The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-07-17

every vain mans lovc-and, what is
more, actually climbed to the very apex
of idiocy and declared myself. 1 we'll
knew the Infinite distance between us;
but, like every other man who came
within the circle of this charming load
stone, L lost my head and, i'm short,
made greater fool of myself than 1
naturally was, which is saying a good
deal for that time in my life, God
knows!
L knew vaguely, but did not fairly re-
alizc, how utterly beyond my reach in
every way she was until ] opened the
hoodgatcs OF my passion, as l thought
1t, and saw her smile and try to check
the coming langh. Then came a look
Of offended dignity, followed by a
quick, softcning glance.
Leave me one friend, | pray YOU,
Edwin. value you too highly to lose,
ana esteem YOU too much to torment.
Do not make of yourself one of those
FOOLS who feel, or pretend to feel, care
not which, such preference for me. You
cannot know in what contempt n wom-
an holds n man who follows her though
woman's love; he must command it. Do
not join their ranks, but let us be good
friends. I will tell you the plain truth.
1t would be no different were we both
OF the same degree. Even then | could
not feel toward you as you think YOU
wish, but | can be your friend and will
promise to be that always If you will
promise never again to speak of this to
me-"
tGouised solefnnly and have always
kept my word, as this true, grucious
woman. so full of faults and beauties,
virtues and failings, has ever since that
day and moment kept hers. 1t seemed
that my love, or what supposed was
love, left my heart ut once, frozen in
the cold CLINT of her eyes as she smiled
upon my first avowal, somewhat as dis
ease may leave the sickened body upon
n great shock. And In it's place came
the rcStful flame of friends love,
which SO softly warns without burning.
But the burning! There Is nothing In
life worth having compared with it for
all its pains and agonies. Is there?
"Now, if you must love somebody"
continued the princess, "there is Lady
Jane Bolingbroke, who is beautiful and
good and admires you and, think,
could learn to- But here the lady in
question ran out from behind the dra-
peries, where, I believe, she had been
listening to it all, and put her hand over
her mistress mouth to silence her.
Don't believe one word she says, Sir
Edwin" cried Lady Jane. "If you do,
I aovcr will like YOU" The emphasis
OIL the will held out such Involuntary
promise in case I did not believe the
princess that I ut once protested total
want OF faith in Il single syllaSle she
had said about her and vowed that
knew it could not he true; that dared
not hope for such happiness.
You sec, l had begun to make love to
Jane almost before / was off my knees
to Mary, and therefore had not been
much hurt in Mary's case. had suf-
fcred merely touch of the general cpl
demic, not the lingering chronic disease
that kills.
Then 1 knew that the best cure for
the sting which lies in luckless love
Is to love elsewhere, and Jane, as she
stood there, so petite, so blushing and
so fair, struck me as quite the most
pleasing antidote 1 could possibly find,
so I began at once TO administer to my
self the delightful counter irritant. 1t
was happy thought for me, one Of
those which come TO Il man now and
then and for which he thanks his wits
In every hour OF his after life.
Al.
easy matter as my vanity had
prompted me to think. I started with
q handicap, since Jane had heard my
declaration to Mary, and 1 had to undo
all that before could do anything
else. Try the same thing yourself with
spirited girl, naturally laughter lov-
ing and coy, If you think it n simple
easy undertaking. 1 began to fear
! should need another aBtidote long be
J fore i heard her sweet soul-satisfyinl
| Eyes" l do not believe, however,
could have found I'm the whole worli
an antidote to my love for Jane.
| In the course Of my talk with Bran
don / had, as I have said, told him th,
story of Mary, with some slight varia
tions and coloring, or. rather, dIscolor
ing, to make 1T appear n little less Il
my discredit than the barefaced trutl
| would have been. told him also abou
Jane, and, Il gricvc and blush to say
expressed confidence In that direc
tion little felt.
| 1t had been perhaps year since IN.
adventure with Mary, and had takeI
all that time trying to convince Jan,
that did not mean word had sait
to her mistress and that ! was yer!
earnest in everything | said to her