The Cooperstown courier., 1903-03-19

what he said, but oh, his tone, his
manner, filled me with despair. The
few short months that he has known
you-can they outweigh the whole
devotion OF my life2 The great wide
world is yours in which to choose.
You are SO beautiful, so learned, and
yet SO womanly q woman, that all
men long and sue for you. I know
that this is so from what he said,
and what am that should dare to
try to balance all these things with
my poor little heart. To balance
nay, it is not that mean, but of the
abundance which the Lord has given
you Isbeg the blessed gift Of Will
helms love. cannot live my life
without him. You have your home,
your many friends. have but him.
When you are gone know my love
will 80 enfold him that by its very
strength he shall be drawn to me
again.
sometimes torturing thought
has come to me-that you may love
him to, as well as I. God pity mo
if this is SO. I can write no more.
have revealed my very self, and in
your hand you hold the, issue of my
life; but whatever comes Iknow you
are too true, too noble, to- do aught
but hold as sacred the secret Of
Elizabeth"
The letter slipped from Margaret's
neryeless (. fingers. Bewildered,
stunned, she sat incapable Of
thought; then the full meaning of it
all crowded upon her, and her whole
woman's heart rose in revolt.
"He is 1nine," she cried fiercely;
'she loves me and not her. under
stand him, comprehend his work,
his. s.ambitions. To give him up means
misery for us both untold misery,
for he would never know what sepa-
rated us. cannot, will not, wreck
his life and mine.
'sIt was cruel, unwomanly to write
me such !. a letter. No, no." she
moaned, 81 did not mean that; the
poor child did not know that he had
told his love to me; he had been hers
from boyhood; it was but her wo.
mans instinct to clutch, to save her
dearest treasure. She turned to me
as to her one earthly refuge; she
barred her heart to me as to her God.
o Heavenly Father!" Margaret
groaned, t'what shall do-enter my
paradise and hear a starving soul for
ever knocking at the gate, or blight
his life and mine?"
By sheer strength of will she
stilled her clamoring heart and forced
herself to weigh and balance Justly
Eizabeth's appeal. AS Jacob of old
wrestled with the angel for his bless
ing, SO in spirit Margaret sought for
guidance. "Searcher Of hearts," was
her unspoken prayer, ''Thou knowest
it Is not my own happiness I seek
but his, W1lhelm's. Give me to know
which-which in the end will make
for his best, his highest good. If it
is Elizabeth I will give way without
a nlurmur. If it is I my life shall be
one long devotion. Hear me, Eternal
Goodness. and answer"
The first faint ray Of daybreals
stole through the window as slowly,
with clasped hands, and eyes which
seemed to look into the unknown
years, Margaret rose from her knees
and paced back and forth; then with
a low, fervent "I thank Thee, O
Father, that Thou hast shown me
what is right to do," she threw her
self upon the bed and sank into .
dreamless sleep.
The sunlight flooded the little sit
ting room with its golden glory as
Margaret; in spotless white, awaited
her lovers coming. The conservation
of love shone in her face. AS her
mother kissed her she whispered low
ingly, "You look, my child, as q
bride adorned"
| There was quick, springing step
upon the stairs. "Wilhelm!" was her
low cry as he bent over her, his arms
outstretched, his voice breaking with
loves yearning as he breathed.
Hearts dearest, what ?"-By
courtesy Of The Ladies' Home Jour
nal; copyright, 1903, by The Curtis
Publishing Company.