Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-10-23
~oue thing remember. dear chlld."

Zone thing remember. dear child"
said gravely. land that Is that love
blazes TIA own paths and cuts its own
channels. II II lie written that you are
for me you will marry me In good
his realm"
Her cheeks stormed into color as
helped her to her feet
'Do you see this Lady Washington"
she demanded holding the pelargoni-
um before me. See. | lay IL In the
hollow OF this little big tree. There is
dirt IN the hollow. and the pelargoni-
um may grow. Coming again, | may
find that II has taken root So may
become your wife. The one Is as pos
sible as the other"
So Muriel went back To the east with
her schemes OF philanthropy. and
stayed I'm my west TO dream and then
to write. but | found that dreaming
had grown TO be a weary task when
the most beauteous one Of them all
was forbidden one. for ! had lost
faith In my own brave ayowal OF loves
omnipotence.
Nearly "A year had gone before !
visited the Big Tree grove again. !
went alone and took my solitary way
to the river where | had said goodby
to my dream Of dreams. A furious
storm had wrought some havoc there
Two or three OF the lesser trees had
fallen. and the swinging bridge had
been twisted and broken and thrown
ragged angrily by it.
At last | turned away from my sad
retrospection My eyes caught a
glimpse OF blue in the distance. and
somehow l thought of Muriers dress
as IL looked on that other day when
she had not been kind But just then
was joined by the guide, who was
quite a friend Of mine. He had discov-
cred a new plant and was naturally
quite enthusiastic over IT, so | went
into the inner grove TO view the dis
covery. After | had left him | still
had a half hour before train time, so
went back TO the broken bridge.
Again were my eyes caught by the
glimpse of blue, and | saw that wo-
man was kneeling before one OF the
little big trees.
Each to her oak the bashful dryads
shrink" | murmured. "If oaks could
have dryads. why not redwoods| |
asked myself But when she turned
her head and looked at me started to-
ward her
"Muriel." | cried, yet still half be-
lieving that 1t was beautiful vision.
But she sprang to her feet, her white
face going pink and her tear wet eyes
holding "A sweetness | had never seen
there before she pointed toward the
hollow OF the tree.
"Look. Armand. the miracle OF the
pelargoniumv
There. in the little sitting OF dirt,
grew the Lady Washington. not very
sturdily, but still it had rooted and
was alive. Her words came back 10
me:
al might leave this flower here and,
coming again. find that II had taken
root So might | become your wife
The one is as possible as the other. A"
held out my arms. She heSitated
and her color deepened.
Don't think me bold. Armand.
didn't come seeking you. My mother
IS not well. and | came with her.
/ came
you came because the love god sent
| you. sweetheart" ! finished for her
Now, come the rest of the way 10 the
arms which may never let you go
/ again"
Shy I'm her love. pulsing with life
| glowing with happiness. she came 10
me. My dream came trne.
THE east and the west are met to-
/ gether," | said "Now | think | can
write the book which will make the
world better"
Don't begin it just yet" she whis-
pered, with her soft cheek against
mine. Let the world wait till you
have loved me awhile"