Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-01-26
DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH.


Shyly she walked down the path be-
tween the pink and white primroses.
He stood at the gate waiting. When
she came near him che plucked large
bunch of the flowers, then pau ed and
looked at him from under her suubon-
net. He held out large, red apple.
She loved apples, snd beknew it, band
ing him the flowers, and with sudden
impulse she kissed him and ran 10 the
house.
That was years and years ago. but
they both remembered il. He had
| always brought her tho best Of every
thing he had. When they were grown
it seemed q matter Of cou Sc that he
should take her everything. He came
| to her with his grisfs. with his Joys,
ambitions, and hopes.
This evening she went down the
path to meet him, her white dress
touching the primroses as she walked.
He smiled joyously; new light shone
in his eyes, and hers responded.
1T must tell you Mary" he said, TAX
ing her hand. ~ cannot keep my
love to myself any longer"
Her heart throbbed. She had known
| it would come some day, but when she
tried to tell him how she loved him her
lips were dumb and only her eyes
spoke.
II knew you would be glad, Mary,
glad for my sake, and she's such o
lovely girl. ! only met her last month.
when / went to see my old college
chum, Bentley, but she has consented
to marry me soon. You will love her,
I know you will. I've told her what .
dear friend she will have in you"
30, yes, I'm sure she's-sbes lovely"
Mary responded with an effort, and
with. o little SILVER,
"How thought'ess I ami" he sx-
claimed. at has grewn SO shilly that
you are cold in that thin dress. How
pretty you look 10 white, Mary! But
YOU must 90 in, aud I must be of.
Good-by," aud he held out his hand.
81 knew you would be glad to hear Of
my happiness"
, He was gone. Slowly she walked
back amid the flowers, ard no one ever
knew why she took of the white dress
and laid it away for years.
Philip Newton married within q
I month, but he left the old home. May.
field was too small and quiet place
: lfor b wife.
, Six times the primroses had blumsd
since he went away.
, eyes, his wife is dead, and they So,
: he is coming here again to live."
= Mary turned away from the speaker
and looked out of the window. Tht
r primroses would soon lie in bloom
People expected him back. yet it wa'
1.-TWO years before he came, bringing hi
lfive-year-old daughter. They said h
was changed. 1t had disappointed
May6eld people when he married ava,
from them. They looked at him rath
l er askance now,
One evening Mary saw him comm,
9 DOWN the street. He stopped at tn
gate. She went down the path t
i meet him. She had put on Q whit
J dress once more. and it kissed ih
. flowers as she walked. He SCENE
timid, but she held out her hand Wit
cordial smile.
J. "It is just eight years since we stoo
81 here together, Mary"
"Yes, eight years; and she smi'e'
: "Mary," be began, nervously, "it WI
all mistake" He took of his b
and wiped his brow. "But I didu
know it until too late. Il was you
loved. Can you love me nowf"
She looked at him. noting the gr'
in his hair, and careworn expression
his facs. She Was sorry but 81
answered. softly and sadly: an
Philip, it is too lats. Iloved you one
butEbut that Vas long ago. I sh'
never marry.
Mechanically he leaned against 1
fence to steady himself. The pain
felt showed in HE face. She turned
go.
MARY, wait -ons word"
She paused. just then his lit
2 daughter danced up 70 him and sli
! ped her hand in his. He stopped q
kissed her. Shyly the child glanc
: at Mary; then stroking her white dr.
E carelessly. abe asked:
7 AREN'T you goiug 70 kiss me, toe
I Mary looked at the little girls fa'
!. so like the face Of the Phi lip she b
n loved years ago. As she leaned
Y give the child Hiss. two s,ft lit
: arms orept about her neck. and
q baby face was raised to hers. Like
d fash the past came back to her, q
i with cry she caught the child to
: heart and darted toward the hou
Halt way up she turned.
: "Phiiip, you-you may c'me agar
a, she said.
4 A glad light broke over his face
l. !, he watched her claspiny his child
- Ihsr heart whilo she sped along 1