Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-19
Through Search
for Truth
By A. MARIA CRAWFORD
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Eleanor Holden dropped the fragile
brown petals back into the rose jar
on the low table beside her, slowly
crumbling the last leaf between her
slender fingers. Dust to dust" she
said, whimsically, land ashes to ash
es Forgotten hopes, unsatisfying
dreams and dead loves Behold ye
the fruits thereof"
CAS- much sentiment as all that in
fragrant rose jar?" asked Thadfield
"Impossible!"
Impossible to one who believes
only in things of the flesh, yes; but
quite possible to one who believes in
the existence of higher emotions"
Thadfield reused himself from an in
dolent attitude. What is your con-
ception of love, Eleanor, from your
standpoint, of higher emotions?"
dick, you're a plague returned the
girl. hotly; "a plague sent on me for
the sins of my fathers, for / know
that none of my own have been bad
enough to justly bring so dire pun
ishment as you upon me. I think that
l should be afraid to scott at every
condition in life as you do
"The heart of the wise is in the
house of mourning; but the heart of
fools is in the house Of mirth," he
quoted aptly. "See here, Eleanor, l
oil III rir1
you're simply jumping at conclusions.
Close your eyes and listen to the
beating Of the storm outside; then
open them and see the charm of this
room, the old log fireplace, the rest
fulness of it all and you,'' he said, soft
and beauty to me. Are you going to
spoil it by a nervous outburst or
childishness?
when I get to be SO I believe that
I'll know just what to say and how
much. Some estimable people of my
acquaintance have not learned. al
though it's said that they have passed
the appointed age by half another
year."
more childishness," commented
Thadfield. "You know" he went on,
grimly, sit appears to me that you
have no answer ready in reply to my
question so you're trying to throw me
off the track with your foolishness.
You're eternally talking of my age.
Well, I'm rather proud of the fact
+haf hou oh 70 CIR nlnor
of women-they have grown aggres-
sive in late years, too-for 3S anniyer-
saries and am half way toward an
other; half way, thank you, for re-
minding me, Eleanor"
only a woman has right to be
ashamed of her age" the girl retorted,
coldly
Whenever you want to change the
subject of our conversation, you be-
gin with my age" Thadfeld put his
long, well-kept hands together, palm to
palm. touching finger tips, one by one,
in an absent-minded way. You make
me think of girl in my freshman
year at college. She never knew any
thing about physics, and every time
the professor called on her she would
invariably say, with slight alterations
from time to time: Professor, before
we take this up, won't you please ex-
plain the dynamo to me? l can't un-
derstand it, He was a queer old
chap, and when the bell rang at the
close of that period he would be de-
scribing the dynamo and it's uses. his
question to her forgotten
THAT was a case of being wise even
in ignorance, wasn't it, Dick?" Laugh
ter slipped out of her eyes and set
tied about her lips, shaping them into
soft curve.
You're delicious, Eleanor" cried
Thadfield, warmly. You are so fresh
all meant mean that your ex-
pressions are so unusual and wholly
delightful. You charm me always,
that's why I'm here" he waved his left
hand dramatically.
Casting a furtive glance at the man
where he sat meditatively gazing into
the fire, Eleanor leaned back against
IHc pllIONS III luAul case. IVY
conception Of love, pure love, you I'M
derstand," she began, demurely, lis
well-it is an ennobling sentiment,
lifting men and women alike to a
higher plane of living, making them
see beauty and goodness in every
thing"
That's very pretty" Thadfeld
broke in, but you present only the
theoretical side of love. You cannot
intelligently discuss vital things with
out knowing something about them
or having experienced them. Did you
ever think yourself in love, Eleanor"
he asked, abruptly.
why, of course, Dick" she laughed.
You forget that l am %. From the
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