The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-23
The Harp Of Life.


T#s*tFEtE+ = ~ = = =
where's NAM"
That was the usual cry at the Gov
erdale's if the eldest daughter olsap-
peared for more than five minutes
The vicar needed her to write FOR nln'
the sweet-faced mother missed nel
girls affectionate care; and one OF an
other of the five boys and girls weio
sure to want the help which only Nan
could give.
It was sweet to feel herself the prop
of the household, to know that sue
was necessary to them all, from tne
grave. tender father down to wee flo'
the pet of the family; yet, brave NJ
err of burdens as she was, Nan SOME
times felt the strain of it all, anu
felt, also, that it would be goou d.
times to be a cleaner" if-ah! II
where's Nan?" again demanded
Fred. His kite wanted mending ana ne
was eager to be off, for the wind was
glorious and the boys were waiting
for him.
"She has gone for run down 10
auntie's," said Mrs. Coverdale' lroll
the couch where so much OF her NE
was spent.
Fred grumblingly departed. 1t was
a query if he would find another Will
ing helper. Then the vicar looked up
from his book to say, MY dear, am
glad Nan is out Of the way for once,
for I'm afraid between US we demand
too much of her" The mother signed
as she agreed with him, for her own
heIplessness troubled her greatly.
He heard the sigh, and love inter
preted it's meaning for him, for theirs
were Iove-linked hearts. In the talk
which followed the mother heart was
comforted, for she was made to feel
how great a place she held in the lives
of all the family, and, most OF all,
how precious she was to this, her nus
band.
Meanwhile, could they have seen An
ME- how amazed they would have
been.
Swiftly walking along the country
road, ignoring it's loneliness, and heed
less Of the gathering gloom, she was
fighting lonely heart battle.
Nan felt herself a woman. Her place
in the household had developed wom-
anliness in her, but not until lately
had the chord Of love been touched
on the harp of her life; only lately
had she realized how gradually (and
unconsciously to HERSELF she had
grown to revel in the presence of
Douglas Gray.
He was her fathers curate for the
parish was large one. She liked to
talk over her fayorite books with him;
to discuss the intricacies Of meaning
in her favorite poems; most of all his
earnest, vivid preaching touched her.
and to be linked to such a person
ality would, she felt, mean living on
high levels indeed.
But during the last few weeks she
had unwillingly begun to think that
while he gave to herself a warm friend
ship, he was yielding the love she COW
eted to her sister Amy.
Bright-faced Amy had that intangi-
BILE unexplainable grace of pleasing,
which takes a man unawares, but holds
him firmly
Watching the two that afternoon the
truth had cut it's way into Mans
heart. Sitting sewing near the win
dow-Nan had no leisure for the pretty
fancy work of which Amy was so fond
she had caught snatches of their
conversation, as Amy and Douglas
wandered in the old-fashioned garden
to them so evidently a garden of Eden.
By-and-by Amy had bent over to cut
a rose, and the watchful eyes at the
window had noted the ardent express
sion of love on the mans face as he
stood watching 1t only needed that
Nan should after the curate's depart
ure happen upon her sister seated
under one of the old garden trees-lost
in a happy day dream. The disillus-
ionment was complete.
And now face to face with her
trouble, and how she despised her
self yet why should she?) because it
was a troubled She was trying with
measured tramp to beat down the pain
in her heart. She had given her love
unsought, and self-contempt ragged in
her heart for the jealous feelings which
would arise against her much-loVed