Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-12-13
HIS ONLY LOVE.
ny JOHN II.

~~' - N0++ y A>tE AAt AANff ~
because he had spent years Of patient,
~self-denying effort to become so. He had
a devoutly religious mind and a disciplined
heart. He had never done anything friv.
olcSs or very sinful, never sacked tobae-
CO, drank liquor or used the name Of God
In vain. He had praetioed economy trst
from necessity, then for precautionary rea-
sens and finally from habit. When he got
his medical diploma and put out his siin-
gls he realized that he must begin to mix
with the world. He didn't care for won-
en-particularly, but he iesgae2 to dance
because that j. an easy way no mix" and
he saw that mixing paid. lie danced as
he sawed a bone OF bound q ligament-
datifully and with no aid from either has
imagination or his heart. Some OF his
dancing companions became his patients,
&c 1t was a wise move.
When, by dint Of incessant economy and
hard work, his practice began to grow
profitable, he was IS and tired OF board
ing houses. He didn't have many friends,
because, he explained to himself, friends
are time MASTERS; they cost money, they
lead one into shiftless ways. BUT he be-
gan to think it might add to his profess
sional dignity, to his circle OF acquaint-
ances, to his personal comfort. il he were
a married man. He began to east about
for a wife, much in the same way that Ae
had east about for a sound. city broke,
handsome, gentle driving horse for his
buggy. Having never given rein to what
ever aptitude he had for lovemaking, he
was a little awkward about il at first. but
he was gratified to notice that there were
plenty Of nice girls" always ready to
meet him half way" You see. besides
being on the road to a~tiiuence and not
wholly repulsive ia appearance, DR.. Rex
ford was widely and well known Of
mothers. fathers, brothers and daughters
as a model man."
Having never made a mistake in any
OF the considerable affairs OF life, DR.. Rex
ford was intensely determined to make
no false matrimonial step. He tried out"
a dozen OF the most feasible connubial
possibilities, taking his time to the pro-
cess and devoting his best mental ener-
gies and quite a sum OF money to the
business OF uncoyering and vivisecting the
character, habits, temperaments, religious
and domestic views, hopes, tendencies and
ambitions Of the several candidates for
his marital favor. This, he knew by the
books he had read and the sermons he
had heard, was the proper manner to adj
dress the momentous question of matri-
mony. But he couldn't find a single wom-
an who exactly measured up to his stand
ard. Ginevra, who was mentally and spi--
itually 0. K, had a catarrhal tendency;
Lucy, a perfect physical specimen, was ca
pricions and too fond of adulation; Jane
had a penehant for religious h~eterodoxy
that FEIInnazfAI fnt,,rn -. 80
Helen had everlastingly condemned her.
self with the admission that if she were
married cher husband might 90 barefoot
before she'd mend his soxl" Edith came
very near touching the high mark of his
approval, though even she showed occa-
sional signs of having a mind Of her own.
And SO 1t went. Poor Rexfdrd began to
think that the world did not contain the
one, onliest one.
1t was in this frame Of mind that he
started on his summer vacation. He was
sitting on a bench in a little park at the
edge of the small town Of Brookhaven one
evening, when a singularly beautiful young
woman approached him and said:
"Would you be SO kind as to direct me
to the railway station?"
He rose to escort her, for he was a we'll
trained man, and was surprised at the
frank look of admiration which she bent
upon him.
you are going with me? Oh, how kind
it is of you.N And she took his arm with
evident delight. He talked about the
weather and other very proper subjects
such as were best handled by men OF his
type, but was so impressed by her atten-
ton 10 his words that when they reached
the station he gave her his card. She
said:
My name is Judith-Judith Homer
yes, Miss Judith" she laughed.
81 was afraid you were married." he
answered, trying to thing Of some gallant
bit of persi1age.
mo, no, l have-that is, I'm afraid 1
haven't"
Met the right MANI" he helped her out.
He was wonderously impressed by her
girlish, dependent manner, and continued,
surprised at his own speed, who knows,
JUDITH"
"Ah, sir" glancing at the card, IAN,
James May l call you James,"
The doctor pinched himself to find
whether he was awake.
81 sometimes fear ! may never find
him, but if | did, if / were married?" She
blinked tearfully at the dim station light.
How would you treat your husband,
JUDITH" he asked with a revulsion of
''horse sense"
al would be his willing, yearning slave,
sir!" she cried, with odd emotion. You
see / have yet the oriental idea Of the
woman's place, though | am an ardent
Christian too. How would j treat him ?
l would hang upon his every syllable, L
would toll for him, watch over him as a
mother watches over her child; poverty
could not dim the glory Of my alteration;
wealth could not dull the luster OF my
love for him. l."
"Are you going to catch this train ?" he
interrupted, g~lancing at his watch and
hoping that she would say no.
"Shall /? Shall 1, James," she wins.
pered, coming closer to him, so that her
sweet voice sounded in his ear above the
shrill scream Of the whistle.
81 would like to know more Of you,
i - So