The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-01-22
The Love Thai Lives
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BY ELLEN FRIZELL WYCK0FE. |
>OoOS~oOoSo@oOS

/ Ii E WONDERED If she still cared.
III He had gone west ten years ago
because he was too poor to offer her
anything he thought it worth a
Woman's while to accept He had
learned to live without a thought Of
her. Now he was at home on business.
He had run down to the beach for a
breath Of sweet salt air.
He was watching her as she. all un-
conscious of his presence, quietly ate
her supper in a corner Of the dining
room farthest from him. II had been
a long time since he had thought of
her, yet she came back naturally
enough to her place now that he sat
there looking at her.
There was a bowl Of loose. freshly
cut roses and gardenias on her table.
The sea breeze brought him little
whiffs Of their fragrance. He re-
membered her love for them. Three
other women sat at the table with her.
He knew they were there, but be only
saw her.
She laughed now and then, and he
watched for the sparkle in her eyes. the
dimple in her cheek, and the CLEAN of
her milk-white teeth. Each of her
many charms were intensified. She
had ripened up beautifully. He missed
certain soft. pretty shyness that used
TO fold her away from him as its messy
calyx screens a rosebud. II was this
little barricade Of reserve that had kept
him silent and at a distance in the
days Of old. II was gone now. He felt
that she would understand at once how
1t was with him. He was not afraid
Of the air Of womanly pride that had
come to her.
She fed herself daintily as a bird.
She seemed wonderfully at her ease.
and altogether sweet and wholesome.
Her blue eyes were clear and steadfast.
1t rested him to look at her. She was
the one woman IN all the world. II
was curious that he had rather lost
sight OF that. lately. Now her person.
ality stood out clear and sweet from
the shadows of his forgetfulness like
a star when there is a rift ia the
clouds.
The simple old life had been good
for her, he thought While he had been
toiling and delving. wasting his youth.
almost losing his soul, she had been
living quietly at home in the old house
up in the city, coming out in the old
way each summer for a month by the
sea He felt Tesentful and ill-used.
For he might have been with her. In
stead Of the gold he had been heaping
up he might have had her.
The dainty supper cooled before |
him. The waiter behind his chair
fdgeted and asked questions. anxiously. |
People glanced curiously at the big.
sunburDt, Queer-mannered man from |
the west. A party Of young people be- |
hind him laughed and talked merrily. |
The four women at the table in the |
corner chatted pleasantly. There was
all the cheerful hotel dining-room |
clatter. But he saw only one face. with
its crown of dusky hair and eyes of
blue; heard only one low, clear voice.
He felt injured when he saw how
quietly content she was There was
10 shadow Of regret in her eyes, no
line Of grief on her face. She must
feel very sure Of him, certainly; very
positive that he would come for her
some day! And yet he had said no
word Of all this when he went away.
He thought that she ought to know
Intuiuvely that he was near her. He
had heard such things. But she
smiled brightly into the face Of one
of the other women.
He got up and went out Of doors.
He was used to plenty Of air. The
place was sitting. He wondered what
he would say when she saw him. He
ought to have written, Of course. But
well, he hadn't written.
His sunburnt face flushed holly. Never
mind. she'd be glad enough to see him,
Inyhow.
The sun was setting. The lilac walk
vas quite dim now. II lay under the
lining room windows and her table
vas near the last one; so he drifted
hat way He could hear her laughing. .
low prettily she did II. He remem-
ered that most women laugh shrilly. ,
low he could see her She was stand
ng up the bowl Of flowers in her hand.
/ think shall give each Of you part
( my flowers. Charlie sent them out
D me. He must love me very dearly, p
ont you think?" And again she 4
aughed softly.
A friendly handicap on his shoulder .
oused him. "Dick Allen, home from +,
be west, as live! l thought knew
he turn of that shoulder in the dining
Oom." I
Eyes. Beastly place"
"The west?" G.
"The dining room" 4
"When you arn't hungry. yes. Well.
ell, old man, this is a treat l am
nazingly glad to see you" Z,
sUnDV DAaD 40. IoeA-
nks-eh-Osborn? Yes, you are 7
'born." v
THE same-Charlie Osborn, at your
rvice, sir. Dick. you are gazing de- v
ctedly upon the happiest man in the
orld!" &"
Inherited a fortune?" fl
why man alive, I'm getting mar h
ed tonight. Swell affair at old st. "a
Inns, over town, you know. Party b
It for last seaside frolic and all d
at. Going in on a special train, you II
low. Join us, old man, come in at b,
e eleventh hour. as L were, and share