Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-09-13

wouldn'thave Sister Laura know it |
for worlds, but since then I've been in |
love myself. II grandma was right, |
shall never love again. often wonder
II that is so. Women who truly love,
love but once And, all truly loved
him. My heart isn't broken, and I've
just as good an appetite as ever; but
five years ago wouldn't have come
here when could have gone to place
where there were fashionable folk and
great dinners, and dancing and driving
and beaux-above all, beaux.
Aunt Startling would have taken me
to such a place, but chose to come
here with Laura and Lilly and the
baby. Laura came here for the chill
dren's sake. And the only change we
have Is when my brother-in-law comes
down on Saturday afternoons
OF course, that is delightful for
Laura. And Frank sleeps in the ham
mock all Sunday. And take Lilly out
into the woods or up THE Rock as
they call it. 1t is great rock on the
summit of hill, ovethanging mead
ow. l love Lilly dearly. / intend to
live for her. lam studying medicine
forgot to mention that-and | shall
graduate, and get large practice, and
make a fortune, and leave it all to her.
l must live for other peoples children
now, If grandma was right and women
love but once.
I ha do,
afternoon, and think it all over. We
sit under wild cherry tree. Lilly
adores wild cherries, and stuffs herself
with them; and keep the child on the
green, sloping side of the hill. On the
other the Rock bulges over, and it
seems a good way above the world,
almost like mountain; and think
and think until, as Aunt Abby says, it
all seems more real than real things do.
am eighteen again, and Fred and
| II used to call him Fred to myself
Frederic Farnham is his name-are out
in the Merivales' yacht They at home
did not like my going; neither mamma
nor grandma approved OF Mrs. Meri-
vale, and only wanted to go because
Fred was going. Oh, those moonlight
nights! | feel frightened sometimes,
they come back to me so plainly, and l
see Fred's eyes Alphabetically see
them all full of love. Fred has such
wonderful eyes; they blazed like dia-
monds. Yes, even when it was almost
dark; and when he held my hand |
was perfectly happy. | thought him
SO good and trusted him so implicitly
until the time when / saw him with
his arm around Mrs. Merivale's waist.
l had noticed little things before, but
that was the final blow.
1t was late, and they thought had
gone to sleep, but came back to look
for scarf which l had dropped, and
there they were. A married woman!
| was so angry that ! did not break
down before them. Fred tried to make
me believe that there was no harm in
it, next day.
She said she felt giddy and asked
him to keep her from falling, he told
me.
Even if that was true, | answered
him, he should haze refused or offered
his arm.
She said: Put your arm around my
waist, | am going to fall" He
laughed. Come, now, what sort of a
cad would have been not to do it?"
Suppose it had been and Mr.. Meri-
vale?" | said.
"An utterly different case" he an
swered.
But would not be persuaded that
black was white 1t ended in down
right quarrel All was over when l
went home
You were right about Mrs. Meri-
vale, and wrong" was all told even
mamma. Fred and have never met
since. He seems to have vanished from
the world. | wonder where he is gone?
II should meet him l would simply
ignore him, and yet shall never feel
to anyone as | did to him, never! And
no doubt wicked woman has some
power; nice ones do not understand to
make men do foolish things. l don't
suppose Fred was anything but fool
ish, but that sort of folly in a hus-
band would make a wife's life unen.
durable.
There is the stage driving up to the
door. Some one getting out of. it. II
is man with valise. Well, if we
must have other boarders, | am glad
they are not women. Men go away
and fish or shoot, and women are Tin
evidence" all the time SO is their
hideous fancy-work. But I've rather
hated women, | confess, since that ex'
perience on the Merivales' yacht. Yes
! am becoming sour unpleasant
spinster, don't love anybody but you
Lilly. You are your aunty's streak oil
sunshine There's the tca-bell Come
Slong. For people with good appe'
tltes, like you and me, Lily, Aunt Alb
by's teas make life worth living.
AS people do not talk to baby three
years old, like Lilly, must have said
all that to myself, | did not say it
aloud. haven't come to being such a
crank as that quite yet.
Old fashioned novels allude to one's
"invisible familsr." begin to think
have one. ! must talk to it again il
have, for will not tell Laura about
it. Something very strange happened
last evening. What strange things dc
happen in this world!
l barely got Lilly in and her face
washed and clean slip on in time for
tea, and heard Laura wondering
where Fannie had gone with that child
as we came along the entry. noticed
when went into the dining-room thai
there was another plate set, and tina
Aunt Abby had on a lace collar, ant
that Laura wore her prettiest dress ant
had a rose in her bosom, and they were
waiting for somebody.