The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-02

| her. Edith, who had spent a fortnight
with Margaret, during her convdlesence
and previous to her own hasty wedding,
wondered at the depth of sweetness
grief had fathomed. The boys, who
had once loved their beautiful sister
enthusiastically, now loved her rever-
emily. Douglas Hepburn. bowling be-
fore her, realized that this was not the
woman he had SO loved and longed
for. Margaret told him thas what he
wished could never be. Il have al
ways loved Phillip" she said. and i
love him now. ] should fall below my
ideal of myself il I should offer you, in
return for your great love, love which
belongs to another. No. Douglas, We
are not people who change or forget
you and l. 1t is best SO. Let US say
goodbye, for the dream is dreamed"
For a long minute Douglas Hep
burns eyes burned steadily into hers
In that long minute. he realized how
hard her struggle and how dear her
victory. He saw the shrine of this
woman's soul. and knew that the
sacrifice Offered there. was not for him.
Margaret" very tenderly. II feel
that you know best, and il shall be as
you say. / do not ask for your love;
only lay the supreme love Of my life
at your feet, as a tribute 10 your sweet
womanhood. / shall not see you again.
L
Dry of you will always be precious and
lovely to me. Goodbye, dear love" He
bowed low over her hand. then was
gone. They never met again
The children and Margaret are in the
old orchard. Again the sweet apple
blossoms and bright sunshine are over
head II any memory Of one beautiful
spring. five long years ago, comes 10
a
sign. She goes on with her story OF
mighty prince and a beautiful princess
as TRANQUILITY as If all the past had been
as calm as this golden afternoon. Her
eyes wonder from one to another Of the
group, with perhaps, just passing
thought Of the day-beautiful with BIOS
SONS like today-that she had thrown
her matrimonial bomb in the camp.
The Professor, now a tall. courtly lad,
maintaining with difficulty a dignified
position on a gnarled stump, is absorb
ing his beloved Bulwer. Robby is prone
on the grass, gazing straight UP into
the deep sky. apparently rumunating
on matters of profound Importance
Rodney-handsome as a play Apollo.
is playing checkers with Jimmie, and
is evidently cornered. Baby Louise. re-
joiceing in the dignity of eight years, is
reluctantly lingering near enough to
hear the story, though her private opin-
ion is that fairy stories are very silly.
On Margaret's lap, sits tot with eyes
like Edith's, which same are expanding
to Saucer-like proportions, as Marga-
ret'S imagination becomes rampant and
pictures impossible giants and ogres,
securely chained in impregnable castles
Now" says Margaret. finally. hav-
ing dissolved all troubles. killed all the
giants, and triumphantly married the
rescued princess to the faithful prince,
run to ma, Baby Edith. and all OF you,
for here comes Mr.. Ballinger, who pos
Sibly wants to see me-.
Possibly growls the Professor, with
smiling irony, as he joins the general
flight.
webster" she begins TO speak al
most before the many looking new
conner has reached her side, Just 10
surprise you and as a reward for your
patient continuance in well-doing, will
make a proclamation. Hear We. hear
ye''-laughing, though her eyes are fill
ed with tears-I will marry you when
ever you wish-and-and-Id do love you
very-dearly indeed" slowly.The frank
face so near her own glows with sudden
light. then pales. Margaret, do not
make any mistake-it would be fear
full now. You are not thinking Of
OFF
mo 1 am not thinking of Phillip-a
girl loved him and died with him. l
am a woman now, and with a woman's
heart and soul, l love you. You be-
lieve me?"
Eyes Margaret, have always believ-
ed you" Then the apple blossoms
blushed, for they were young and in
nocent. and had never seen what the
apple blossoms of Eden saw-a man
taking the woman he loved in his arms,
to have and TO hold
CTHE END)