The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-20

love OF a pure, womanly woman?
l. there anything that can make n
bad man ashamed of his badness, OF
lead a purposeless man to devote biz
life to some great and worthy cause
so really and truly as the love of
woman whom he knows To be worthy
of the name of woman? If there is,
do not know of it. If the old, old
story that sin came upon the race by
a woman is true, it Is more true
that good women are Gods great.
est means of purifying the world
of its sin. Radford Leicester had
Tot been a good man. If he had
not fallen as low as some, it was
because of innate pride, and because
his nature abhorred some Of the
grosser and coarser forms of sin.
He had not been filled with high
purposes, he had lived wholly for
self; but as he kissei Olives hand.
such a contribution, such a shame
as he had never known before
came into his heart. Proud man as
he was. he found himself saying
what he would have laughed to
scorn a few months before.
Thank you, Olive" he said, still
holding her hand, you have given
me new life to live He hesitat
ed moment, and then went on
speaking again. Il want to tell you
this he said Although | am un-
worthy of you, l will try and make
myself worthy .And--and if there is
a God, | will find Him"
He spoke the words reverently.
There was not a touch of the cynic
in his voice; it was even as he
felt God had used this woman to
lead him the first step toward his
salvation
You have no doubt, no fear
Olive?" he said.
NO she said quietly, not cne.
believe you, trust you implicitly"
And you love me?"
Yes she said.
Really and truly? You know what
| mean" He spoke quietly and
slowly, but his voice trembled
How could I say what / nave
sai1-else?" There was a sob in her
voice as she spoke, and yet the
sob sounded like laugh
Thank God"
He did not believe, this man, that
God existed, and yet it was the
only way that he could express the
great joy of his heart. Never. until
then, had he known what happiness
meant The old, hopeless purposeless
past was forgotten; that night his
history began anew.
After dinner that night. John Cas-
Castemaine and Raiford Leicester
talked long and earnestly. 1t was no
light matter to the father to prom
ise his child in marriage: moreover.
although he admired Leicester and
while he believed that a great ca
reer was possible to him. he did not
feel quite happy. For John Castle
maine belonged to the old school
OF thought, and he had no sympathy
with the modern looseness of ideas.
He came of a stock who for more
than hundred years had fought
the battle of religious liberty. and
who had been ready to sacrifice
Their goods, even their wives, for
principle. He was a Puritan of the
best order. He retained all their
strong characteristics. he stood for
their noblest ideals, without adher
ing to much that was sunless and
repugnant He was a happy. genial
man, kind almost to indulgence as
far as his daughter went, but he
was strong in his hatred of the So
called morals of that class to which
Leicester was supposed to belong.
Moreover, Olive was his only child.
Upon her he had poured the wealth
of his affection, and thus the thought
OF giving her to man was no light
matter Could he then give her to
Leicester? 1t was hard struggle;
but in the end Leicester won. He
spoke to John Castlemaine freely
and frankly, and he spoke with
such fervor, such strength of pur
pose. that in spite of all he had
heard, John Castlemaine was con.
vinced Of the others worthiness.
But not yet said the oldc-
man, Il cannot bear to lose her
yet
But why need we waltz" asked
Leicester "\Na ora nritbor - 49,.