Evening journal., 1903-09-04
RECONVERTED
lorIglnaLl

when her mother would not consent 10 1
the marriage he felt that the bottom
had fallen out of the universe. Mar
gucrlte would not marry him without
that consent, and as there was no hope |
and he felt he could not live near her
and not possess her he went to a point
as far distant as he could well get
within the limits Of the United States.
He settled in Seattle.
He was an attractive fellow, and
there were attractive girls in the far
west, but Olcott considered his heart
broken and would have none Of them.
When told that some day he would for
get all about his youthful love and
marry he declared that he would never
marry any one but Marguerite Searle
He was certainly n faithful lover, for
he cherished her image in his heart,
and though he and she grew out Of
their youth that image remained the
same. Marguerite married to suit her
mother about a year after Olcott's
departure, but Olcott did not hear Of it
till long after, and then only that she
was married. When, where and to
whom he did not learn.
Then Olcott's uncle died and left him
q fortune on condition that he should
take the uncles name, Howe. Olcott
accepted the terms and the fortune and
went east TO manage his estate.
He was now forty instead Of twenty
and began to feel the necessity Of
companion. He was expected by the
terms Of the viii to open the manor
house, and would need some one to
take care Of it and preside over it.
The romance in him had died out, at
/ least he said so, and he made up his
mind to marry on common sense prin-
ciples. Some OF his friends advised
him to choose a woman much younger
than himself, since the wife should be
younger than the husband, and he
would find a girl of twenty much more
tractable than a woman of forty. But
Olcott-or, rather, Howe, which was
now his name-demurred declaring
that he would marry one near his own
! age.
Among those to whom he was intro
/ dueed after his return to the east was
a Mrs. Harding, a widow. There was
something about her that reminded
him Of his old love. Perhaps this in
huenced him, though he did not ac-
knowledge it TO himself. At any rate
be made up his mind the first time he
saw her that she was the woman he
wanted He was hurried into some
what precipitate proposal from the
fact that she was preparing for a two
Xears' absence In Europe. Howe de-
termined to stop this If possible and
the only way he knew to 60 about it
was to offer her the position he had in
mind
Il know" he said to her, "that we
have both passed that romantic period
4 where we think we can love but once.
1 confess that my heart was given to
another when was but half my pres
cnt age, and have been true in TO
mantle point of view to the girl
loved, and shall always be thus true
2 But the affection Of more mature
years is still mine to give, and am
told by married people that the love OF
romance in time hardens into a family
y love that, If less violent, IS far deeper
y and more enduring. That love offei
- you"
Il, too" said the widow, "have pass
ed into that stage which you describe
a l have had one love in which my hear
d was absolutely engaged and I car
never have another such; but I car
d love as you say, and If such love Il
e acceptable to you it is yours"
e Howe WINGED. He was quite Willing
r to give dead love, but when it came
to the point he found he preferred
: live one in return.
= "There is a difference" he said "be
! tween our cases. In yours the objec
Of your love is dead; in mine she maj
a be living, though, confess, as to thi
'- / am not informed. She married year
n ago, since when 1 have heard nothing
e OF her"
IS "You mistake" replied the widow
my late husband was not the love 1 re
fer to. In my girlhood 1 loved ont
whom could not marry"
"Then," said Howe, 1--WE are quits a
to these two loves. Had we not bette
r let them remain buried in the dead pas
+ and devote ourselves to a living pres
S ent7 I confess these old loves, whel
e confronted with new ones, are must
n and have a sepulchral odor. Dear Mrs
p Harding
l. "Call me Marguerite" she whispered
IS letting her head fall on his breast.
'e "Marguerite?' he asked, starting.
e ''Yes Marguerite"
Ie Marguerite Searle2
4 81 was Marguerite Searle."
$, "And am
ANTHONY Olcott"
D. "You knew mei"
''From the first. A woman's love /
y not a mans, to forget even the slightes
ID trait. tone Of voice. a step, look 0
or the eye. She treasures these in he
heart. and when they come to her agai
De after years Of absence, though di.
re guised, thcy have for her the sam
d charm as Of old"
re Marguerite. forgive me for not
'h true, you reminded we OF yourself, bu
n confess
re There is nothing to forgive you 70
ne unless it is for being a man. Men car
u not retain what is so enduring in We
C. man"
IN but il was you. not I. who
~ "Yes; ] obeyed my parents. though
IL cost me more than It cost You. In thl
~ you men have the advantage OF us w,
pc men. You are stronger and less EN-,
IS donal. But when it comes to true ioy