The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-01-08
A Struggle With Love.

We had met again. lhad been waiting
and vaguely longing for this meeting for
months-cver since had heard he was
expected to return. What had expect.
ed. what had waited for, had never
known, did not know now. But have
come home sitting opposite to my sister
and father, hearing, as in dream. their
gay voices discussing the events Of the
party at which we had been guests, but
silent myself. and sad with the oppressive
sense of bitter disappointment.
My sister slept in little, inner room
which opened from mine, that was our
own common dressing room. She was
soon in bed and was sleeping soundly
Having ascertained this fact | shut the
communicating door, and sat down quite
alone, before the CRATE, to think.
AS l sat thus, my hands clasped at the
back of head. my eyes fixed upon the red
Goals, recalled my last meeting with
Stephen Parkhurst-the meeting that
ended with this long parting.
was yet a school girl when he went
away. He young man, had just con-
Guided his collegiate course. and was
going abroad. He came to the school to
say farewell.
How handsome and manly he -okcd as
l went into the parlor. AS 1 walked up
the long room l caught the reflection Of
myself in the pier-glass. A tall, awkward
schoolgirl, with large brown hands, that
were always in the way, swarthy face,
surrounded by twisted masses of coarse,
black hair, and dark eyes, too large, and
always either wild or dreamily sad in
expression.
Stephen had called me his little wife
ever since we had played, and quarrcled,
and made friends" i'll the nursery. But
l had not seen him many times in the
last year or two, and felt in no slight
awe ofhis increased goodlooks and manly
air.
dare say he saw some change in NE,
but he did not seem to observe it. He
only took my hands in his own, looked
affectionately down into my eyes and
then after slight hesitation. he stopped
and kissed me.
That kiss made all right between us
again. and sitting together upon the sofa
we were Stephen" ana Margaret" to
each other as of old, for the next hour.
Then Stephen rose to go away.
Il shall write to you often, Maggie"
he said. You know you are my little
wife, though you are growing almost too
large for that pretty adjective now, and
only wish we were old enough to be
married and take this tour together.
Perhaps We. willgo abroad together some
day when you are really my wife"
But do you think you shall really
like to have ME for your wife," l could
not help asking. II am plain and awk-
ward, and shall always have to rely
upon my mental gifts for the means of
pleasing"
"You are the very handsomest girl in
world for me, he replied, land you are
to be my Wife
He took me in his arms, kissed me on
brow and cheek and lip and we parted.
Four years past and we met once rlore
in very different scenes and in very
different manner.
Two or three letters only had Stephen
sent me during the first year of his alb
sence. For three years he had been silent.
| thought he had forgotten me, but had
never been able to forget him.
could have torn my hair for anger at
the conviction that l loved this cold
hearted man, who had met ME almost as
a stranger.
l met Stephen constantly. His sisters
were my most intimate friends his family
and ours had always moved in the same
circle. In few DAYS he was established
at our fireside as familiar guest, coming
and going at all hours, with his sisters
or alone.
But he never called me his little wife"
again, nor alluded to the olden times
when l bore that title, as if he remember
ed it.
Nor did he show me either more or less
attention than he paid to Lucy, who had
been mere baby when he left home.
l should not have been piqued at this
had he been a mere stranger. But to see
Stephen Parkhurst. the scholar and
traveller, turn from me to my pretty
childish sister, and listen with the same
flattering air of Difference to her lisping
nothings, was almost more than could
bear.
Outwardly had never been so gay as
during the time of harassing doubt and
uncertainty.
That loved Stephen Parkhurst my
sufferings would not let me doubt. But
that the secret of this absorbing unrc-
Quilted passion should be shut closely
into nv own heart, willed with all the
strength of powerful nature.
At length the blow fell A low fever,
caused by all the excitement and anxiety
7 LaJ ,,.J.o,. oo.S,.d ,,,a = n nv ron ~,