Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-05-09
FOR OLD SAKE'S SAKE

1t is a commonplace Of speech that
spots. The keen observer Of his kind,
who has not twelve ayioms wherewith
to work the theorems of life, but
twelve hundred, accepts it as gospel.
Raymond, who was not a keen observ-
er, but man with faith in his heart,
did not accept it, IL the face of ad
vice, and caution, aid good counsel,
he decided to reduce it to the absurd
and marry Cicely G.anville. Success
crowned him, as even those who warn
ed him know now, hlt it was a des-
perate risk.
Far back in the days which it were
heresy to doubt were as good as they
were DID, when Alaa was just the
stolid small son of Captain Raymond,
and Cicely was but the angel-faced
little daughter of Captain Raymond's
first-lieutenant, Marl!tt. the boy and
girl had been fond of one another.
They had made mud.pies and hunted
the first wildflowerg of the plains,
and had ridden burrers and bronchos
together. They had wintered and
summered, in each others company,
the mountains and prairies of the
Southwest, while Il land was yet
given over to the Lever-ending dis
turbances Of the hoftiles They had
learned what it was 10 have only one
another for playmates for months at
time. And because OF the hardships of
long marches and tht joys of a half
savage freedom shared together, they
came to think themselves inseparable.
was to be civilized. She was sent
East and abroad t, school, Alan
Raymond went through West Point
and got his commission. Thereupon
Fate-which at times does what
might be expected of her-sent
him to the same post where the
Marlitts were stationed, and he
saw Cicely again. Hs looked into the
placed depths of her long, gray eyes,
and remembered the past. He looked
at the curving red lil,s and the thick
brown hair, and guessed the future.
She had changed for the worse and
for the better. She hyd been civilized,
and was less frank; she had learned
to attain her ends by indirect means,
yet, as women go, Lhe was honest.
But the sanity face yfas more beauti-
full and the child was grown to one
of those women who n to love is to
worship. And in due. time Raymond
loved her.
There are men wins take their love
as simply as they d. the breath of
their life. 1t is necessary to them,
but they do not gu mad with the
ecstasy of its possession. When Ray
mond had told Cicely that he loved
her, and when she had laid her head
upon his shoulder aud had put her
slender clinging hands in his, and,
turning up the beautiful, deep eyes
to his face, had said, II love you" he
was satisfied. His fIult, if such it
were, was that he WAS undemonstra-
tive, and Cicely's-thtngh some count
1t virtue in womar-that she was
jealous. OF all vices, jealousy carries
with 1t its own swift est punishment.
1t realizes its unreason, but is power
less-like dreamer Who suffers and
can not awake, though he knows, the
while, that he is drealsing. She knew
in her heart that her lovers word
was worth more than most mems
VOWS; she knew that his purpose was
direct and honest, arsj yet she doubt
ed. The tiny stone of suspicion be-
gan to roll. A question which Cicely
was too proud to ask would have
checked it, but it rushed on and be-
came an avalanche that buried and
crushed their happ ness under its
mass. Raymond look I'D on dazed. He
could not understand.
When it was too late, it was made
plain. Cicely sat beft re her own fire,
in the dusk. and look I'd quietly at the
blazing logs. The light shone on her
fair face and on her cleaning hair.
Raymond stood and looked down at
her, resting his arm on the mantel-
piece. He was an honest man. He
had no intention Of speaking of even
the love of the past 10 another mans
wife, but beside the ank reality rose
up in front of him the might-have-
been of his life, and lie cried out from
the depths:
"Cicely, why did you do it?" he
asked.
She started back and looked up at
him. For one long minute the deep
| eyes gaZed into his nnd saw there tho