The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-04-24
Twice Told Tale.
9 aV 3 3 q =
BY LOUIS TIDDEMAN.


fore he left for Australia, when l had
just turned seventeen, he being ten
years my senior. / went direct to my
father, as was my wont at any trouble
or perplexity, and told him, my arms
about his neck, my head pillowed on
his shoulder. For while he did not
speak, then he said fervently: "Thank
Cod"
That decided me-that the sudden
clearing of his haggard, careworn face
as he clasped me in a close embrace
and spoke in f1attering terms of my
lover, affirming that he was of all men
the one he would have chosen for a
son-in-law.
His father is my oldest friend" said
he. Jack is like him, brave as lion,
true as steel and honest as the day.
God bless you for the news you have
brought, my child; now l shall die
happy"
l chung to him in passion of tears
and protested that he should not die,
and that God would never be SO cruel
as to take him from me.
''No, no, not for many years yet,
hope" answered he, returning my ca
resses and comforting me as he alone
knew how.
Soon after this Mr.. Gillingham left,
with the understanding that in three
years time should go out to him, ac-
companied by my father. His voice
shook as he babe me goodbye, there
was even suspicion of moisture in his
eyes; mine were fearless. was sorry,
of course; we had been capital friends
all through the summer, but since our
engagement there had appeared to be
something strained in our relationship.
At seventeen one is not, as rule,
much addicted to self-analysis, but it
did occur to me that in choosing hus-
band a girl should be influenced by
other motives than the desire to please
a parent, however good and wise that
parent may be.
Suppose that when I went into soci-
ETY. should meet some one I liked
ever so much better? Nothing of the
kind occurred; l returned from every
ball I attended quite convinced that
Mr.. Gillingham was superior to any
one whom l had met.
Meanwhile each mail brought me
long, Iover-like letters, to which re-
sponded in frank, friendly fashion 1t
seemed to me only natural that he
should write as he did, for l, for my
part, was not-at least so it seemed
at all sentimental, and it was contrary
to my disposition to make any pre-
tence.
Nevertheless, was really sorry for
him when. as the three years drew to
a close, I found myself compelled to
write and tell him that. owing to the
state of my fathers health, it would be
impossible for me to keep my promise.
1 felt for him in his loneliness, and
grieved for his disappointment, all the
more so because he strove to keep it in
the background and to comfort me.
81 can wait" said he, "and will be
patient"
He had need for patience, poor 'fel-
low. for my dear father fingered on,
and two more years passed before
death touched him. Then my sum-
mons came-a manly, affectionate let
ter, and withal clear and business-like.
I was to take my passage on board the
Oriental. friend of his-his dearest
friend-would travel in the same YES
sci, and would be happy to do all in
his power to be of assistance to me
on the voyage.
was glad to go; glad to turn my
back on the familiar scenes amid
which my life had been passed Home
was home no longer now that my faith
er was dead. | stood on the deck of
the vessel and watched the well-known
shores recede from view, straining my
eyes to catch the last glimpse of them.
Then, turning suddenly, confronted
Mr.. Gillingham's friend. He was very
tall, very bronzed. but for all that
good to look upon.
I know now, as / look back through
the mist of years, that there is such a
thing as love at first sight, but in those
days | should have ridiculed such an
idea. But Mr.. Gillingham's friend was
the means of demonstrating it's reality
Hour by hour, without misgiving, sat
and listened to his words, at first in
terrupting him by questions relating to
Mr.. Dillingham;. but only at first.
Day by day he waited on me sedu-