The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-12-28

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brambles. Her heart, numb with its
secret sorrow, grew faint her limbs be.
came palsied and her step slow and I'M
certain. Weary and weak, Youth sat
her down. and with the hem OF her gar
ment wiped the blood from her poor
bruised feet and bleeding fingers, and
as she looked aghast at the scarlet
| splashes, she burst into passionate
weeping, and all day and all night she
sat sobbing.
Again she started on her way, and
again she stumbled and fell and was
pierced by the thorns and hrambles
Blinded by tears, stumbling, falling
catching her breath like little child
who had been forbidden TO cry, she
sobbed out that her pate was lost--that
she had no strength to struggle farther.
Softly, as though blown by summers
wind she swayed. and 10. she felt her
| two cold hands grasped firmly in the
clutch OF a big warm palm. She looked
up wonderingly, and met the eyes OF a
| Viking, who smiled upon her pftyingly.
Who are you?' Youth asked, draw
lns confidingly nearer him.
Il am Sympathy he replied, press
ing her hands proteetingly and carry.
ing one, then the other to his mouth.
"and shall warm you and feed you
and kiss you and carry you in my
arms when you are tired-you little
white SOUL
And. STOPPING. he caught her up IN
his strong arms and kissed her madly.
For a space she lay still within his
arms, her pulses quiekening in the
consciousness OF warmth and return
ing strength Then, with sudden
sense OF eombatiyeness, she struggled
mp, crying out that she must 20 or
alone But Sympathy held her close
$50 close hat she felt the beating OF
his heart against her own and the fierce
pressure of his lips upon her hair
Youth drew a quick breath. there
was a barely perceptible skudders then
she lay passive in the completeness Of
surrender. In that moment neither
heard the hollow chuckle OF Destiny
nor knew Of his mocking smile
On and on Sympathy carried Youth
in his tireIe5s arms, nor stopped until
he had reached the path o Dreams
where he put her upon her feet. ane
together they walked into beautiful
garden.
One year passed-a year fraugh'
with JOYS too hubblelike 10 endure
and one day the serpent Of Disillusion
nent erept into the garden and claimed
one for his own sympathy. In ST.
lence Sympathy rose. and without one
backward look disappeared adown tht
rath O Dreams, and Youth never saw
him more.
Hope came to Youth, but in iittit
Willie sickcncd and died. Despair
grim and appalling, succeeded Hope
and made OF Youth slave To his ca
prices. Then came Pride, and after
Pride. Necessity, commanding Youth
TO 30 back over the road she had come
In vain she protested, and even afte'
she had entered the path that led bach
10 Love she would have turned ano
fled had not Necessity, like an ayens
ing Demon stalled by her side, stoop
ing at times to whisper: make haste
Lest mud ard stones be thrown upon
.hee"
Al The words a certain horrible feai
froze Youths blood. She passed her
hand across her eyes, palm outward
as one does who has received an un
expected blow. One moment she
swayed. Her hair became loosened by
its own weight -- aud fell about her
Then she lifted her head.
Softly the night fell. and softly the
moon rost above the brow Of the hill
Youth saw her way clearly defined In
the mellow radiance. There were the
same pitfalls. the same rocks aul
briars, aud albeit Youth WIS weak IL
limb. she did not stumble, neither die
she cry out the bitterness in her poor
heart for Necessity lowered at her
side and anon stopped TO whisper in
her ear.
When she had come to the end Of
her Journey she saw Love waiting with
outstretched arms. She could see his
figure plainly. albeit the moon had
moved toward the zenith, until now.
only slender wire Of amber lay upon
the hills.
Love did not speak but he smiled
Youth did not speak. But lifting the
heavy mass OF hair she flung il across
he. eyes to hide her face In her shame
In silence Love Folded Youth TO his
breast. and just as the pale rim OF the
horizon was merging in the gray OF
Dawn. he swept her face free Of It's
covering. and all that were best to for
get disappeared on the wings OF the
morning. City Star.
Watchful Monarch