Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-21

! In the pine woods of Carolina. 1t was
| there that met Harry Sinclair. When
went away l was his promised wife.
My uncle married, died, leaving M
! will. | was thrown upon the world
| came here to Calvert. Tex, and
| friends secured me a position In the
public school"
What of the MANI" he asked, stern
ly. did he dare"
Hush, hush" she implored HE
| was true to me. Business called him
| to Europe before my uncles marriage
He was lost at sea. My sorrows fol-
| lowed each other In quick succession;
| the last being a long illness and grim
fight with death. care for you, |
| have seen your love for me | have
| tried to yield to it, for l know that
you are noble. good and true My
| heart has sometimes hungered for your
| tenderness and care, but phantom
hands have always. and will always
| thrust you from my heart. for feel
| bound to him for time and eternity"
You say that Mr.. Sinclair is dead?"
Eyes; the vessel was lost off the
banks of Newfoundland
| For a moment the love Of the man
| struggled with the integrity of the gen.
| tleman. Unconsciously she had be-
| trayed the fact that he might in time
win her love, and save his, happiness,
but by paying the price of eternal
| shame. His soul bowed in the dust of
| despair, but his honor arose triumph
ant from the crumbling ruin Of his
hopes.
Alice, can you bear a great shock?
| Be brave, have something wonderful
to tell you. Harry Sinclair was picked
| up by fishing boat, but was desper-
ately Ill for months afterward. My
| friend says that he sought for his lost
| love even as Evangeline sought for Ca
briel. Then he heard that she was dead
| Weep to your hearts comfort now. I
| will never rest, never cease in my eff
forts, until l lay this little hand in
his. l have seen himi f had only
| known!"
| You have seen him! Is it possible?
| Oh! tell me all about him. Was he
broken-hearted, sad?"
| We'll, no; he did not impress me
that way l thought him a genial,
| pleasant fellow"
| 81 do not see how that was posi-
| Bile"
you must not be unjust You loved
him truly and yet you have always
seemed like Gods smile and angel of
light"
His voice broke with suppressed sobs
| as he arose:
| "Good-by, my lost love, I will go
| away tomorrow, and when return,
| please God, 1t will not be alone''
The shock OF the news, the power OF
memory awakened by the imprisoned
voice, which she had thought stilled in
death, left her mind almost in a state
Of chaos, but the beauty of such unself-
/ ish devotion impressed her as Loves
divine self-abnegation. AS IL whis-
! pered to her soul, came the words of
/ the Son of God:
Greater love has no man than this:
{ that he lay down his life for his
f! friend" and she knew that the sweet
; est hone Of bis heart had beer. elsin. by
, her hand
She stood in the parlor awaiting his
| coming. Her face was like a lily which
the frost had touched. Piteous ex-
/ pectancy was in her eyes. Her hands
were cold and nerveless. She knew that
Mr.. Leigh had returned alone, but
| what story did he bring?
| When he came the pity upon his
face did not escape her eyes.
"He is dead" she almost whispered.
' "I can read the truth in your face"
mo; 1t is worse than that, poor
4 child. Sinclair was married the very
day ! reached"
| Married, married! Oh, thank God!"
and the frozen misery of her face broke
| up in a flood of tears. After awhile
she said:
/ Listen before you tell me one word
He was my girlhood's lover. associated
| with the romance. music and sentiment
OF youth. II he had remained constant
to my memory I would have married
him. Dudley. the girl loved him, the
liyou had gone that I had sent you to
find my doom as we'll as yours"
"Alice, Alicei" and he drew her to
his heart "In June 1 must go to Eu-
rope. Tell me that need not go
alone"
The family had gathered in the sit
ting room and the children went as
usual to the graphophone. In a mo-
ment the air quivered with the melody
of song. Childish voices joined in the
refrain blending with the fathers bass
and the mothers sweet contralto.
Alice moved to the doorway. the por-
tiers framing her slight form, and sang
; as no human ear had ever heard her
! sing Then turning she laid her hand
in his. and he read his answer In the
!. dying cadence:
''I will wed you in the golden sum
mer-time"
Skra ruloarri