Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-01-23

she care about the glories of the
world?"
''She used to awaken in the morn
ing wondering how she would get
through the day and longing for night.
For, though she was wretched, she was
young and strong, and so she slept and
sometimes-dreamed!"
The last words were spoken softly
caressingly-and sent a thrill along
Sanford's nerves.
did you-that Is, did she really
care so much?" he stammered.
II am compelled to admit that she
paid the penalty-as women do, you
know" came the answer in a cool
sweet voice.
I'VE have not reached the end" he
urged in low tone. who can tell
perhaps a heavier penalty will be ex-
acted of him"
His voice was eager and there was
the old, well-remembered tenderness in
it. 1t stirred Marcias senses like
strain of forgotten music. But she
only smiled back at him and cooed.
Clever! You score! But to return
to the story.
"The. days came and went like an
endless procession of gray phantoms,
until one day letter arrived mention
ing with other home news, the prob
able marriage of the man and the fair
lady. Then there was a terrific out
burst
Il remember but one detail-the fig
ure of the girl lying prone upon the
floor and shaking with sobs. That was
really the last of the girl. I think we
may say that she died that night, and
to the woman who rose in her place
the world has never been quite SO fair
a place. The blue of the sky is less
blue, the sunlight is less joyous and
the night wind isn't SO full of mystery
and tenderness as when it blew across
the face of the girl"
The last words were scarcely audible
and Miss Wentworths face was almost
sad. Then she gave an impatient shrug
as if to rid herself Of unpleasant men,
cries.
We'll, there came a morning when
she opened her eyes, yawned, thanked
heaven that she was alive, and thought
rapturously of a love of a gown which
was to come home that day. Then she
wondered anxiously if she had gone
off much in looks (she felt as if there
was no bloom leI.D, and she knew by
these tokens that her first love affair
was overland her girlhood decently
laid away in it's gravel"
That's about all-it really isn't
much of a story. One may lose an
arm and still be fairly happy. And yet
-one prefers the arm?'
There was sometning delicately
quizzical in the infection of her words
and something delcately regretful as
we'll.
"You see, l miss the girl" she fin
ished as she rose and they moved off
across the grass together.
Does it occur to you"-Sanfords
voice was grave and pleading-"'that
possibly he misses more than the girl?'
The gentle raillery in his compan-
ions face as she glanced up at him
was more eloquent than words
THAT man, | take it, he continued
huskily, has lost his chancellor
ever?" There was no mistaking his
earnestness now nor the touch of hau-
teur in Miss Wentworths manner as
she replied carelessly:
you've been inattentive! The cir!
died, you know
That night she wrote the following
note to somebody else:
Dear Jack:-Love is not eternal.
So, | think, if you don't mind, I'll fol-
low your advice and marry you. I'm
sitting here in sackcloth and ashes,
abasing myself before your superior
wisdom. / sat and talked to the Other
Man today and things fell out precisely
as you predicted. A little door away
off in some remote corner of my heart
banged shut, never to be opened again.
And if it were, there'd be nothing be-
hind it but little heap of ashes! He's
growing bald, Jack. If you love me,
never do that Come up Saturday and
let me 'splain why it has taken me so
long to find cut that though there's a
difference, SO can love as we'll as IL.
Forever your MARCIA.
And then she sealed the letter and
pressed her lips softly to the super
scription half dozen times-by way
of showing the wisdom of 32!-The
Home Magazine.