The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-01-15
Ais Well That Ends Well. !
a ST0RY or FOUR SIDED LOVE.

lie looked for the most part straig ght
III front Of him as they walked across
lhc held side by side His forehead was
p"cKercd, his mouth set. his peculiarly
youthful face paler than it's won't
Life" he said "is such a huge re-
sponsibiity."
CnConscously his voice took the
dOgmatic tone which so often char
acterized it in the performance Of his
clerical duties.
Life is such Il serious matter; |
do not think we half realize it's trc-
mondouS seriousness"
ng--of-cr-tigerS? said she,
Ills voice dropped to one Of sur
prise, almost Of irritation. What do
you mean?" he asked.
Il haven't grasped the connection"
she said. 1T is only when am in pain
that l feel like that"
Plainly he was seriously affected
for he even ignored her frivolous
aside.
oh. what is it," she asked. There
must be scmcthing," she continued
Has the vicar"-hcrc she smiled, al
though unwil!ingly--" his revcr-
"ncc been insisting ON the fifteen min
nte$ limit for ?our sermons again?'
yiou c3dldn't neglect your mother
t' any one" she said, bravcly.
No. he admitted. mo: that's true"
So you are forced to make a duty
OF necessity she said.
lie waited moment repeating her
woiiS over to himself. as though he
had nnt reached their meaning.
Give me-" he said "onc crumb or
consolation to help me through the
empty days. If there had not been
this plain straight way Of duty for
me. could you--?"
YES. Ch. yes" she said.
Il had to spcak?" he questioned.
Il can bear it better?" she said,
since you have spoken"
IF love were alp he quoted
"Nothing else could have made me
low" ''~'' '';c this" said she.
look thanked her. "Now,
III must forget that once |
d to play the man. You
cmcmbcr me as the con
curate who tried
he exclaimed. don't hurt
!"
your own way, then" he
whispered. with Il wintry smile. "And
bless you always. my one love. You
ai"nc hold my Sccrct---safc with you"
"l)rar God, how safc!" she cried
Md so they parted. 1t was the only
way.
lat that was not the only conf
drnta with which she was honored at
Ab"Ht this time. and strangely
""HUGh. it was the curates mother
WHO next put her powers Of secret
ecring to the test. She prcfaced her
confession with Il touch Of Nattcry
Il hope you will not laugh at me for
silly old goosc!"
AS il | should.'
II dent knOw-wait and see | sup.
pos" that in your idea no one could
possibly fall in love aftcr--well,
lhirty-fve?"
oh. why not?'
Every we'll tried. dear! Very cred
i'ahly said! But | am more than
'hirty-tiye--and | am in love. l don't
Wnhue! you start.
Il d0n't--think--I did,"
MOT badly! But there, don't
want you to think that because ex-
pericnce has taught me to laugh in
tn" face OF misfortune I cannot still
feel. Child. there is no love like a
late love for tearing your heartstrings.
Practice helps to make perfect. per.
haNs--I don't know. Women love and
marry and live happily ever after
hundreds Of women do that. But
have had experience. and l kno" what
am saying is true. that no, one
hundred ever finds her
late. have found mine"
the girl. "dcesn't he
forgive my askng-but
I'VE yOu?"
:, that's not the barrier
~ age, you know, a fail
my affection would have
,n%rrcd the picture III the beginning
have broken up the likeness to the
idtal tCO soon. would have stayed the
springs OF love before much harm had
been done No, I am spared that
i;uL think you know how | have
lived for and in my son ever since
lis father died. | have brought him
al 20 honor his dead father beyond
ali living men. How can I now ac-
EnoWlcdgc to him that a greater than
iS father has arisen for me? How
can | publicly set another in the
place death has made sacred?
Wouldn't 1t be like sacrilegc in his
arcs, The seed I sowed in my boys
,csr, has fOurished beyond belief
his -n"y love Of mo is cntwincd with
ii. II struck at the one, might
not cndangcr the other?"
The girl summoned all her store OF
courage to her aid.
"But If he should--think OF marry
'ns-himsclf, wouldn't that make q
diffcrcncc?"
"You think that because you are sc
young yourself, dear girl. And how
patient you have been to me-" she said
coming back to her accustomed con.
sdcration for her companion. Some