
 My owners customers do not speak cf me in enthusiastic praise, as they do of these old spinning wheels and grand fathers clocks around me, for am not quite old enough to be considered valu- able as an antique and still my his tory may be as interesting as that of my fellow objects.
 Away bSck ill the years I stood in the boudoir of 8 beautiful maiden. Daily she looked into my face, and in return scanned her closely and saw that her sweet face was the truthful outward in- dication of a beautiful mind and true heart.
 watched her progress from girlhood to womanhood as one would note the gradual unfolding of bud into the half blown blossom. My Gladys was one of those magnetic creatures who uncon- sciously attract every one with whom they come in contact Her friends were innumerable, and her girlhood passed with only happiness and freedom from care. It did not seem strange to me, knowing as did the beauty and good ness of Gladys. that many lovers should come to woo her.
 One May day when all natures crea- lures were awakening with new life and the trees and vines about the old home were donn!ng new coats of green she came to me, and as the beautiful eyes looked into my face saw that something unusual had happened. Always bright and happy, Gladys was never more so than now. A tender light shone in her eye. I saw her take from her bosom a letter, which she read slowly and then pressed to her lips. ''Ah! I thought, II have seen this experience come to other maidens, perhaps to mark the beginning of their greatest happiness, and again. we'll, my prayer is that this dear girl may know love only as blessing" As | time passed my wish was most abun-
 
 of perfect trust and content upon her face and knew that her lover was in ev- cry way worthy of her. That summer passed with feetness never before known by those happy lovers. From the window opposite which I stood I could see them, now strolling through the shady wood on the other side of the road, again on horse back cantering along the shady bridle paths, sometimes with a gay party of young friends, but more often those two alone But, alas! there came 8 day when trouble forced his unwelcome presence upon them and wove about them his threads of suspense and perplexity un- til their meshes were so closely latticed there seemed to be no way out. Hope forsook them, and the happy light died out of her eyes.
 War, cruel war, whose muttered threats we had long striven to forget, had at last begun to execute his terrible promises. For months complications had been arising, and our once peaceful country was transformed into 8 woeful state of dissension. Even in our quiet little village, so secluded from the noise and turmoil of the world, we began to hear mutterings of terrible things. Be- l fore we realized the terrible truth that war was upon us mastering officers l came, and after day or two left bearing upon their rolls the names of our bright- est and bravest men. Gladys lover was among the number of loyal men who arb willing, if necessary, to sacrifice all for their country's sake,
 One gloomy day she came into her room, and as she passed me I saw that her eyes were heavy and tremulous with tears. The look of misery on her face shall never forget. She seemed to be in the deepest despair. Iknew at once that the day of sorrow had come. Gladys and her lover had parted, perhaps for ever. ''I would not have you otherwise than loyal, dear," she had said to him, "but it is agony, this struggle between our patriotism and our love for each other.'
 In his reply there seemed an effort to be hopeful.
 Sweetheart, I will surely return. Then think of our joy in 8 future to- gether."
 "I cannot believe it. My heart tells me that I shall never see youagain," she sorrowfully replied.
 His words of hope and comfort were of no avail, and with her heart crushed