The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-06-26

Literary Press.
EN~>~>>~~~>~>~
Margaret, with her eyes on the heavy
sky that hung over the stubbly fields,
sang softly:
Failing leaf and fading tree.
Lines of white on sullen sea-
She stopped and turned to Meredith
with an impulsive gesture.
This is the end" she said.
His somber eyes met hers.
II can't see it." he stormed. 1--WE
love each other. Why shouldn't we be
happy"
"Ah, but there is the other girlr' she
reminded him.
Eyes, the other girl" he said, and
for a long time after that they were
silent.
In front of them stretched the long
brown road. The goldenrod famed on
both sides of 1t now, but when these
two had first met there had been sweet
brier and other delicate flowers Of the
early summer.
Margaret had worn a bunch Of wild
pink roses that first morning '7hen she
had come to the big gate to get her
mail, and to Meredith, there on the
same errand, she had seemed as fresh
and perfect as the flowers she wore.
Since then they had waited every
morning on the old rustic bench under
the oaks, and lie In that time had TAX
en- ON new meaning. -
Think of it." Margaret said at last
tomorrow the little postman VIII come
here and there viii be no one to see
him and nothing Will be changed, but
you and will be far away-you In the
west and l in the east"
After another silence he asked.
what are you going to do with your
nfe?"
"I?" she hesitated. "Oh, go in for
something, suppose work
or society or literature. Perhaps III
write novel,"
"And you think that any of those
things will make you happy"
She stretched out her hands to him.
"Ah, happiness she began, and her
voice broke.
Come with me-" he whispered as
be bent over her. 1T must be you and
1 for all the future, Margaret"
She drew away from him. mo, no. -
she told him; II shall get along. A
woman can find so many interests In
these days, and in using my brain /
shall forget that I have heart. And
you-you will marry the other girl,
and this summer, this. little time that
we have had together, will seem to
you like dream or a strain of music
that heard once you can never forget
His eyes followed her as she rose
and walked to the gate. She wore a
loose tan coat and tan shoes, and her
brown hair was waved and puffed into
a shining couture.
"Oh, you beauty" he whispered,
you beauty
"Hush!" she warned, and they heard
the beat of a horses hoofs.
The mail wagon of the rural deliv-
and rain by a white umbrella, under
which the little man sat like frog
under toadstool.
"You all goin' tomorrow" he asked
as Meredith gave him directions fol
forwarding the mail. Then he gave
a chuckling laugh. II reckon If you
all come next summer your mail will
come to the same name"
Margaret had a half dozen letters
and paper Meredith's mail was al
business matter except one square
white envelope addressed In delicate
feminine script.
"Look here" the little postman said
to Margaret facetiously as he hand
ed the letter to Meredith; "Pd be jeaI
GUS of that letter If I were you. He
gets one every day"
A wave Of scarlet swept over the
girls face. "Jealous!" she stammered
"Oh, nor
But when the little man had gone
she broke down and sobbed.
81 am jealous" she told Meredith
IT am dreadfully, dreadfully Jealous"
"And yet you won't marry me-"
mo"
you want me to marry woman
don't care for, to whom l am engaged
simply because I had known her al
my life and had drifted into 1t, ant
you want to make me miserable ant
to make her miserable just because
you are afraid 1t will be dishonorablt
for me to go back on my wordY'
"But she loves you, and she isEs
strong"
His face softened.
mo; she isn't strong, and she has .
sweet nature II had never met yor
should have logged along with he
and there would have been no height!
of happiness. I should have dwelt al
ways in the plain.
He stopped abruptly. But what II
the use of thinking about that? 1T
our last day together, Margaret lie
us forget everything but that we ar
together"
Then we'll ride" she said. .I'u g
back to the house and get my habit
and we will 60 over the hills and IA
away"
He stuffed his letters into his pocket
"You haven't read-hers," Margaret re
minded him.
Another time" he said briefly, AND
they went to get ready.
Their ride that day was a thing t.
live in a mans memory. The hillside!
were glowing in russell and orangt