Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-06-18
With His Old Loves Byes.

i
woman at all, cried Major Ashley,
between the whiffs Of cigar.
How is that inquired l4ieuten-
ant Bolton. For my part. ! think
q girl looks awfnlly jolly seated on
bicycle, or playing cricket
The Major shook his head.
~Giye me the girl of 20 years ago,
womanly, modest and pure. The
gir!of to-day ] do not care for, she
il t-r too bold and-weIl-mascn-
line.
Charlie Bolton laughed heartily.
Look here, Major. he said. IN bet
you anything yoal sasi b nsassying
new woman
Il shall never marry q. all, Char
lie. my boy. ] have cared for but
one woman in my life, and | do
not think l shall ever care for
another
Charlie rose and went over to the
Majors side.
Forgive me- he said, Il am
afraid have recalled some painful
memory in your life. might have
guessed you had reason for re-
naming single
'You are right, Chsslie.' he re-
piled, by saying you have called
up q painful memory in my life,
bat do not apologize for doing so.
Sit down, lad, and I will tell You
all about it-this memory. It is
10 years ago. began the Major,
when first met Alice Dare-I had
just reached the age of 81. She
was Is and very beautiful. think
that | fell in love at first sight
She was with her mother at
garden party, where l also was q
guest. She wore q simple white
dress, with cluster Of golden-eyed
marguerites at her throat, and q
large hat trimmed with the same
flowers.
AFTER that our meetings were
frequent. She used to manage to
steal ont in the dusk of the even
ings TO meet me, her cheeks all
aglow with bushes.
'0ne evening she came, not with
her usual quick, light step, but
slowly and sadly, her beautiful eyes
full of 'unshed tears
20, Eric she whispered, shaking
like an aspen 'you-you and I are
to be separated. Ny parents are
forcing me into q hateful marriage
with q man whom 1 abhor. / be-
lieve my father Is in his debt, and
unless / consent to be his wife my
parents will be ruined and home
less.
My indignation knew no bounds.
l refused to give her up.
'It is cruel sacrifice she said,
yet it must be made. l cannot
see my parents ruined. l must
save them.'
Then l got angry and accused
her of not loving me. Of being o
ilirt but oil the while knew that
l was wrong, knew that her whole
heart was mine. She did love me
truly. Yet her duty to her parents
stood before her affection for me.
we parted, both broken hearted.
l never saw her again. Two years
later news came to me of her death.
She died, leaving q child-.-a girl,
12 months old.
THAT is my love story Charlie;
it happened 10 years ago. I have
never loved any woman in all those
years. / don't think ever
SHALL
Just the day for a spin,' said
Eric Ashley to himself, as he
mounted his bicycle. 'I'l take o |
jolly good turn round the country, |
have lunch at wayside inn, get
back in time to change, and catch |
the 3 o'clock train for London
The major had not slept we'll the |
previous night. Thoughts Of the |
past had come crowding through |
his brain, banishing sleep until
long after daybreak.
lt was scarcely 6 o'clock and the |
air was glorious. The birds were
singing their sweetest, and all ma |
ture was fair to see. The major
had ridden about six miles, when
he saw approaching him another
machine.
As it came nearer he could see
that its rider was shabby, dirty
looking man, with steel-blue eyes. |