The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-07-26
gave no token of the struggle she had

made.
Doctor Gordon, her physician
counseled her to rest, but in vain.
"She will work herself to death, ;
unused the good old doctor. 81 mus
find remedy for her.
He wrote to friend of his, b.
name of Elliot Tremaine, to max,
him a visit, and Mr.. Tremaine i'm
mediately accepted the invitation
They had not met for years, and tn,
doctor gazed admiringly at Elliott
handsome, resolute face, and strong
well developed figure.
They sat in the doctors study one
day, during brief leisure hour
smoking and recalling old memories
for Elliot Tremaine had dwelt in the
village in early boyhood.
"There have been many changes, y
said the doctor, dreamily watching
the smoke of his cigar forming into
clouds. "Ramona's parents are dead
Roger Graham married Bessie Sher.
wood, and Ramona lives alone in the
old house."
Ramona Grey. unmarried?
thought she was engaged to Roger.
"She was, but he preferred a young
and blooming face to hers"
what After fifteen years en-
gagement? The knave p
"Well, he's getting we'll punish
ed," said the doctor. "Bessie is an
inveterate firt, and leads him the life
of a dog. One of these days there
will be a fine scandal in his house,
and 1, for one, shan't be sorry"
How did Ramona bear Roger S
desertion of her"
Like a heroine. She makes nc
complaint, and her love for him is
dead. Women like Ramona are toe
proud to love where the other party
is Indifferent. But she is working
herself to death"
is there no way to help her ?"
asked Elliot.
''I don't know" said the doctor,
slowly. "She is starving for want Of
human affection. She needs love
more than flowers require sunshine
and fresh air. Without it she will
die -
Elliot's face was white.
Doctor" he said brokenly. ~
loved Ramona years ago, but she was
promised to Roger. I went away.
1 tried to forget her, but I could not.
Do you think there is any hope for
me?"
"Yes," said the doctor, grasping
his hand warmly. GO and see her,
and Heaven prosper your wooing !"
A year had passed since Roger
Graham marriage. Ramona sat in
the wintry twilight. The wind howl
ed fercely, the snow fell in binding
masses.
IT am like spectator" she unused,
"who beholds a vast procession of
people passing by, constantly chang
ing, while for him-for me-nothing
changes. Will it always be so? Must
I be denied all worthy human life. I
will go away to strange city, and
find pleasure in new scenes. If 1
could live over the past How blind
I was to prefer Roger to Elliot IRE
maine, with his broader, nobler ma
ture !''
AS if in answer to her thought the
door opened softly, and Elliot Tre-
maine stood before the astonished
woman.
Ramona p he said, taking both
her hands, II have something to tell
you, but Roger was always here, and
/ would not intrude. Now / love
you hundredfold more for the noble
sacrifices you have made, and I want
you to be my wife"
His handsome dark eyes gazed into
hers, and Ramona's heart thrilled as
it had never done in Rogers presence.
"But, Elliot" she said humbly,
II have changed. am old-faded. +"
"My dearest" he said, folding her
in his arms, "you need only rest and
love and hope to revive your bloom.
Your face is sweeter to me than in
the old days, for you have suffered
and conquered. You are mine now
and forever, to cherish, love and pro-
tect."
And so Ramona's life, after long
waiting and bitter disappointment,
blossomed into beauty like a rose.
And Doctor Gordon smiled serenely
over the success of his remedy, a rem
edy which is more potent than all the
drugs in the world, and is expressed
by one word-love without it there
cannot exist perfect human life.