Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-06-18


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! On S$NMHl began to bear Its
| C<NSGNA first crop of fruit
kANIS9 When firstI stepped
CSTtH8JV& into the world, the
SeY novelty and fresh
AV ness of all l saw
w had kept the evil
which I had imbibed in the pack-
ground. But now that was a man
now that the glamour with when ooy
surrounds everything had faded away
much of Mr.. Loraine's teaching. many
of his cynical axioms. came BACK per
haps unawares, to me. The certainty
which he had always felt as to some
selfish motive being the hidden MAIN
spring in every action OF man Ut
woman, with me became at least sus-
picion. l had already met with faise
friends, who had. under the guise Oh
| friendship, robbed me not only Oh
money, but of what value more, trust
in my fellows. After while. began
! to persuade myself that such popular
ity as enjoyed was not due to my own
merits, but to my worldly possessions
that l was by no means fine fellow-
merely young man Of large property
This feeling is a danger which con-
tinually besets rich and sensitive
man. especially II his companions are
poorer than himself, and his own ma
ture is not such as can accept fattery
ns is his due. Under such circum-
stances, 1t is easy to develop much OF
the cynIcIsm of Julian Lorraine.
Women had as yet done nothing to
lower my self-esteem. Until now, had
| not found the woman could love. One
reason for this was. that was still OF
! n romantic nature. and was resolved
that whomsoever / asked to be my wife
should love me for myself. not for my
money.
wish, SO far as possible. to keep this
ale free from any sarcastic remarks OF
/ my own. but Mt that time l often Won
iered II the mothers OF fair daughters
would have found me such charming
fellow had not Julian Lorraine made that
brief will.
But at last I was in love-hopeless-
ly, unreservedly In love. My nature Is.
I believe. n passionate one, and now
that It had found Its aim. gave 1t full
and free scope. l loved madly. blind
ly, and. alas! jealously.
J. had set my heart upon the daughter
, II no wealthy or well-born family. The
girl l loved was not one whom met In
society: yet l proudly thought OF the
day when every eye would turn and be
dazzled by her beauty-when people
who appraised the charms OF fair
women would rank those OF my wife
high above all.
| or course was partial-all lovers are
but now. as glance from my paper
70 the portrait which hangs on the
wall facing me. I tell myself that my
love did not lead me far astray.
The soft. thick fair hair growing
low down on the forehead. and swept
back over the ear to Join the knotted.
silky mass Mt the back OF the head.
The head itself. small. well-shapcd.
and. above all. well-poiscd. The large.
soft. dark blue eyes. The fringe OF
long. straight lashcs-yes. straight.
not curved-falling. when the eyes are
closed. literally on the check. The
gIrlish. yet perfect figure. All. need
not look Mt the portrait to recall and
describe my love!
For the rest, her name was Viola
Keith. She was an orphan. and all but
alone.
How met her. when mo, her. mat
ters little. Nearly all FIRST meetings
take place under prosaic circumstances.
Anyway. rs my eyes met hers, told
myself that looked at he one woman
whom x was possible for me to love
with an eternal love.
knew nothing of her family or her
surroundings. I cared to know nothing.
One question only asked myself: can
win her. and win her for my own
sake7 Here. even hero. In the first
flush OF my new love, suspicion of mo-
tive must be guarded against.
So when Mt last | was able TO tell
her what name I bore, / changed It.
and called myself Mr.. Julian vane.
She should. II she loved me. marry
inc, thinking she was marrying one in
her own station of life.
No, that her station was anything to
be ashamed of. So far "a could gath.
or, she was one of tho many whose
parents leave their children a slendc,
provision. yc, large enough to live up.
on in respcctability and comfort Viola
found. lived in small house. with q
prim old dame. the pink of dignity ant
proprie,y. and who had formerly beer
the girls schooi-mistress: solitary
lonely life 1t must have been for the
girl.
l laughed as I thought how, II she
loved me. | would draw her from hel
dull home. and show her the greai
world and the Elories thereof. How
was | 10 WOO herr We we're not like
ly TO meet at any mutual friend.
house. I had no sister. cousin or am
one who could do me a friendly turn IL
the matter. Yet every moment OF sus
pense would be an age to me. mus
do something. So one day waited un
I'll l saw Viola leave the house.
watched her tall, graceful form pas,
out OF my sight, and by great effor
. repressed my desire to follow her. Ther
l walked TO her house, and requested
to see Miss Rossiter. the prim oil
maiden lady aforesaid.
1 told her in plain words the objec
! OF my calling. I spoke frankly OF m.
love for her companion, and begged tha
M I.Zsz