The Washington herald., 1907-05-23
Where TWO Paths Met.
BY INA WRIGHT HANSON.

In the birch blossom path saw her
first. and my mind was full Of annoyance
because my sister. who kept my house
should invite a girl 20 visit her. and then
insist that il was my duty 10 help enter
tain her. I would do nothing of the
sort, ! was thinking, when a turn in the
whlte-blossomed pathway brought her to
my view.
She was slender, and had a great mass
Of brownish-yellow hair. pinned up with
gold pins. one Of which glowed sardoni-
caIly at me with It's topaz eye. While
was wondering why she didn't comb her
hair smoothly. she turned. and her eyes,
of a wonderful vivid blue. seemed to
look down into my very soul
stand perfectly still. Mr. Angove, and
shut your eyes Is there anything so
sweet in this wide world as a birch path
in springtime? Don't open them. Mr..
Angove. I want you TO get the fragrance
uninterrupted by any other sense
Why l should have stood there with
my foolish eyes shut tight I don't know.
but l did, until she gave me permission
10 look at the white. featheTy sprays and
al her Then. quite socially, we strolled
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 I don't know your name. I said.
abruptly.
t.t+ r~g+ ,-a,, are syciuoy ., address mo
as Miss Britland, she replied promptly
"Afterward you will say Frances. and
at the end you will call me Caprice
why i'm the world should I call you
Caprice?" I asked.
4 don't know" she said. Don't you
ever say things just rs If somebody inside
Of you were saying them with your own
tOngUe2"
My reply 40 this amazing question was
hindered by the ending of the birch
bushes. We stood facing a little pagoda
Of white marble ! looked at the girl.
Her hands were tensely clasped, her red
lips were quivering
It's like walking down the pathway
Of love. and suddenly coming 20 the very
Temple Of Love itself.' she exclaimed.
l frowned. Why should my sister
prattle 10 strangers Of our ancestors con-
cePtion? She seemed to divine my
thoughts.
why do you look at me ike that?
What is IL? What does it mean2'
l showed her the inscription on the
worn threshold-"Temple OF L0ve'-and
with sudden swift grace she knelt above
the lettering. Then she sprang up.
Come, Mr.. Angove,' she cried gayly,
Il will run you race"
So back along the hirch-lined path we
ran like two children and only my sis
teT's amused smile az the end OF the race
reminded me Of my forgotten dignity I
spent the rest OF the day among my
books and alone.
Next morning Miss Britlaud and I Sc
lected a walk opposite the birch path.
This was straight path. through an
avenue Of stately pines. Yesterday the
girl had Deen fanciful or merry: this dag
she was neither She walked sedatcly
by me, talking quite leaYnedlv of tine
future Of radium. ! began 90 see why
might some time call her Caprice
This is the path Of the pines" ! said,
when we had exhausted radium. eve
should have taken this ore first. for IL
leads straight and true as the compass
needle to the temple; while the birch
path meanders foolshly this way ana
that. and makes one many unnecessary
steps to reach the same place"
'One welcomes unnecessary steps when /
one walks with the spirit OF the woods" |
she answered. Anyway, vow should not
have told me that this path leads to the |
same place. It would have been nicer
for me to discover it for myself"
80 It would" / answered humblv |
How shall I at0ne?'
by telling me Of yourself" she re-
Piled
There isn't much to tell" I said feel |
ug pleased at her interest. We sat i'm the /
7agoda. and for me at least il was the /
emple Of love. Let he who Will prate of /