The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-03-20

what he said, but oh, his tone, his
manner, filed me with despair. 1he
few short months hat he has known
you-can Shey outweigh the whole
devotion OF my life? The great wide
world is yours in which to choose.
You are so beautiful, SO learned, and
yet so womanly a woman, that all
men long and u for You. l 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 l mean, but of the
abundance which the Lord has given
you / beg the blessed gift of Will
helms love. / cannot live my life
without him. You have your home,
your many friends. l have but him.
will so enfold him that by it's very
strength he shall be drawn to me
again.
Sometimes a ~torturing thought
has come to me-that you may love
him to, as well as 1. God pity me
if this is so. I can write no more.
I have revealed my very self, and in
your hand you hold the issue of my
life; but whatever ZONES / know YOU
are too true, toe noble, to do aught
but hold as sacred the secret of
Elizabeth"
The letter slipped from Margaret's
~nerveless 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, I comprehend his work,
his ambitions. To give him up means
misery for us both-untold misery,
for he would never know what sepa-
rated us. I cannot, will not, wreck
his life and mine.
1T 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.
jildli - LlllCl W CIllJcII, 10 save mex
dearest treasure. She turned to. me
a.; 70 her y earthly refuge: she
barred her heart to me as to her God.
o Heavenly Father!" Margaret
groaned, what shall I do-enter nv
paradise and hear q 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
Elizabeth's appeal. AS Jacob of old
wrestlcd with the angel for his bless
ing, so in spirit Margaret sought for
guidance. "Searcher of hearts," was
her unspoken prayer, ''Thou knowesi
it is not my own happiness I seek
but his, Wilhelm's. Give me to know
which-which in the end will make
for his best, his highest good. If il
is Elizabeth I will give way without
a murmur. If it is I my life shall be
one long devotion. Hear me, Eternal
Goodness, and answer"
The first faint ray of daybreak
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
n low, fervent Il thank Thee, @
Father, that Thou hast shown me
what is right to do" she threw her.
self upon the bed and sank into q
dreamless sleep.
The sunlight flooded the little sit.
ting room with it's 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 10y.
ingly, "You look, my child, as a
bride adorned"
There was a quick, springing step
upon the stairs. "Wilhelm!" wa her
low cry as he bent over her, his arms
outstretched, his voice breaking with
loves yearning as he breathed,
Hearts dearest, what answer?9-By
courtesy Of The Ladies' Home Jour.
nal; copyright, 1908. by The Curtis
Publishing Company.