The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-22

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the strolls through the woods OF
dear old Langley, the moonlit lake,
the boat, the pond lilies, the songs
they sang together, singing that old
old song, Love can never more
grow DID," The days of their sweet
new happiness in the little cottage,
covered with vines. Then had come
that awful sorrow-and her foolish
pride. Shut off now by her own
desertion from all that was vital OF
sympathy and service to him. She
was wiser now-she envied bereaved
women their possession of graves
and Monuments of tender memory,
where they could go at least and
plant flowers. She knew she loved
him yet in spite of it all, she knew
she had not done her part. She
knew now he was the victim and
martyr of her foolish extravaganza.
She should have been more careful
of his hard earned dollars. But it
was all over now; he would never
come back to her again. He was
too badly hurt, and she knew his
pride. She would gladly have faced
anything with him now. He had
never sent her line or word since
the papers had been served on him.
The officer making the service had
noted the death-like expression on
his face, when he simply said: Tell
her | shall make no defence; perhaps
it's better So" Somehow be seemed
to be near her, and again she saw
his pleading face. No; she could
not sin. Let come starvation and
death, she would still be true to that
memory. Would it not be well for
the good and noble women of our
Purity Leagues" in the great cities,
to sometimes meet the outcoming
thousands of poor, tired, ill-paid girls
from the large stores and factories,
as well as the incoming trains, if
they would stop the spread of
White Slavery?
Roberts Imprisonment was draw
ing to close. The great question
ever present with him, was, what
should he do, and where should he
go when he had his liberty? He
could not go back to Beatrice, that
was out of the question. For we'll
as he still loved her, and little as he
blamed her for seeking the separa-
ton that she did, it was to him a
settled matter for all time. He
could not, nor would not seek a re-
Cancellation because he thought it
impossible. He would try and see
her some time and have an under
standing about Eddie, but that was
all.
One thing he was decided on do
ing, if it took the remaining years
of his life, and that was, to refund
the money his father had advanced
to make up his shortage at the bank.
That was debt of honor, and he
must pay it. But how best to make
a new start. No one would want
to trust an ex-convict in any positin
of responsibility. Oh! how he wres-
tied with and prayed over this prob
lem, without getting light or guild
ance. 1--WE hope, dear reader, you
have never faced this question, but
if so, you will remember it's signifi-
cancel He would at least go back
to the dear old folks for little time,
and perhaps they might help him to
decide. On the morning Of his re-
lease, the warden had asked him to
write occasionally and let him know
how he was getting along, this he
promised to do, for he felt he had a
true friend in the warden. A hasty
goodbye, grasping of hands, and
Robert stepped out into the frosty
air, free man once more. How
good it seemed, and how tingling
and sweet the air was! Hurrying
to the station, he caught the first
outgoing train back to the city he
had left four years before. He had
decided to take the night train from
the city, which would bring him
home in time to spend Christmas
once more in the home of his boy
hood.
Beatrice had spent hard day in
the store, the shopping procrasti-
majors had nearly driven her wild
with their business and clamor. It
seemed the day would never end.
She had bought a new sled for Ed
die, and some little remembrances
for the old folks, and was trying to
reach tn e express Office before it
closed, that the things might go out
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