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

WnaG he Sa1u, DuG vi, ihS toAN, Hfs
manner, filled me with despair. The
few short months that he has Known
you-can :hey 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 sue for you. [ know
that this is so from what he said,
and what am / that 1 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 l beg the blessed gift of Will
helms love. I cannot live my life
without him. You have your home,
your many friends. l have but him.
When you are gone 1 know my love
will so enfold him hat by its 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 I. God pity me
if this is so. 1 can write no more.
I have revealed my very self, and in
your hand you hold the issue of my
life; but whatever comes I know you
are too true, too 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.
Gle is mine," she cried sfiercely;
she loves me and not her. 1 under
stand him, 1 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.
cit was cruel, unwomanly to write
Inc 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, what shall 1 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
Elizabeth's appeal. AS Jacob of ole
wrestled with the angel for his bless.
ing, SO in spirit Margaret sought fol
guidance. "Searcher of hearts, was
her unspoken prayer, .'Thou knowes1
it is not my 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, Eterna.
Goodness, and answer"
The first faint ray of daybreal
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 81 thank Thee, c
Father, that Thou hast shown me
what is right to do" she threw her.
self upon the bed and sank into 8
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 he1
mother kissed her she whispered Low.
ingly, "You look, my child, as a
bride adorned"
There was a quick, springing ster
upon the stairs. "Wilhelm!" was he1
low cry as he bent over her, his arms
o~utstretched, his voice breaking with
loves y~earning as he breathed
Hearts dearest, what answer??"-By
courtesy of The Ladies' Home Jour.
nal; copyright, 1903, by The Curtis
Publishing Company.