The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17

r 81 :
gram on the envelope He hastily tore
it open and read: TT is risht-it is best
we should part, You know why, but OH
the sorrow OF 1t ALL My heart is broken.
Try to forget me May God ever watch
| over and protect you is the prayer of
Margaret"
That was all. How it panied him .'It
IS right, she wrote, and down deep in
the Utmost recesses of his heart he felt
she had stated the truth, so he resolved
tcs be brave and reignedly submit to his
scYrow. What is the matter
old fellow" said Ralph, to Mortimer, one
day as they were out rowing THE last
lew Gays you seem depressed, not like
your old self. Tell me what aiIs YOU"
II can't. Ralph: tbs impossible. You
could not help me. but will admit some
thing has transpired recently that has
made me hopeless Of ever experiencing
any more happiness in this life
Not so. Mortimer; don't look 1T it in
sue ha gloomy manner; it is not so bad,
perhaps. as you would have me think. You
are not feeling well, maybe, and are
tired Of this place. Suppose we try the
mountains for a while, a change might
brighten you up
u don't care to go elsewhere" said Nor
timer. It would be the same anywhere.
will remain here and try to become re-
conciled to my fate"
"Ah. ha." Ralph replied. ''You have
fallen In love. Come tell me who is the
fortunate fair one?"
ALL
And Ralph seeing Mortimer was unwill-
ing to disclose his secret. did not urge
him further
AFTER some weeks Mortimer left Cav
READ Beach, and visited many cities. but
devoted his life to performing deeds OF
mercy and charity. He visited the spots
"here want and sorrow dwelt, where mis-
cry was deepest, and did all he could to
alleviate the suffering of the unfortunate
and to infuse, If possible, a ray of run
light into the darkened lives of his fellow
man.
Five years have passed and Mortimer
Blaine IS visiting a friend in Philadel-
phia The years of suffering have told
on him. His brown hair is streaked with
gray. There are deep lines under his
eyes, his step is not so elastic. He has
heard Margaret Leigh is in the city; that
, she is travelling a great deal. as she is
now utterly alone in the world His
greatest desire is to meet to see her. II
he could only find her how happy he
would be-
The fall and winter went by and he had
not meet her. He was almost dis
couraged when one afternoon he was
walking IN beautiful Paramount Park and
noticed a trim figure coming toward him
which seemed familiar, but which he did
not recognize until she looked UP, with
slight shlver, and then q. voice from the
past called him to the present Her Inns
parted but no sound came. She saw the
tall slender man before her. Could it be
Mortimer? Suddenly she Strengthened up
and the figure came closer. This surely
was Mortimer, whom she imagined dead
1t was too much joy for her to
see him after the long weary years of
separation. She sank to the ground with
faint cry. He knelt beside her, his
forced calm broken at the sight of her
emotion He little knew how the suffer-
ing OF years was being washed away,
and he grew frightened. Margaret, I
have come back to you he stopped
short at the sight Of her face Tears
still sfone in her eyes. and as she looked
at his face so white and worn, her own
shone with tho light Of something more
than compassiont She could hardly hear
his tender voice as he whispered. Mar
garet. we have both suffered but now
the cloud have cleared away and we will
henceforth live in the sunshine of perfect
love"
Yes, Mortimer. and I am so happy for
I feared our parting years ago was final
that those heavy impenetrable clouds of
sorrow would not sould not ever be ban
ished by the brightness OF happiness.
True loves the gift which God has
given
To man alone beneath the heaven:
It is not fantasy's hot fire,
Whose wishes soon as gratifed, fly;
1t liveth not in fierce desire,
With dead desire it does not die;
1t is the secret sympathy,
The silver link. the silken tie,
Which heart to heart and mind to mind,
In body and in soul can bind