Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-06-13
was, as always, my own true lover!
Could it be possible that I had been


soundly in my own thoughts, and went
gayly singing about the house. When
clare talked, next morning, at break.
last OF going home, would not listen
TO her, and I compelled her to promi.
me at least another month.
by this time we were well into Jn1v
ana the cherries were ripe. Oscar had
eeen very busy, and came only two
evenings in the week, and as T remem.
Dered afterWard, Glare contrived to be
occupied on these evenings in her own
room. But on certain Wednesday
evening | had begged them to pick a
basket OF. cherries for me that I might
make cherry pie for tea on Oscars
next visit, and though Glare had begun
by making some excuse it ended by
both going out to get the cherries.
They stayed long while, and as il
was getting dark went to call them.
and when I found them he was kneel-
ing at her feet, her hands were tightly
clased in his. and she was sobbing Bit
terly.
You love me-" he was saying, "your
eyes have said it, and you dare not
deny it,
Il do not love you," she said, an.
grily, but her voice faltered. 'And I
Go not respect you-what should I
think of myself, either-I would de-
spise myself even more than I do YOU.
II l could listen to words of love from
the man who is to marry my own dear
friend"
But you love me in spite of all
that!' he interrupted, triumphantly.
"Oh, don't think but despise myself!
have kept away from YOU that T
might not see your maddening beauty.
but your heavenly eyes have danced
before me. Your enchanting voice has
rung in my ears. Among thousand
men and women I see but your face.
Among ten thousand sounds hear but
your voice. Sleeping or waking I see
but you, you alone, only you, forever.
Hear me- Glare. and don't lie to me or
to yourself. You do love me!''
s'sL do not-I cannot love my friends
betrothed 1usband - 2 she said. family.
but had Started to his feet, and in a
monent he held her in his arms.sand
in anether moment i was bes fhem. I
He IS 80 no smore; hee eiiss 3fee man.
and you are Tree 10 loYs II lln, Glare. .,
shudd ddered at my ivoice:I knew
i sounded like the foilee Of dbom to
them
Glare gave one quick. sharp cry, and
him violently from her, turned
ana led away in the darkness.
oscar said nothing. I was glad he
lid not ask me to forgive him: it wouId
have seemed SO heartless then. so ter
ribly cruel.
do not grieve," said, at last, for I
saw that must speak, cit is so much
better that l should know now than
She will listen when YOU
speak to her again, and-she will love
YOU. Good-bye-be happy"
L don't know if he answered an |
ming; l didn't hear him. I found nv
way through the darkness to the
house, and to my own room. When I
came down stairs in the morning
Jlare was gone, and we never met
gain.
But she wrote to me about a year
ater. She did not marry Oscar Eek
from; she married a man who had
owed her long and quite hopelessly.
he made him understand that his love
vas no longer hopeless. On the day
he married him she wrote last good
we to me, for she was going with bin
India as a missionary. They both
lied there within a few years, and It
vas with thrill Of triumph that I re-
llzed how my own familiar friend,
hough tried and tempted sorely, had
ot after all been faithless to me.
When l next saw Oscar Eckstrom
e was nobler and a better man: his
ace was furroWed and his dark hair
7as streaked with gray, and I-had
OF grown younger. My dear mother
ad died, and was alone in the world,
nd | had never ceased to love him,
nd he knew it.
And l never ceased to love you,
'l1a," he said, meekly enough, but
cry sincerely. believe me, dear.
1as a mere midsummer madness: the
lamour thrown me by her beauty;
very moment Of the time my soul was |
'ue to you. Forgive me, dear one!
he years are going fast-let us waste
D more of them"
Well, answered nothing much then;
ut somehow Oscar got in the way Of
omlng as he used to do, and one day :
poor woman came begging for wori, !
I'd, as she could sew nicely and fit I
'esses, turned over the cedar-chest
which l had laid away the wedding
lrments begun SO long ago. !!
The long-neglected sewing was all !
one at last, and in the springtime of {
e year-in the autumn of our lives {
scar and l were married The lilacs
III peach trees We're in bloom. and
e robins twittered and sung. and.
IS, | may as well confess it, in my !
cart was beating the same old tune !
e call Loves Young Dream m.''-Wav. {
ley Magazine.
i 0<1n