The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-28
THE TRIAL OF LOVE


days before. These days hau passed
like dream. in jest and laughter. with
out another thought than the pleasure
OF the moment. To be sure. she had
suspected how Il might end. but not
that ii should happen 50 soon. And not
till the promised word was spoken did
she awaken out OF her dream.
The drawing room clock licked hard.
or than usual that afternoon. and Elsie
kept looking up from her work to no
tice how the hands flew. II would soon
strike q. But just before the stroke she
cast her embroidery away from her.
sprang up and rushed out without an.
swcring her mothers astonished Ques.
tons.
Only few steps beyond the garden
she met him. He was punctual to the
minute and beamed with JOY because
she came out TO meet him. But when
she passed the gate and proposed to
him to walk a little farther he looked
at her i'm surprise. She did not appear
very anxious to introduce her lover 10
her family.
Elsie hastily led the way across the
field and up the hill. She threw herself
down ON n messy stone under the
spruces. and he stretched himself on
the heather beside her. The stone was
large enough to hold two. but she did
not make room for him.
'Are you very sure" she began.
breaking a dry twig into tiny bits-"are
YOU really. really sure that you love
meT"
At first he looked serious. but then
burst out laughing in his bright, jolly
way.
"Sure OF it? But there is surely no
one who has forced me TO say it!''
"No. But you don't know me. What
is it about me you love?"
Everything" lie loved the folds OF
her dress. he loved the flower she wore
on her breast, and be did not under.
stand that under each question to him
lay n question to herself. what is II ]
love in him."
But why should she be the only one
to doubt and worry? And SO to disturb
his composure she began to set forth
her faults. She unveiled every mao
trait she had. She was quick tempered
and a scold; she was envious and CO.
quettish; she was stupid and ignorant
She sat and reckoned herself up In q
serious voice; she spoke frankly. and
she honestly wished TO be believed. But
the smile did not leave his lips nor did
he take his eyes from her face Al
each new confession he simply re
pcated:
Yes | knew that before
Finally the blood rushed to her head
1t annoyed her TO find she could not
convince him. He sat there in the Sc
cure belief that she wished only &c
humble herself because OF her great
happiness. Could he not comprehend
at all that he had done wroSg in sur
prising her as he had and that n person
cannot be sure OF love SO loosely
rooted?
She knew OF a way TO make him un.
derstand, but her tongue seemed tied
when she tried to speak. She sat silent
for few minutes. struggling between
fright and the desire TO have IL out
Finally the desire triumphed
''No. you do not know me-" said she.
when l answered you as | did this
morning. II was because-well. not
wholly because-but perhaps partly be
cause-because OF hardships at home"
There was a cracking Of twigs. He
had turned on his arm and was gazing
at her without a word, but the color
was gone from his face. She need
worry no longer about his not under.
standing.
There came over her a feeling Of un.
speakable regret. With a few words
she had destroyed something she could
never get back again. And this some
thing. now it was lost, seemed dearer
10 her than all else in the world. She
did not know him we'll She had not
succeeded In getting an answer to the
question what IL was she liked in him.
but the power that first drew her to
him rose now in redoubled might. The
divine. incomprehensible mystery she
had tried to explain. but only succeed.
ed in silencing, awoke to life within
her again. And now it was too late
What could have the power to efface
her words?
All. you are afraid of hardships.'
His voice sounded heavy, and his
eyes looked far away over the broad
meadows visible through the opening
in the trees.
''rhen it would be best for you to re-
consider" he continued. 81 am a bust
ness man. and my position is not firmly
secured. One day there may be money,
another debts. and upon one kind of
hardship others follow"
The messy stone stood empty. She
had slipped down on the heather beside
him. And she took his hand and hid
her eyes in it.
at makes no difference to me, no diff
ference at all. if l have to bear hard
ships with you," she said softly.
His eyes came back from the far
fields. 1t was only a cloud that had
passed over the sun.
He understood now that the little
bird he had wished to charm for him
self had been frightened only by a toe
sudden approach, but that it now came
of its own accord and that all he had
20 do was to open his arms.
And she-she knew she must love
h hot ..,r. -