The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-05-29

claim an answer to my question. Mean
while, promises me, dear, you will try not
only to appreciate my love- but to give me
some in return, if ever so little. | can
wait [ can bide my time in patience.
You must see that the boy-and girl affec
ton, good of its kind, could not last yet
makes secure foundation for this stronger,
truer love. Only try to love me, my
Marcia. Give me-give yourself-time.
Only three little months Meanwhile no
word, no look shall annoy you. My love
shall still masquerade in friendship $
guise. Marcia demurred For old
sakes sake, dear, he pleaded and Mar
cia hesitated, then yielded.
''Three months, then, she said.
Even had he so desired. Tom would
have found little opportunity during the
ensuing week to press his suit. There
were many to claim her as partner in the
rides, drives, dances, and picnics which
made Oryille gay in the summer season.
She did not avoid him, but let herself be
SO monopolized by others and was 50 Sc
renely Indifferent to his tender glances that
he was piqued and felt small desire to try
pique her in return. The opportunity he
sought seemed at last to come. A school
friend came to visit Marcia. She had, OF
course, been described to Tom with many
charming superlatives.
aShe is so beautiful, so gentle, so sweet,
said Marcia, ''you will be sure to like her,
and you must help me to make her enjoy
her visit. Be sure to call soon and often.
Tom said to himself at first that ne
would do nothing of the sort; then sud
denly came a plan, purpose, none the
less strong because so quickly formed
He would try Marcia by attention to this
friend of hers. He would see if he could
not start spark of Jealousy, and prove
that for all her apparent Indifference some
fire of love smoldered in her heart. "All
fair in love and war, he exclaimed impa-
tiently as conscience warned him that this
course was neither manly nor honorable.
Miss Arnold came, a doll-faced blonde
with appealing eyes and sweet, confding
ways. She adored Marcia-strong, intel
lectual Marcia-with schoolgirl passion,
and Marcia, on her part, gave Annette
tender, protecting love.
Tom found the game Of pique delightful;
although he could not make sure whether
or not Marcia cared. Indeed in his en-
ioyment of Miss Arnold society he quite
forget to watch. He was discontented
whenever any one else engaged Miss Ar
mold S attention He felt a grievous lack
in any day which did not give him some
words with her alone. The touch OF her
wind-tossed ribbons thrilled him, the rose
dropped from her hair gathered cigar scent
in his pocket In fact, his heart had
passed from his keeping before he had
realized-shamefully enough-that Marcia
had been right in calling his admiration
for her feeting fancy. But Marcia,
whose love he had sought, was he right III
thinking she was changed, distrait2 The
cause? All that he sought in vain, ano
at last, in sheer despair, he gave up to the
wholesome fact that no man can know
woman mind unless she tells it-if she
can.
The inevitable crisis came. A merry
party had been making the round of the
golf links lately established, and had beer
driven home by summer shower. Ton
had proposed to Miss Arnold to try pic
turesqne little mountain path. 1t wal
rough He apologized profusely for sug
costing way so unfit for her to tread, bu
| cannot say he regretted choice which
made it necessary for her to lean on hi
arm so often, so frequently accept the al(
of his hand. On a declivity her foo
slipped. He caught her in his arms. Ant
then-the dear face was so tantalizlngly
so irresistibly near his own-instead o
releasing her he pressed her close, close t.
his heart and dropped his lips to hers in
long, clinging caress.
A quick flush, half of joy, half OF mod
esty, dyed her face, and her lashes droope'
over the love-ight in her eyes. He woul'
have poured out his passionate tale of love
but sudden thought checked him. Mar
cia He had craved her love-was eve
now biding the time he himself. had set
and what right had he to make love t
another? In silence he placed Annette
hand on his arm and they took the home
ward path. As soon as might be he wen
off alone to commune with himself. Mar
cia was right. That was passing fancy
She was his dear friend But love-ah
he had never even dreamed what it mean
till this hot, delicious food coursed throug
his veins. o ! to tell her, his darling, a
he thought and felt
There was hope for him-hope spoke
by her quivering lids, her flush, her $
lenee. o, to change it to glorious Gel
tainty.
"But no." he said, II have wronge
Marcia. and now the least | can do Is
wait in all honor like man till the thre
months erd, and then, if honorably | al
free-O, my little Annette Only thrf
months 7
!
nette returned home, Marcia went for
visit to Kentucky, and the chill splendor
December was abroad when she returne
At the first opportunity Tom asked her
walk with him to Mountain View. The
were silent on the way-each though
busy. Long they stood with eyes all III
seeing turned toward the sunset pagean
ere Tom mustered courage to speak.
ssMarcia, he said, ''the three mont
after which 1 was to have my answer a
more than passed. "
HTom, she faltered, Il am sorr.
but As she lifted her eyes such
sudden radiance of JOY shone in his tn
she paused bewildered; then, as the tru
flashed on her, she laughed merrily. H
laughter was irresistible. Tom joined.
9Oh, you dear ridiculous boy = 81
cried, when she could get her breat
at is true. You do care for someo
else. y And if Tom s heart had been /
own he would have laid it at her feet, b
cause she refrained from saying, II to
you so.
Yes he said, ''yOu were right.
love YOU dearly as my friend my siste
Marcia, but the other feeling | did n
know before.
They were silent for awhile. &C
YOU give me Miss Arnold : address?