The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-08-04
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
ON THE LONG, WHITE ROAD.
BY VIRGINIA RIAIR.

BY VIRGINIA BLAIR
There had been no one at the station
TO meet her, and she had started out
bravely, to walk the two miles that
lay between the town and her country
home.
At first she stepped lightly, uplifted
by the freshness of the wind that blew
from pale green meadows and brown
plowed fields, and reveling in the
sweetness of the orchards, pink and
white with bloom.
But the bag that she carried was
heavy, and after the first mile her
steps Jagged. When she reached the
little cemetery where the old head
stones tilted towards each other under
the cedars, she sat down on a bench
by the gateway and took of her hat.
There, l know l couldn't make a
mistake about that head of hair" said
a voice over the fence.
Charlotte turned quickly.
why, Jerry, Jerry" she cried. 81
don't think it's bit nice of you to
begin right away about my hair"
We'll, it's such pretty hair" Jerry
informed her, as he came around to
the gate, Il don't see why l shouldn't
talk about it,
Red hair" she told him, lis never
pretty"
Yours isn't red" he insisted stoutly;
its coppery-gold and red"
What's the matter at homer" she
demanded, ignoring the compliment;
no one came to meet me-"
Hasn't ony one told your
She turned pale. mo. Is anybody
sick?"
Andrews won't wait any longer for
his money. He's going to foreclose
the mortgage, and your mother and
father drove over to your Uncle Bob's
last night to see If he could help out.
1 don't believe they knew you were
coming on this train. / didn't, or Id
have come down after YOU"
Andrews is going TO fore close" she
battered; did he tell the reason?"
No. Your father says he Just wrote
that he couldn't wait any longer for
the Interestingly
Il know the reason" Charlotte stat
ed, with flashing eyes; he wrote to
me last week and asked me to marry
him, Jerry"
The young man started. He did"
Yes, he dared" she continued, "he
told me that he knew he was much
older than l, and that he hadn't much
education, but he had a big house and
horses and automobiles, and he knew
that he could make me happy, as |
was poor and teaching school. and nv
family were in debt. OF course. he
didn't say it just that way, but he
meant it"
And you refused?" The young mans
lips were set in a straight line.
OF course, l don't love him, Jerry"
The boys face cleared. That's rea-
son enough, Charlotte. / think Il
should give up if you married any one
else"
A deep stain of red touched the girls
cheeks, but she went on, quietly.
Il don't know what we are going to
do, Jerry. have given father and
mother every cent / have earned by
teaching this year, but it has merely
paid the interest"
The young man bent over her and
took her hands. His chest heaved IF
you'd only marry me, Charlotte" he
said.
But you can't, Jerry" she reminded
him; you've SGT your own burden of
family debt, and it wouldn't be right
for us to add to the worries of our
parents. would it?"
But love you" was his plea, and
for moment she chung to him.
Il know she whispered but we
can keep on loving-nothing shall come
between our love, Jerry"
After a little time she went on,
steadily.
Il thought of it as 1 walked along
today. 1t seemed to me that duty
stretched before me like a long white
road-a weary road-and yet some
where at the end of the road was home