The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-05-08

maniiy, and because mis- better self
would not permit him 10 accomplish
bis purpose IN the actIve walks Of liio,
surrounded by warm pulaatng hu-
man hearts, be withdrew from among
them, and went West as far West ~
Il was possible, and made a little homo
Tor himself among the soliiudes Of the
Pacific coast He was rich IN broad
acres Of wild pasture land, aud content
That they should represent bis wealth.
But Of late an eastern syndicate dis
covering the future possibilities Of the
place had made him a magnificent
offer for his sage-covorod acres, which
he had Indignantly refused What
cared he for gold2 His wants were
few, and his scanty income quite sup
piled them. His dog, his COW, bis
saddle horse and his flowers we're his
companions All no asked Of the
world was to let him entirely alone m
his lonely corner, and even this nod
est request was denied Failing in
their attempts to secure his lands the
syndicate had purchased those adja-
cent, and the motor brought crowds
Of pleasure-seekers to his very door
three times a day. Must be 60 away
from his friend, the ocean, and seek
some less attractive solitude? Was
there any place in all the earth where
curious, prying tourists would not
venture? He thought he was trying to
forget the dark chapter Of his life, and
all the while he was nursing the mem
DRY Of it in his resentment to man
kind.
"And 50 tomorrow is Easter" he
unused, as the girlish voices grew faint
and fainter with the lengthening dis
lance between. 81 used to keep holt
days in that other life Of mine; but /
have kept no record Of them for 10
years. / was to have married Edna
Eldred on Easter Sunday, 10 years
ago." His eyes turned with pathetic
longing to the bank Of snowy Gala
lilies swaying their waxen goblets in
the breeze at his side. On Easter
Sunday, 10 years ago tomorrow" he
repeated sadly. az wonder that 1
have cared for Gala lilies since, for
they always reminded me of her; but
somehow my life would be incomplete
without them" Was it quite COM
plete with them. He seemed to think
so, but his face did not mirror the
completeness.
81 bought Edna a Gala lily bulb at
Christmas time that year." he con-
tinued, "and we said that its first
blossom should unfold for our we'd
ding day. How we watched that bud,
my little sweetheart and /, for she
was mine then, before my college
chum, Walter Benton came with his
greater facination, and deliberately
set about winning her heart from me.
That first Gala lily bud opened to full
perfection on Easter Sunday, and
crowned his wedding feast, not
mine.
He was bending over the lilies, al
most caressing them with his strong
/ hands, and did not see the eager little
face pressed against the rude fence by
which his garden was inclosed. A
: moment later he was startled by a
soft, childish voice lisping:
: "Please, Mr.. Man, may have one
: lily for my pretty mammals Easter ?"
Turning about, this picture met his
: gaze: A round, rosy face, wide en-.
: treating blue eyes, a dimpled chin
resting on the topmost Stat of the
t fence, the tips of ten rosy fingers, a
wide-rimmed hat blown backward and
4 mass Of fluffy hair tossing about in
) golden confusion. Had he schoolet
t his heart for nothing all these years
that such a strong desire to take the
: darling in his arms and kiss her sof
/ little mouth should fill him with long
g ing now?
s "Mamma says that Easter is never
: a happy day for her, continued thu
a child with pathetic break in hel
e voice, like the beginning of sob
t "and guess that one of those prett,
d lilies would make her forget that sh