The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-22
MISS WILKINS 0
OF YOUNG LOVE.

'ft'' nv Low 'i , T'"Nl i.ii ann ''"i '''''F- ''"'
per x Brothers,
Love had lost her uother when Sh, WAS scarce more than
Il baby. she had been nrough, NJ Icy q rigorous willow. q
distant relative of her fathers. who had trained her accord
Ing to alt letters ot law aud faith. 81 memorable had t.en
her method, 50 thoroughly had Love been taught to perform
her duties. that th'tt had seemed I" Ia" danger "t Their
losing the distinction at hand and individual work. Little
Love had lived IS under the self-rcguiiting motive power If
an autumatun. her nativ. mcIiuations. whether toward grace
or pervessity. being whuH> am.natl@ to her tnstructress. as
Ia Il spiritual sun and wind. Cousin Daphne WrIthcrheai,
as the widow WAS called. was the only person with whom
she was brought in clu.e contact through her chHdhon'i. rf
her father sh" say very iittIe except at meals, at family
prayers and ON Sabbath days. when she sat for hours. with
her solemn. innocent eyes intent upon him. as h" proclairI-i
the truths "i TIN" Wort a"! thu teirofs of the Law from his
te-iirg pulpit.
"f,a,son E4unen Lori WIS 50 closely welded to his faith
and his devotion tina, h. seemed t" gain therrfr"m a stt"nse
stiffness. almnst ossir.ttiou. Of spirit People. while holding
him la utmost r,sl, tor his stern cpusi-tcuoy "f life. y~t
regarded him with a"" which had in it something al terror.
His fcrvrut zeal for the cause of missions seemed the ruling
passion of his life.
after a tire Cousin Daphne died. and though Love was a
young child it was esteemed that she had been 50 eXcellenuy
trained that she could keep house for her father. It was
after this time that sh. discovered the Old rag doll which
had been taken away from her when she was 8 years old.
and for which she had often longed. Perfectly ohedient. she
took it to her father with the request that she might keep it.
For the sake of discipline. rarson Lord told her to return it
to its hiding place, and the child was dutiful. hut she w"pt.
Her father observed her closely after this.
1T WAS at church that Love could look at the beautiful
face Of the 'Squire's wife. The 'sluire's lady mad brought t"
her second husbands home her young grandson. II years ~
age, Richard Pierce. lie s,w Love sitting III her fathers
pew.
Not a bright tint was there about Love except in hor face
and hair. Young Master Richard looked at her with the half
Indifferent. half-earnest gaze of an intellectual boy whose
mind is devoted to matter in his estimation more important
than the faces Of girls. and YET at times. in his avn
despite. his heart stirred family with the instincts and imsel-
nations of his kind. At last Love. compelled perhaps by his
gaze, looked at him. though it was in the midst of Z fiery
appeal from the pulpit. She Gazed at the boy with an utter
calmness and unconsciousness of scrutiny, az if he were
something innnimnts. Indeed, to this young Love, with her
perfect Innocence of ignorance and the long training of her
mind ON spiritual lines. Il boy did not mean as much as q girl.
nor much more than a rose bush or an apple tree. Richard.
as if something in himself of which he had not known, dis
covered by her gaze, looked away with a great blush. and
then Love turned her eyes from him toward his srandmotheF.
They were suddenly alert. fun of the most timid yet ardent
imagination The one love with which the child had any
acquaintance, and for which she had as yet any yearnnS.
was in the face of that elderly dame. 1t shone plain tn her
sight when she glanced at the grandson 10y her side. and it
ta,.,a, forth ill., e, r;.t. IL, .Mo ,indo,s ,f hor,cu zion
she saw little Love gazing at her in such tinidly heseechinE
and admiring wise. Love cast down her eyes before the
sweet mother look of the 'Squires lady. her heart ie.Ird, her
mouth Quivercd as if she would weep. She Thought that
never. never since her own mother. whose ca''sses She re-
meubercd better than her face. had there been any one as
beautiful as this woman. She was conscious of nothing ex-
cept that mother-presence which seemed to peFVafe the
whole church.
About this time = beautiful doll appeared in Loves room.
and Love was allowed to keep it. Then came q beautiful
white dress. 4 blue ribbon and pretty morocco shoes. Love
thought the gifts came from the 'Squire's lady. and never
questioned them. Her father enjoined her sternly not 20
allow her heart to dwell upon such vanities. but TO remember
that it was only her poor diving body which was 50 adorned,
then turned again with his usual dignity TO his sermon
The years passed. and Love went every week to the
'sauire's house To take tea. They loved the Young girl at the
great house. and when Richard Pierce cam home from coll
lege there Were four at the tea table where three haG been.
Love was shy "nd reserved. The young man could scarcely
take his eyes from her. though he strove hard not to stare
rudeIy. 1t seemed to him hat he had never in his whole life
seen anything quite 50 fair and wonderful Il this girl, who
seemed to sit in a sort of blue radiance. with u shaft of SUM-
light from the open upper half of the shutter gliding her
head. All the courtiy ease of manner for which he had been
quite famed among his associates deserted him.
\ delicate. dilatory courtship began. Richard was much in
e,r,ost Ian, ,oye VAS ynv ami aaye him little encourage
ment. The years came and went. and the young people were
quite grown up when Richard boldly went To her door ana
called for her. He had previously been forbidden the house.
Parson Lord had dedicated Love to the missionary cause.
and he would not consent to her marriage. This bold young
lover Disconnected him. however.
Come down. daughter said her father. still in that
strange voice. There is some one at the door who is DESTROYS
of speaking with YOU Then he went into his study and shut
the door.
Love went down. and richards face shone white. framed
in the doorway against 4 background of night gloom. He
flung an arm around her and drew her outside.
We have had enough of this. dear he said, shortly. If
You love me, tell me s. nov. for Gods sake.
oh. it is not right. 1 fear it is not right, Love gasrct.
and tremhle1 in his arms.
" let the right alone. Tell met
&" must not
Let the must not alone. Tell me-"
Yes said love. with a sigh. and then tri,t with q fdint
assertion of maiden dignity to ward off Richards kisses. IL
can be no more than-this.' she whispered. hrokenly. We
cannot be-marricd. Richard
" Why mott demanded Richard. WHY not, swcethcaft?'
e" 'Fathcr-father has vowed, lie does not wish me to
marry. Richard
We'll. marry YOU will. nevertheless. sweetheart
Never without his consent. l cannot. Richard
With or without. you shalt marry me. Love; but he will
NF ~ viva 'F unit 'N-'
courage in his face. oh she whispered. oh. Richard. if
you would only be a missionary"
Richard Pierce laughed so loud that the gay ring of it PEN
etrat.d to the pason in the study. i Will not hc a mission
AIRY, and yet marry me you shall. now know that you love
me, sweetheart, said he; then. before Love knew it, they
were standing before her father
The father would not consent to their marriage. but Richard
was defiant. He published tn" bans upon his own response
bility. and when the three weeks were over, the Squire, his
lady and Richard went to the parsonage. Love was brought
down to the study weeping. the parson still refused his con-
sent.
How dare yOu. tamper with the hottest feeling OF the hui
man heart" demanded the Squire of the parson. Here is
your daughter. loving this young man, and ready and willing
to honor and obey him all the days of her life, comfort him
in sorrow. and nurse him il. sickness: are you not, sweet
heart
Love nodded, sobbing' Much the same question was
asked Of Richard. and he answered Yes in amazement.
Then the Squire pronounced them man and wife. Tn" par
son seemed actually relieved. = . After his death 1t
came out that he had made the presents to his daughter
which she had attributed to the 'Suuire'S Lady. and he had
heen willing for her marriage TO take place though keeping
the letter of his vow.
)D--HIS DIST TT