The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-06-28
he Only Woman
He Gould Ever Love.
tOrigtnal !

woman as 4 wife should be loved and
was not that woman. She was his
first and only real love-Bertha Tinter-
ton, with whom he had fallen in love
when he was nineteen and she sixteen.
Tom was then poor, and Berthas ia
Their wouldn't let her marry him. They
drifted apart and when Tom proposed
for me he hadn't heard Of her in years,
but he had the honesty to tell ne just
how he felt about the matter l was
very much distressed at his confession
and would have refused him, but was
very fond of him and accepted him
hoping to grow into the place that
Bertha Tinterton hadn't left vacant.
year ago, after business troubles,
Tom showed signs of breaking down.
He needed something to divert his
mind and set it running in an entirely
different channel. / took him off on a
trip, but it didn't seem to do much
good l invited people to the house
especially young people, Indeed, had
a number Of pretty and attractive girls,
hoping that Tom would get up tlirta-
ton with one of them. But whether
his young love still remained or wheth-
er he was satisfied with me, he failed
to become entang}el with any of them.
| was in despair He was getting no
better and | didn't sea any way to
rouse him.
One day l saw notice in the society
news that Miss Bertha Tiutcrton was
visiting an intimate friend of mine.
wondered if she wGuid take hold of
Toms mentality and turn it in health
Ter channel For some time | felt that
| couldn't bear the iIea Of bringing
them together, but Tom WELL even in
love with another, WIS more to me
than sick, and after Il hard struggle |
called on my friend, met Miss Tiuter-
ton and invited her u dinner didn't |
say anything to Tom about it before |
hand for l didn't know how he would |
take the matter, and he might spoil my |
plan.
When the evening for the dinner ar
rived and the two lovers met, looked |
for Tom to show some nervousness,
especially at first He looked ut Miss
Ttnterton strangely. Don't you know
me? she asked, coloring. Certainly"
replied Tom, coloring. I'm Bertha
Tinteton. Have | changed so very
much" Every little" But Miss Tin
terton was rather skinny and over
dressed, and-well, she looked old
maldish. But she was the only woman
that Tom could ever love as a woman
should be loved, and if she could wake
him up that was what wanted of her
Tom is a reserved man, and |
tell just how she affected him,
but it seemed to me the meeting made
him sadder than ever. 1t must be tho
realization Of all they had lost in haS-
Ing been separated in their youth.
However, l had entered upon the plan
and resolved to give it a thorough
trial. l invited Miss Tinterton to make
us n fortnight visit. She gladly ac-
copied.
Though l could not tell exactly how
Tom felt at this reunion with his lost
love, l could plainly see how the lady
felt. She lost no opportunity of draw
n@ Tom away in hooks and corners
and when with him used all those arts
women use in attracting men, bring
hG her eyes especially into constant
llay. left them alone n great deal,
ma when | entered the room where
hey We're always found them sitting
cry near together. Just before the
'isit was ended Tom suggested that
he time Of her invitation be extended.
hen l felt sure that, whether the ,
eunion resulted in a benefit or no,
Hiss Ttnterton had renewed her grin
N my husbands heart.
But Toms health and spirits did
lot improve; indeed, he grew worse.
me morning he did not get out of bed
nd asked me to send for the doctor. i,
dding that he wished to see him =
lone. When the doctor came out OF :,
'om's roOm he told me that the pa. -
lent must go away at once | in
ormed Miss Tinterton of the change =
I our plans and expected her to leave y
She made an excuse to y.
tay longer. A week passed, and she "A
ad not for some reason found it CON
enient to go. We We're obliged to de-
art leaving her at the house. though II
he had ordered her trunk sent away t.,
he next morning. 1t was midsummer u
nd Tom and l went to the mountains.
When the train was pulling out Of u
lie station Tom turned to me and said:
What, in the name of conscience. :
Id you load that woman on to me II
yr?" p'
Load that woman on to you? u
bought she was the only woman you W
ould ever love l hoped she would !,
ct you out of your gloom" u
You did that"
yes" II
Tom drew a long breath. well,
1u're 4 cool one TO think of wife OF
ringing her husbands old fame into 81
ar house for such purpose!" pc
'Td tried everything else" W
Tom felt for my hand. MY dear" IN
! said 1--WE been trying to get rid OF
her ever since she came. She literal ed
forced me to secure a renewal Of a
er invitation. The only way to move 70
er was to pretend breakdown and III
I've the doctor order me away" Nv
But why didn't you tell me"
Tell you, after the twaddle I'd talk Ill
when we were cngagedW WI
And in the tolls Of the only woman TO
Il could ever love, 1t was peculiar M