The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-11

TOT you ID Ildt Dali IOOu "HOEl L nate.
She locke at him timidly as though
she were afraid he was about to say too
much and lightly replied.
Then l will not dance tonight. I'll
Just preside over the ball and let Helen
be the queen
Words have no power to convey my
gratitude. l count all my little triumphs
in life nothing to this. You promised to
join me on the porch. Don't change that
part Of the programme. | will talk to
your mother until you come"
CASTOR went down stairs treading on
air. He sought her mother and devoted
himself to her with supreme tact. He
discovered her tastes and prejudices and
paid her that krightly Difference some
young men express easily and naturally
to their elders. He had always been a
~favorite with old people. He prided him
self on it. This faculty he regarded as a
badge of honor.
AS he sat there and talked with this
frail little woman, his heart went out to
her in a great yearning love. She was
the mother of the bride of his soul. He
would love her forever for that. No mat
ter whether she loved him or hated him.
He would love the mother who gave to
his thirsty lips the water of Life.
Sallie came out leaning On McLeod's
arm.
Mama, ave you been monopolizing Mr..
CASTOR for a whole hour
He hasn't been here a half hour,
Miss cried her mother.
Hes been here an hour and ten min
utes. I'm going to tell papa on you just
as soon as l get home"
GO back to your dancing
mo thank you, I have an engagement
to take a walk with your beau. Come,
Mr.. CASTOR"
They walked to the spring and along
the winding path by the brook at the
foot of the hill and found a rustic seat.
They were both silent for several mo-
ments.
Il saw you were charming mama, or
I would nave come sooner"
Il hope she likes me-"
"She has been praising you ever since
your visit to Independence. l never saw
her talk so long to a young man in my
life before. You must nave ~hypnotised
her"
4 hope So"
A strange happiness filled her heart
that night. She was afraid to look it in
the face; ard yet she dared to play with
the thought.
Are you enjoying your triumph to-
night? I've had war inside"
4 feel like l am the Emperor Of the
world and that the Evening Star is smil-
ing on my COURT
She smiled tossed her pretty head,
leaned against the tree and said,
II wonder if you are in the habit OF
saying things like that to girls?"
Upon my soul and honor, no." 4
Then thanks. I'll dream about that,
maybe"
They returned to the hotel and Mcleod
claimed her. They went back the same
walk, and by a freak of fate he chose the
same seat she had just vacated with
CASTOR.
Miss Sallie, you are of age now. You
are a queenly woman. You know that
l nave loved you passionately since you
We're a child. I have made my way in
life. I am hungry for a home and your
love to glorify it. Why will you keep
me ~waiting?"
Simply because I know now I do not
love you, Allan, and l never will. Once
and forever, here, tonight I give you my
last answer, l will not be your wife"
Then don't give the answer tonight.
can wait" he interrupted. Il am just
on the threshold of a great career. Sue
cess is sure. l can offer you a dazzling
position. Don't give mt such an answer.
Leave the old answer-tO wait"
mo, | will not. | do not owe you. If
you were to become the president it
would not change this fact, and it is
everything
Then you love another"
"Tha is none of your business, sir.
l have known you since childhood. l nave
had ample time to know my own mind"
right. We will say goodbye for the
present. You have made a laughing stock
of young fools, but | can stand it. I'll
not give you up, and if I can't have you.
no other man shall"
IF you leave my will out of the calcu-
@lation, you will make a fatal mistake"
"Women nave been known to change
their Wills"
Before leaving her CASTOR held her hand
for an instant as he bade her good night
and said. Miss Sallie l thank you with
indispensable gratitude for the honor you
have done nc tonight
I've just been wondering what YOU
have lone to deserve it,"
absolutely nothing ,-that's why it is
so sweet. This has been the happiest
day | ever lived. l cannot see you again
before you go. l leave tomorrow on ur-
gent business. May l come to Indepen-
dence to see you?"
Yes, I'll be delighted to see you. Good
night"
Castor was the last to return to Ham
bright. He walked the two miles through
the silent starlit woods. He took a short
cut his bare feet had travelled as a bow.
and with uncovered head walked slowly
was good, this cool silence and the soft
mantle of the night about his soul. The
stars whispered love. The wind sighed it
through the leaves. He had withdrawn
from the church in his college days be-
cause he had grown to doubt everything
God, heaven, hell, and Immortality. To-
night as he walked slowly home he heard
that wonderful sentence of the old Bible
ringing down the ages, wet with tears
and winged with hope,
God is love!"
He said it now softly and reverentIy.
and the tears came unbidden from his
soul. He felt close to the heart of things.