The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-09-18

4
preciative world that would let lis
brightest flower fade and die foS
want of a few paltry dollars
Then there cam into Paufs soul
and heart and mind a great resolu-
ton. He would snccor her himself
IL was a bold thought and he shrunk
abashed as he contemplated the great
honor TO which he aspired. But he
never faltered. lie went to the city
again-tO the great surprise of mis-
sister, and sought ont the address OF
Viola Markham He was shocked at
the squalor of the third rate hotel.
lie did not attempt TO approach the
divinity herself. but learned from the
clerk the name Of her physician. To
him Paul went and stated that some
of Miss Markham'S friends had raised
a purse 10 send her to the country
and had arranged with his sister.
Mrs. Bingham. at Podgers Corners, to
keep her as long as might be neces-
sary He left a ticket for Podgers
Corners and a sum of money with the
physician and asked him to send the
patient. explaining that the friends
preferred 10 remain unknown.
Then Paul went home and arranged
II with his sister, explaining that he
had accidentally net person desir-
ing to send an invalid 10 the country
and he had agreed for Mrs. Bingham
to take her for a weekly stipend
of S..
So il happened that Viola Mark
ham. pale, thin and haggard from
disease and dissipation, came to
Podgers Corners. wondering who the
"angel" could be. but exceedingly
glad for ''any port in a storm"
Paul met her with carriage, all in
a flutter and, while cognitant of the
great difference between this hollow
eyed. anaemic creature and the lady
of his dreams. attributed it all to her
illness. Week after week Paul hand
ed his sister the board money for the
actress. telling her it was sent him
from New York. and week after week
| the invalid improved. The roundness
came back to her lace and her enact
ated body and the color began to play
| apain in the wan cheeks. She never
| had known Il life lire that before-so
quiet, so peaceful. so restful. Paul
reveled in her presence and the
power of his own ideality invested
her with all the attributes Of the
lady of his dreams He taught her
many ways to enjoy the country and
she told him many wonderful stories
of stageland.
One day when she felt nearly wei
enough TO return to her work she
! pressed him to know from whence
came the funds for her outing. He
evaded her ard being transparent
smpleton. and she ULTRA worldly
wise. she guessed the truth and mar
; veled greatly. She had had many adj
mirers not at all 10th to pay well for
| her smiles, but the motives of this
simple hearted country lad. who had
asked nothing presumed nothing,
mystfied her. Curious to know, she
charged him with the truth and
sought the reason.
With flaming cheeks he suffered
| forth an evasion and, being caught in
+! a lie. told her in honest, manly fash
ion the story of his heart of hearts.
| 1t was a new story to her and he was
| new type. From the hot-house life
! of sordidness she had known to the
rugged honesty ard IE-oacrifcing
| ideality Of this simple farr'fr was far
reach When he had finished he added
in a manly fashion:
81 know I amt fit mate for You
Miss Markham, but if you would let
| me care for you always it would be
my only chance of happiness in the
! world"
She turned very pale and grave
"You do not realize what my life
has been-what the stage life is she
said.
81 do not care" he said eagerly "if
YOU can give il mp.
She gazed long and thou@htfnlly
over the peaceful meadows to the
woody hills among which ran the
sparkling creek she knew so well. She
lrew in her lungs fill Of the crisp
air laden with the scent of new-nown
hay. She looked into the clear. gray
eyes. so full of admiration and awe
and then thought Of tbe squalid, i'll
smelling hotels. the stutfY dressing
rooms. the paints and powder and
pads. the clarish lights. the f"verish
excitement. the coarse tests. the 1ecr-
ing faces, tl.e feyerieh pleasures from
cocktails to headaches. and great
desire came over her to Stny there,
where it was all 50 peaceful, but she
must be honest with this honest man.
"Br1 YOU must know that my lifn
has not been as these country girls,
she said
81 only know that Won are good and
beautiful he burst in. "lf | did not
believe that ! should die"
Then she know that TO disabrse his
mind would be to rob him of his own
dreams. She pondered for long
time: then smiling family into his
eager face. said:
'If you went me just as ! am, take
ne"
Then a great JOY filed Paul's breast
md a great wonder filed his. mind.
Later on great excitement filed
podgers Corners. for Paul Comstock