The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-04-10
TT Plight
HAVE BEEN.
An Unusual Story OF q
Love Affair.
.T WO figures came saunterlng
across a field. 1t was hot
midsummer and the hay was

tNAAaAAAANA anu AllN MY WIS
e down. The woman looked like
one Of the delicate blue butterflies how
ering faithfully around the fading
meadowsweet Her blue frock. blue
eyes and nutterlng blue sunshade made
q pleasant touch of color.
The man gazed at her with passion
ate eyes. He had watched this fran.
fairy-like creature grow up at his side;
they had been close friends since child.
hood, and to-day especially the old
recollections crowded to his mind.
If you would wait for me-" he whls.
pered Il might make money in time.
l would work very hard and with you
at my side"
She clasDed her small white hands
pleadingly; the blue veins showed
through them with painful distinct
ness.
Don't, Dick, dear Dick, ever think
Of it again! I am so fond of life.
must live"
you speak as if I had suggested
killing YOU" he said in an injured
tone
mo, no. But you must understand.
l am so horribly delicate, it would
be madness for a poor man to marry
me. / always have to winter In the
South Of France. 1 need luxuries; they
are a fatal necessity to my existence.
You want quite a different wife"
NO, l don'tw
some one strong and capable"
Il want your
His voice shook; his brow clouded
suddenly with the dark shadow OF
despair
"Oh, Dick" she murmured, "haTe
hurt you so deeply:"
He answered almost roughly and
though he looked at her, he could rot
see her face for the mist before his
eyes
You misled me, Lily" he said; "un-
consciously, no doubt, yet at times it
seemed you would not let me escape.
When I tried to go you asked me to
remain; you did not weigh the conse-
quences I was a toy in your hands.
Ii you had realized what you were do
ing, you might have spared me-"
They had crossed the field and
reached a little iron gate into Lilians
garden. He opened it for her, stepping
back to let her pass.
Wont you come in?"
The words rose naturally to her lips,
giving color to his complaint-"You
asked me to remain"
No" he replied sharply. 81 am 60
ing Good-by."
You have no right to be angry; it
isn't as if 1 did not care"
But you care so little"
His face had lost every vestigo Of
color; he trembled as he spoke.
Il have always loved YOU" she de-
clared; "but marriage is impossible.
You think me heartless, mercenary,
because I cannot face a life Of poverty.
Men are very selfish; they expect so
much Of women"
He took her hand silently, held it a
moment with eyes fixed on the ground
and then went back across the hay
slowly under the glare Of the hot mid
summer sun.
A year had drlfted away, and again
it was midsummer
I'm the country" thought Lillian,
"the hay is down.
She was enjoying the manifold de-
lights Of a London season as the fiancee
of man whom her parents explained
would make q most desirable hus
band"
Lillian will have everything she
wants." they told their friends. "ShC
can now look forward to a life oil
perfect ease and personal indulgence
We always dreaded her marrying q
poor man.
Il must see Dick once more before
my wedding" she told herself. 'Deal
old Dickr
She thought the matter out and hel
desire for a sight OF his face overcamt
her better judgment Strange sh,
should wish to stir to life those slum
bering memories! But somehow thu
scent Of last years hay still fingered
tie midsummer sun glistened tempt
ingly upon the dainty curtains Of he
boudoir.
As IL a brain wave sped through tn
mir, at that same hour Dick, knowing
she belonged to another, paced hi
small room in Pimlico, and thought 0