Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-31

~One thing remember. dear child |
said gravely. and that Is that Loo
blazes its own paths and cuts its own
channels. II It be written that you ara
for me you win marry me In rood
time. Love brooks no interference In
bis realm"
Her cheeks stormed into color e. l
helped her to her feet
do you see this Lady Washinxton -
she demanded. holding the pelareoni-
um before me. See, lay 1t in The
hollow Of this little big tree. There =
dirt IN the hollow, and the pelarroni-
um may grow. Coming again, l may
ind that It has taken root. So may /
become Jour WIFE, The one b a pos-
sible as the other.v
So Muriel went back to the east win
her schemes Of philanthrppy, and I
stayed In my west to dream ana than
to write. but /. found that DREAMING
had grown to be = weary taak wien
the most beauteous one OF them ali
was q forbidden one, for l h6d }ost
faith In my own brave avowal OF loves
omnipotence.
Nearly year had gone before l
visited the Big Tree grove again.
went alone and teok my solitary way
to the river where l had said goodby
to my dream Of dreams. A furious
storm had wrought some havoc there
Two or three Of the lesser trees bad
fallen. and the swinging bridge had
been twisted and broken and throw,
upon the bank, while the swollen river
ragged angrily by It.
At last l turned away from nay SAD
retrospection. Ny eyes caught q
glimpse Of blue In the distance. ana
somehow / thought Of Murielss drass
as 1t looked on that other day when
she had not been kind. But rust then
was Joined by the guide, who was
quite friend OF mine. He had discov-
cred a new plant and was naturally
quite enthusiastic over II 90 wsnt
into the inner grove to view the dis
covery. After had left him I stin
bad half hour before train time, %
| went back to the broken bridee.
Again were my eyes caught By the |
glimpse Of blue, and I saw that Q wc-
man was kneeling before one Of ne |
little big trees.
Each to her oak the bashful dryads |
SHRINK" I murmured. .Tf oaks couid |
have dryads. why not rsdwoodsr |
asked myself. But when she TUNED |
her head and looked at me STARTED To-
ward her.
''Murielr' cried, yet stiA ham BE-
ieving that It was beautiful vizSon.
But she sprang to her feet, her white
lace going pink and her tear wet eyes
holding sweetness had never seen
here before. She pointed toward tn
hollow of the tree
Look, Armand, the miracle Of tie
There, in the little sitting Of Dirt
rev the Lady Washington, not very
Iturdily, but still 1t had rooted AnA
vas alive. Her words came baeA %
ne:
4 might leave this flower here and,
coming again, find that It had taken
'oot So might / become your wife.
rhe one is as possible as the otherr"
l held out my arms. She hesitatsA,
md her color despened.
Don't think me bold, Armand. III
lidn't come seeking you. Ny mother
s not well, and came with her. Il
anne
you came because the love god sent
'ou, sweetheart" finished for her.
Now, come the rest of the way 10 the
rms which may never Ist you 20
gain"
Shy In her love, puising with life,
lowing with happiness. she came to
ne. My dream came true.
1.-THE east and the west are met to-
ether" / said Now I think can
Vrite the book which will make the
Vorld better"
Don't begin 1t just yet" she whis-
cred, with her soft cheek against
,ine. LET the world wait TIL you
ave loved me awhile"