Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-06-22
THE TEST OF LOVE
barbara Msrriden Came Near Civ
m6 Up a Brave Man For
= Coward.



OF all the noble rivers that 20 bound.
i1- to the sea none Is more splendid
than the Columbia. Its pine clad banks
give a majestic setting for its silver
stream. But why should It be called
silver7 AT times II ~ the deepest green
deeper aud more luminous than the
heart OF a jewel There are hours
wheL rs cascades have "a thousand col.
ors. lie mother OF pearl. There are
dawus. after the mist has lifted. when
fine broad surface Of the river above
the cascades is actually saffron or bur.
nishcd gold.
Barbara Merriden knew II In every
mood aud loved II whether II was som
Der with storm or s; lien In the harsh
autumn days or sc.ntllluut Under dc
July sunshine. She was as much al
home upon the river as on the land.
and the firm earth. with all Its comfort
and beauty. could never give her the
Joy that she felt when the current toOB
her boat in its strong embrace.
She went 10 thu river In her sorrow.
ful momcnts as well as 10 her happy
Ones. She He'd to Il as TO a friend.
When George Caxton told her that be
loved her. she ran to the river 10 tell II
OF tie blessing that had come into her
lie. But some way she dil not feel
the ecstasy she had expected to. The
pleasure 10 L-r heart DID not rise 20
nett the splcndor Of water and sky
and shore. She had cfteH looked for
ward 10 this hour as the browning jos
OF her lie. But with grief she dlscov
cred that the gorg Of nature had q
higher note than the love lyric of her
heart.
Perhaps It was because the hour had
been Toe lolg expected. George CaX.
ton and Barbara Merridcn had gone te
school together. They knew every
event OF each others lives. They had
always been attached to each other
George had never thought of any Other
girl WITH emotion. and Barbara had
long felt that she was destined TO b
his wife. She bad said yes to his ear
nest question with gratitude and bap
piness. yet now In the mystic hour by
the river. with the sun shedding lis
last exquisite glow upon an unreal
world. she felt q WEAKNESS Of spirit al
the moderation of her JOY.
She was turning from her beautiful
river. humiliaied al the lnadequacy OF
her own emotions. when she saw walk.
ing among the pines. with eyes fixed
upon the distant glory Of the sky, q
young man whom she had never seen
before. He did not see her till she was
close by hinl. and then he looked with
q start at the face OF the girl. splrltua.
and exquisite with It's deep emotional
experience. He stopped and looked al
Der. rapt. as II she had peer some re.
Gently embodied soul created for this
wondrous hour. and she stopped. TOO
enchanted by the eloquence Of his face
When be spoke. 1t was to say some
thing remarkable:
"Is II always mysterious and fear
fully beautiful in these woods7" be
asked.
1T Is always beautiful here" shC
said. speaking ms II In n dream. "Ant
sometimes II seems unreal and ike
like a phantom world, as II does TO
night"
Never before In her life had she spo
ken In the way that she desired. 1
was her habit 10 frame her speech II
commonplace words.
IL should like to walk out on tina
golden water" he went on. III seem.
as II II might bear one up. does II not?'
Barbara had a fancy and Indulge,
herself In H.
1T Will bear mp any one whose hear
is light" she smiled. "But. mind you
II mnst have oo care at all IL must b
as light as ether"
would II bear you upT' he asked.
She shook her head mournfully. an.
be said In a voice that moved her
"And ! should sink like o stone"
seemed Impossible for them 10 par
while that witch light CLEANED upo
their enchanted wood. aud when til
shadows grew gray they became
part Of them Ike shadows they fade,
from zach Others sight.
That niebi when Barbara went abOu
Der duties and afterward when she In
IN Der bed sbP found herself happ
With the elate and triumphant happ
pess OF which sbe bad dreamed
George caxton. her promised love-
semed a pfrt n the workaday worll
Her thoughts iurocd away rom biz
n spite Ct Der cIorts TO be loyal.
She felt sure she would peet n
StTaageT GcalD n the woods. aud Sd
ga many tiiaes. Re was a writer b
vocation lie rven confessed 10 helm
poet. re was not wen. b. said. III
city bad worn on bin. 10 be bad CON
Tor . long rvsi iheiP among the pine
Bis pnme wrs Cecil Underwood.
porhara found IL Impossible 10 resi-,
~ etpTP 81 w. perso9pIIfy- lie seen