The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-02-15

loCkcu up ntTt IN RUM WIN MIN al
night girl caught her breath
and half rose from her chair" and for
what? | cannot even tell him. | am
bound not to tell him. must sit by
and see him sacrifice himself TO friend
shipl'"
"Oh, sir, do you think" She bent
forward suddenly and. hiding her face
in her hands. rested them upon his
knees. He placed his own hand lightly
upon her head and wondered if ii were
treason to have discovered that her
hair was a mass of curls and clustering
ringlets.
THAT is only what you were saying
TO yourself, not what | am thinking.
When called you child Iabsolved you
from all the crimes of womanhood.
There are many actions that flow nat
orally from childish hearts which carry
not the slightest flavor of immodesty;
and yet woman may not copy them.
So in this, my young friend"
"Ah, you do not say my child now!"
"No, you have passed into woman
hood with the consciousness of this
error. / say error, because it is a sit
uation that you should not have been
placed in-no. not TO save human life
not even to save your own; for the
unscarred whiteness of a woman's soul
is the priceless pearl of eternity, and
not to be staked on earth. But the
thought behind it all was not your own.
You yielded under the pressure of
fear and advice. Your objections We're
overcome, and you obeyed an elder per-
son in whom you had implicit conf
dence. That is all, and understand"
Then they did not tell you about
mel" she whispered, breathlessly.
"No; you have told me all that know
of you, here in the dark. You are ten
der, modest, true and pure; and were
you my wife in truth, l would not be
ashamed to tell this story to the world
myself and own you as such after"
The words fell from his lips so tender
ly, 50 kindly, she took his hand in both
of hers, and laid her face upon it, cry
ing silently.
THE blame of it all is on our friend,
the DOCTOR" he continued, deeply
| touched, and his voice little unsteady.
what tumultuous, headlong, hurri-
cane sort of fellow he is! There is no
blame for you; for look, if l am here.
how could you have resisted him? And
it is only his judgment that was at
| 20 Of oil Ir fc Ind
Why. truer heart never beat than
Brodnar's."
would it offend you if i ask ques-
tion?" She had waited for composure,
and now did not lift her head.
"Why, no, of course"
you are right sure?"
fright sure"
Then, how could any gentleman
consent to be placed in such position
as yours? You must have known how
embarrassing it was to be for me-" His
first inclination was to whistle out his
establishment, but he restrained him
self.
"You forget, my child see you have
backsided into childhood-you forg It
/
that in the first place was appealed t.
In behalf of woman and no gentleman
may resist that. And then | had no rea
son to suspect that was to marry
girl. 1t might have been an expert
eHced widow. Indeed"
"But you are glad it wasn't, are you
not ?" she asked, anxiously.
yes, lny child"
Does my question then indicate tina
am child?"
Eyes, my child"
81 don't see why"
Because you are still-a child" Sh
was not satisfied.
'Mr. Somers, I want you to thin
well of me always, and the thought tina
/ may meet you sometime doesn't EN-
barrass me now. 1t would not emba1
rass me if | did meet you-even if
should meet you tomorrow. But wis
you to know all about me, and am &C
ing to tell you every thing from the be
ginning"
mo, indeed, you shall not" he sale
quickly. She lifted her head, startled
'Why Motif / choose? / am NO
afraid to trust you"
'Noi no! Miss Frances"
"Ah, am woman again!"
ayes, woman of a charm so swee
and a heart so true that Richard Son
ers must arm himself. Not your honor
but mine, the honor of your husband
is at stake, and you promised to regar
that always"
"And l shall, sir; only tell me how.
"Why, have promised my friend nc
TO seek TO find out, or permit anyon
TO tell me anything about you. l ma
not let even you inform me. You mu:
not"
She was silent, disturbed. and woI
dering at his intense earnestness.
Then she said, in awe at the myster
of it all: "When we part tonight W
are to meet as friends no more? Yo
may never take my hand in yours an
speak kindly to me again? Oh, sir. 20
do not. know, you do not know VIII;
your tenderness has done for the girl
no. the woman you call child. Yo
Go not know what it is to have MISE
q fathers care, mothers"
''Hush!" he cried. mot one woI
| pnOre Won ara m, Linz IL bar1-ha,