The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-22

child until his puzzled eyes compelled me. caught him to my heart.
 "Therer' I laughed, what does any thing matter except that love you and you love me?"
 Here at last was something he could understand. He drew down my face and kissed it on the day-old stubble. The act was eloquent. I took the kiss as a sign of forgiveness and hurrender, and said blthely:
 You'll go with me to see her tonight, won't you? She asked me to bring you after I told you the secret. I know you are too much your fathers son not to love her when you know her.
 Was it fancy, or did he draw away sltghtly-ever so slightly-from my cir cling arms? I looked quickly into his grave little face and read it truer than he khew.
 'If you'll excuse me. father, won't go tonight. I'm not feelin' very veil But I'll go some other time-honest and truly will" he added hastily as he saw my hurt look.
 Very well,' said said, with an affect ed and dign fled indifference that relied the pain and dIsarpointments '.wh a1ever you feel wei, enough I'll be glad to Have you go. But as she is expecting you, Will ycu send a message? Gentlemen always se:.d some vc,1 of excuse when they dis 1pp,int lady" ! glanced furtiveiy at the serious little faco Of the serious little person on ths log beside me. and wondered if he had sry idea how far I was trying him in my effort to understand and draw him back where we walked side by side in open and perfect confidence. You may tell her, please"-he worded the message quaintly to suit his ideas of it's Crown-up needs-"you may tell her how sorry l am if she's disappointed. and tbs.l I'm glad she is going to make yolq harpy."
 And nothing about your love?' He hesitated.
 Well, 1 don't know her, you see. It isn't quite right to send your love to lady you don'tknow'
 I was dumb befoIe his worldly wisdom. Yet 1 saw the naked truth this cloak of conventional worldliness covered. He did not want to divide his hearts treasure with this woman who had stolen me from him. How could Ia helpless man-make this man-child, though he was bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, under stand that my love for her took not one Jot or little from my love for him? In a way I comprehended his feelings and, ptied him. He had never loved any one but me- There were just we two in the -1.x.I- l-I ! relation to draw any of our love away from each other-and he could not under stand how love could be divided and not lose in part.
 For me to love some one else meant to him to take from his share and give to another, and it was nearly breaking his little heart, though he tried to keep me from knowing it. Such nobleness was like his mother, whose brief dream love had blessed my youthful days. Looking back now from the height of maturer years to the. green and verdant valleys that her death had storm swept and laid bare, l wondered if 1 loved her the less that this deeper and diyiner passion had sprung up in the waste places. Nay-the House of the Heart is many chambered and the closed room that bears her name is as sacred to her now as the day she died. But why should not the wholesome
 
 keep them sweet and clean and habit able? Surely, 'tis Gods wise provision to keep the House of the Heart from be- ing given over entirely to the cobwebs of despair
 When I turned away from his little white bed that night with his kiss still moist on my lips he called me back. Father, do you love me?" he asked wistfully.
 '.Of course do, laddie mine. I love you as much as around the world and back again"
 '--an' twice as many times morev" he chanted. finishing out our nonsense love song.
 'Yes, indeedy Aren't you glad we love take all the fortunes in the world for just your teeniest, weeniest little finger!" He smiled appreciatively. Do you love me better n anything in