The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-10-03
A CHANGE
OF HEART
BY MAUD S. PEASLEE
1Copyrlsht. BY Joseph d. Bowles)

years MY JuulOI. we NSlS ldl SO
family once, but now only she and
were left, and we chung more closely
than ever together.
She was so pretty and lovable,
could not bear to have her out of my
sight
When | was young, and had had
some claims to beauty myself, Walter
Whitcomb had thought me fair. For
one bright summer, love may have
made me so. Then came misunder-
standings, fault-finding, with bitter re-
criminations-and parting that
wrenched my heart.strings, though my
lips smiled.
Sylvie met Dick Ormond the summer
she was 49, can remember now how
the faint pink flush used to come and
go in her cheeks; but then l thought
little of her admirng glances. had
been used to seeing Sylvie made much
over; l almost worshiped her my
self. N
They became great friends, but | Go
not think he courted her at that time.
He went away in the fall to be gone
two years He was to finish his edu-
cation at a famous college, and then
he was coming back to practice with
his uncle, Lawyer Benson. | didn't
like the old gentleman, and l remem-
Der told Sylvie that l hated lawyers.
She looked quite grieved, for you see
| that was Dicks profession.
/ do not think was sad in those
! days; I'm afraid was cross. l know
| was morbid and heavy-hearted with
an uneasy sense of coming loss. l
nust have known even then how 1t
would end; but was 10th to acknowl-
edge even to myself that Sylvie could
ever love another better than me.
When Dick came home In the spring
| he asked her If she loved him well
enough to marry him in the fall, and
help him make home. The dear
child! how happy she was, and. thank
God, is yet!
could not refuse my consent; had
no reasonable grounds, but / looked
with strong disapproval on every
thing. Yet | remember how l worked
and planned that Sylvie's outfit might
be dainty and complete She timidly
proposed that / should live with item
in the cottage on the hill, and assured
me Dick was willing.
But | am not!" answered grimly
and | made our old sewing machine
fairly rattle as tn yards of dainty
rufIiing fell crowdinE into my lap.
i They had not been married LONG
when Lawyer Benson died of heart
4 disease. As Dick was his heir, they
left the cottage, and moved into the
big house with its fine library ant
handsome furniture. Dick was very
busy, for all his uncle's practice fel
into his hands; and must say he gave
great satisfaction.
Dick had bought the cottage will
money his uncle had given him for {
wedding present, and 1t was NIGEL!
furnished. They wanted me to go ant
live there when still refused to go t.
them They asked me to let my car,
Of the house settle all question Of rem
between US, but was paying rent OF
the house where Sylvie and hat
lived, and SO l insisted on paying then
the same II | made The change
Sylvie used often to come up and 81
with me, because | would rarely go Il
, the big house to see her. Besides sh
loved the memories the house held TO
her.
By-and-by it grew to be too mucl
for Sylvie to climb the HILL and sh
did not go out often in the carriage
Still did not go down to see her uI
lesS they sent for me.
. One day the buggy came for me Il
: great haste, and | went, although
n grumbled all the way,
Q When they put Sylvie's little daugf
!; ter In my arms, kissed her becaus
| just couldn't help it; but didn
make any fuss over her, and | wor
y dered audibly II there was any need G
r my hanging around there any Longer
v Dicks face was very grave, and h
: asked me to stay a few days, if
could. Ionly shifted and made him n
reply. didn't offer to do anything q
K all that next day; indeed there was n
II need.
" That night, though, Sylvie gre
q worse, and when went to her foun
she was In danger of her life, jus
through the carelessness Of her nurs
Well, just swept her, and all tn
rest out of the room, and fell on m
knees by the bed and prayed God
:, forgive me.
= think He did for pulled he
" through Even the doctor, and
i didn't like me very much either, sal
a saved her.
}, For ten days and nights l stood owe
u her with only brief intervals of rest.
Q Afterwards nothing was said of N
= going home, and was glad, for l di
!. not want to go. My pride all left N
= the night thought Sylvie would di
, and knew l had neglected HI
1t through my stubbornness. Now
D wanted to be near some one loved.
!, / was glad they named the bal
after me; it made me feel l had Il
tie share in her, too.
- The baby was sweet little ere
Al ture, and i softened toward Die
y when l saw the tender look the vel
81 sight of his wife and child brought
his face; SO it was not long till l 70
got had ever disliked him.
We led a quiet, happy life, SEER
little company and caring for non
"a The little Margaret grew and thrive
" Before a year had passed, ! telt /