Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-21
XYIhere Two
w Paths Met.
By INA WRIGHT HANSON.
copyrighted, 1907. by Mary McI1con.

ance because my sister, who kept my
house. should invite girl to visit her
and then insist that 1t was my duty to
help entertain her. would do moth
Ing of the sort | was thinking. when
turn in the white blossomed pathway
brought her to my view.
She was slender and had great
mass of brownlsh yellow hair. pinned
up with gold pins. one OF which glow
ed snrdonicnlly Mt me with its topaz
eye. While was wondering why she
didn't comb her hair smoothly she
turned, and her eyes. of wonderful
vivid blue, seemed To look down into
my very soul.
stand perfectly still, Mr.. Angovc,
and Shut your eyes. Is there nnythng
SO sweet in this wide world us Il birch
path In sprinEtimc? Don't open them,
Mr. Angoyc. want you to get the
fragrance uninterrupted 10y any other
sense"
Why should have stood there with
my foolish eyes shut tight don't
know. but did until she gave me
permission to look Mt the white fcath.
cry sprays and nj her. Then quite so.
Gladly we strollcd the rest OF the way
together. began TO feel Interested In
Knowing what she would say when we
came to the end OF the path and she
saw
why, don't know your NAME"
said abruptly.
AT first you are going to address
me rs Miss Britland," she replied
promptly "Afterward you will say
Frances, and ut the end you will call
me Caprice"
why In the world should call you
Caprice?" l asked
Il don't know she said. Don't you
ever say things just as IL somebody
inside OF you We're saying them with
your own tongucY
My reply TO this amazing question
was hindercd by tho ending OF the
birch bushes We stood facing q llttlo
pagodn of white marble. looked ut
the girl Her hands were tensely
clasped; her red lips were qulvering.
ITS like walking down the pathway
of love and suddenly coming to tho
very temple OF love itselfw she ex-
claimed.
frowned. Why should my sister
prattle to strangers of our ancestors
conceptions? She seemed to divine my
thoughts.
why do you look Mt me like that?
What Is 1t? What does 1t meanf"
l showed her the Inscription ON the
worn threshold Temple OF Love-
and with sudden swift grace she
knelt above the lettering Then she
sprang up. Come, Mr.. Angovc." she
cried gayly; IL Will run you race"
SO back along the birch lined path
we ran like two children. and only my
sisters amused smile ut the end of the
race reminded me of my forgotten dig.
nifty. | spent the rest of the day
among my books and alone.
Next morning Miss Britlnnd and I
selected II walk opposite the birch path.
This was Il straight path through an
avenue of stately pines. Yesterday the
girl hnd been fanclful or merry; this
day she was neither. She walked Sc.
dntely by me, tnlking quite lcarnedly
of the future of radlum. began to see
why | might some time call her ca.
price.
This is the path of the pines"
said when we had exhausted radium.
I'VE should have taken this one first,
for 1t leads straight and true as the
compass needle to the temple, while
the birch path members foollshly this
way and that and Linkes one many I'M.
necessary steps to reach tho same
place"
"Onc welcomes unnecessary steps
when one walks with the spirit of the
woods" she answered. Anyway, you
should not have told me TINT this path
lends to the same place. 1t would
have been nicer for me to discover IT
for myself"
80 1t would 1 answered humbly
"How shall | atoneY'
by telling me OF YOURSELF" she re.
piled.
There Isn't much to tell" I said,
feeling pleased at her interest. We sat
In the pagoda. and for me at least II
was the temple of love. Let he who
Will pratc of long growing affection.
To me love came as the sun rises sud.
denly over the mountain
l told her of my life as Il boy IN col
lege, rs man In the business world
till this estate came to me- neglected
and long uninhnblted.
Another day | told her about the
temple, how my ancestor had laid out
these paths TO typify his love for his
fair young wife and her love for him
one path. quick and true as the com
pass needle, the other sweet In Its shy
reflections. but ending Just as surely
Mt the temple.
What was the young wifes name?"
ahn nalnI