The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-03-27
The
Only Way.

G HE was not an ordinary girl, of
y that there could be no mistake.
She was not exactly pretty, although
her face was winning and sweet, but
she had a way with her that was pure
ly original. Even her walk and the
turn of her head seemed different from
that of other girls.
81 don't understand her" said her
masculine friends. 81 don't like her.
declared the members of her own sex,
while the matrons of her clique put
their heads together and said that it
was pity the girl had such odd little
ways, she was spelling all her chances,
and that a woman with her ideas was
quite a failure as far as matrimony
was concerned.
AS for Hugh Doorway. he didn't know
exactly what to make of her. She fas-
cinated him. When she was in the
room he was always by her side. He
walked with her, he talked to her, and
never glanced at another girl when
she was near, yet he never seemed able
to form decided opinion of her.
One day he told her as much himself
He had called on her and found her
alone. He confessed as they sat over
the tea table together that she was
altogether puzzle to him.
81 can't make up my mind whether
l like you or not, Miss Withers,' he
said. You are such changeable
girl
Il am not sure whether that is alto
gether complimentary, returned the
girl, in a low voice. 81 am a good deal
more positive in my regard for you"
Indeed"
Yes" She looked away for a minute
h;s t then brought her eyes quickly to
cheek. Yes, love you" ah
The young man gasped and nearly
dropped the teacup he held, in his
amazement. Was there ever such
startling confession? Of the two he
was far the more embarrassed.
You are surprised" went on the
girl, hurriedly. $50 was I. Love is al
ways surprise. To me it seems a
kind of madness while it lasts, some
thing as uncomfortable as it is mvste-
rlous. | have never felt like this for
any one before; cannot understand it
myself. You are a very ordinary man,
not very wealthy, not very clever, not
at all good looking, and yet love you.
It's all very wonderful, isn't it? 90
The man stared at her dumbly, IN
able to say a word.
The girl laughed musically.
ITS rather an unusual confession,
isn't it?' she said. Rather unasked.
too; but you needn't alarm yourself
] don't want to marry you.''
you don't want to marry me?"
echoed the man in some confusion.
NO" The girl looked away, and her
eyes wanderd TO the window with a
thoughtful. intent expression. 81 al
ways liken love-" she said, ''to stream
running between two very different
pieces of land connected by a bridge.
On the one side everything is bright
and green and sunny, on the other the
land is gray and barren. Love, the river,
runs on either side alike, but once the
bridge is crossed the current seems to
change. From the other bank the sun
shines across and makes it all seem so
attractive. We long to go and explore,
and when we do we find ourselves i'm
prisoned. The bridge we crossed has
gone; it was only bridge of illusion.
and there is no getting back to the
flowers and sunshine, however much
we strive. It's all very disappointing,
isn't it?"
The young man recovered himself
and glanced admiringly across at the
serious little speaker. She was look
ing quite pretty; the flush had deep
ened on her cheek and her eyes were
soft e-d moist with feeling. He for
got her strange confession, and for
the time was carried away by the pow
er of her fascination. A man, he
thought, with such a companion would
take the sun across with him to that
other side.
You let your imagination run away
with you, JOAN" he said, softly, slip
ping unconsciously into her Christian
name. Life is simple enough if you
only look it squarely in the face"
There was pause; the girl poured