River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-10
A SACRIFICE
FOR LOVE ~
By MARCUS D. BOWERS
Copyright, 1908, by Daily story Pub. Coz

TWO fair women sat on the veranda
of Anchorage" villa, adding their
quota of beauty and coIoring to an ideal
summer picture. The elder woman was
but matured prototype Of her vivacious
young daughter.
Mrs. Grace Bernard did not raise her
eyes from a bit of embroidery on Whlcn
she was making a pretense OF WORKING
when she made the simple announcement
that Mr. Russell Hudson, an old frlend
from the city, was at the Bilow hotel
for short stay, and in all probability
they would see quite good deal or
him"
You see, dear" she went on to explain,
very indifferently of course, "he and
were friends when / was a young girl
younger even than you, Grace, for | was
a mother at your age, and-well, l
haven't seen him for 20 years"
"Oh, then he is an elderly man"
Eyes, that is, if you consider me ell
derby, but" blushing slightly, Il am
only 38-not so old. Now / call a
woman"
as he married, mother?"
Oh, no, dear-he never married" and
Mrs. Bernards embroidery silk sue
denly became very much entangled
"Then he must be ugly, poor or bow
legged, for"
Grace, what are you talking about"
"1'hen why didn't he marry?"
"How should know? I"
"Well''-settling herself resignedly-
81 suppose | can be prepared for week
or two of boredom. These old bachelors
are not only conceited, cratic and over
bearing, but they dangle to girls skirt
like tenacious little sand burs."
"Well my dear, you may not find the
sacrifice on your part so great as you
anticipate" and there was an unusual
ring of sarcasm in the maternal voice.
''He was poor when l knew him, but is
quoted in the millions now, and million
aires, you know, can afford to be old,
ugly and bow-legged-but he is none of
these-he is very handsome and"
"You forget, mother, you haven't seen
him for 20 years." and Grace laughed
merrily.
That's true, but I hope you will be
civil, DEAR" and Mrs. Bernard seemed
suddenly to discover urgent duties
within doors, and hustled away, leaving
her daughter to gaze dreamily out over
the blue waters of the Atlantic, as they
glistened and ripple in the morning sun
shine.
She was tall, fair and graceful, with
the expectancy and joyousness of youth
in face voice and mariner. She YVES now
what her mother had been 20 years ago,
when she, too, had life lying before her.
with all the snares, thorns and pitfalls
hidden meath the roses. When the world,
once her playground had become her
kingdom, and with the egotism that is
pardonable in a beautiful, spoilt and
pampered young girl, she felt she had but
to stretch forth her hand and gather or
reject the desires and opportunities of
life. Notaing was impossible-she had
never been denied! Happiness and COM
fort, riches and power, were hers by right
of beauty and birth, and it would seem
everything had been made subservient
to her wishes, through a mothers love
and a fathers gold.
Reaching her own room, Mrs. Bernard
restlessly paced its length, nervously
clasping and unclasping her hands and
aaon laughing softly to herself.
Grace fears he will burden her with
attentions! She doesn't understand, of
course-but-but what if! Oh, mol
am foolish! Positively jealous of my
own child!
The greatest battles of life are not
always fought mid the blare of trumpet,
the roll of drum, the screaming of bullets
+ the din of the lannon's roar. Over
90 years ago a young girls tender love
had been arrayed against paternal will,
and with bleeding heart and outraged
privileges, she had been torn from the
embrace of her first love, and in the
guise of wifehood, delivered prisoner
into an old mans keeping, whose wealth
her father deemed far more desirable
than q pennyless youths devotion. She
and Russell Hudson had not parted in
anger. He accepted defeat as inevita-
BILE, yet knowing he possessed what her
husband might never hope for-her I'M
divided love.
Fortune had smiled on him in the two
decades of separation, and on reaching
New York after a sojourn of several
years abroad, inquiry led to the revela-
ton that Mrs. Bernard had for two yeEs
been a widow. Being man of leisure,
what could be more natural than a few
days outing at we'll known summer
resort? Sentiment scarcely actuated his
movements so much as curiosity How
did she look, and well-how did she feel
toward him. Perhaps there yet smoul-
dered within the recesses of her heart a
spark of affection for him, that needed
only his presence to kindle it into per-
feet conf1agration of passion. In fact
HI did not doubt it.
Men may forget their vows of love
sentiment is easily eliminated in the con-
fict for ga,l in which they daily engage,
but a woEsan's love once bestowed, must
meets DO 3 lifelong gift-it Is a tribute