Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-05-03
THE LIMIT.
ny FRANK v. BEcKARs.

ard and good for nothing for so long that
be believed it himself. His friends had ar
gued with him until, at last, tley had aban-
doned further effort and decided to let him
drift on as he would. They were disguised
With him, and even he admitted they had
cause to be. And yet, they still found some
thing fine in his natnre-perhaps it was his
frank manner Of confessing bis faults or
his humanity in the face OF criticism, or,
perhaps, his sincere, if futile, desires TO re-
form and, as his friends would urge make
something Of himself--or, perhaps, with
some, it was the only way be had of sinil-
ing under FIRE. His friends told him he was
weak and not viciously bad, and he himself
believed he was weak and was very doubt
full about the latter.
Finally there came one who had faith in
him, abundant enough, he began to think,
for both of them. He remembered their
first meeting, in, her own parlor; she stand
ing at the side Of the fireplace, with its glow
Illuminating her face. He remembered that
she did not impress him as being 50 very
pretty then-neat, sweet, and attractive,
certaiply-with pleasant and sympathetic
voice and "good-fellow" kind Of manner.
He drifted back again, he did not under
stand why, and soon, to bis own surprise,
found himself on quite an intimate footing,
eontented to sit silently studying her fea-
lures and their ever growing beauty. As
a result, he grew ashamed Of himself and
made determined resolutions to reform,
which were as frequently broken as made,
and as promptly made again. He soon be-
gan to think that she understood him as no
one else had ever done. She found so many
good traits in his character, delightful sur
prises to him, that he finally decided to be-
come the man that she believed him to be,
He decided to start with clean slate-and
so told her one evening, as they were sit
ting before the cheerful fire, OF his lie,
and spared nothing in the painting. Comics
sion was sweet, and, Of all else, he had never
been hypocrite, and he wanted to Snow
her what good she had done him. Not a
word she uttered during his recital. She
simply had sat quiet, with her hands fold
ed on her lap, gazing steadily into the fire.
He wondered, now and then, as his story
progressed of what she was thinking,
whether his recital shocked her, if she was
trying to read in the live Goals the dreary
future opened UP to her, why the cat an
noyed him brushing his leg.
When he had finished, he, too, sat quiet,
telling, but then he did not want to be a
hypoerite Listening to the heavy clock
ticks, he seemed to hear them set them
selves to the words: "You have lost her"
he wondered why he only now felt how very
dear she was to him and how useless life
seemed without her What was the use of
it all, anyway, of his good resolutions, Of his
strenuous efforts, of his abstinence? No
,t&at laJ ha.. hsI
just shattered her good opinion of him and
how could woman love man after that!
Is there any morey
Her mild question startled him ont of
his revery. He was but dimly aware of the
stiffness of the house, of her quiet, CON
strained tones as she remarked how late
it was, as she babe him good night, of her
SAYING that she wanted to think it all over.
As he walked slowly homeward, he re-
viewed again all be had told her. Yes, he
had certainly been frank, brutally frank,
and made clean breast OF it. After all,
had it been necessary? Well, he would
leave it until tomorrow. The nights sleep
would clear his thoughts.
The next day he received her answer and
he thought that if he loved her before, he
certainly adored her then. Her faith in
more than ever. How bright the world
suddenly looked How joyous his heart
sangl
They had been secretly engaged for al
most year, whole year of unalloyed hap
piness, for they knew there would be pa
rental objections His friends had noticed
the change in his habits, but ceased to won
der, and accepted his reformation as com
plete. He felt that he had worked hard,
but it had been a pleasure to work, thinking
constantly of her. Her faith in him was
firm. His progress was slow, but they were
encouraged. He was steadily gaining head
way and, this evening, he and she attended
the play together. The evening passed
quickly, as all such evenings had, and he
gladly accepted her invitation to come in 4
moment and warm himself before going
home. The moment had heightened silent
ly, as usual, when she said
81 realize I've made mistake. I've been
wanting to tell you for some time, but did
not have the courage. I'm so sorry-but
think it best to break our engagement, don't
you? You know you don't like hypocrites."
He found himself trying to remember
what the play they had just seen had been
and dimly wondering why he couldn't.
"Why don't you say what you are think
ing? Why don't you abuse me, as l de-
serve?" she added.
He stood looking at her dumbly, numbly.
81 suppose" she continued, you will go
back to your dreadful drinking-to your
old life?"
81 don't know" he muttered. Good
night Mirror.