Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22

She babe me give you her love, and say to you
my mother saying
that she is expecting you this evening"
"Dorothy's love?"-I turned away should have~
been pleased to hear this, but was not, III only
made it harder for me to bear. turned again TO
"Dorothy's love? dear mother, Dorothy does not
understand She Is only girl; not yet woman
She does not understand. How can sne VINO mas
never been denied anything in her life; who does
not know the value of money and all 1t STANDS
for; or where it comes from; how can she under
stand these things She does not realize how
great gulf has been opened up at our feet Ihat
impossible chasm now divides us. She knows
nothing of such things;-and sends me her love!'
The Mater cut to the heart at the sight of
my distress. She knew that had always loved
Dorothy. but she did not know how completely my
life was bound up in hers She knew that no
promise of marriage existed between usher
thoughts had never travelled so far, for she had
never yet realized that had reached manhood
Mother, dear. Dorothy did love me. She loves
me now maybe; don't know I might bridge
this chasm with my love; but-don't you see, as
| see, that cannot lift her out of her fathers
comfortable home, where she is surrounded by all
of the luxures of life, to share my poverty; to
help me battle with the world? Nor can ask her
to spend the flower of her youth waiting for me-
These were the thoughts that still filled my
mind as paced my narrow little chamber, making
ready to go to Dorothy. They insistent |
could think of nothing save
81 may be late getting in tonight said to the
Mater as kissed her goodnight.
"God bless you my boy" she answered.
Having threshed out the matter thoroughly in
my own mind; having steeled my heart against
any possible weakness; fortified by all of the argu
ments l had brought to bear against the indul-
gence of hope, | started out with my mothers
blessing ringing in my ears to make the great
sacrifice of my life. To lay my heart upon the
altar of my love-
The distance not great, and l decided to
walk, postponing thus for few minutes the terri
BILE ordeal On my way passed, for the first time
since we had left it. our old home 1t was dark
and still empty-a For Sale" sign staring at me
from the closed door. This was terrible wrench.
stopped for a moment, gazing up at the win
dow from which | had watched for my little
sweetheart, Dorothy, who was coming to my
birthday party. / could not forbear smiling as l
called to mind all of my mad antics that day
walking on my hands and feet like bear; turn
ing "summersets' showing on"-as Nanny
Chloe said, when my mother gently chided me for
being trough in my play for the little lady
Slowly, very slowly, / walked up the sidewalk
only few PAGES, hundred yards, perhaps TO
'Dort'y's house, as l used to style it in the old
days
Though it early September, with warm days
and balmy evenings, / found the house alight for
the Homecoming. Slowly | walked up the same
stems over which | had bounded as "The Boy"
with "Lil Missile" in Nanny Chloes arms, for
the goal.
Very slowly walked up, as an old man might
have done. When had reached the topmost step,
the vestibule, / could not help pausng moment
to turn and single out the tree in the little park
under which had first met Dorothy little over
eighteen years ago. 1t was very much changed
1t had fulfilled the promise of its youth, and mad
grown from stout young sapling to tree OF
eoodly proportions l had, however, no d1fhculty
in locating it, since l had kept it company in
growing.
It was kind of last look with which INDUCED
mvself. last goodbye to hope, for really, up TO
the moment I knew now--with the elasticity OF
Youth | had been hoping that something would
turn I'D: and here now a last goodbye TO all
of my sweet dreams, thinking only Oh inysell' OIL
kaf