Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-12-08
It struck an answering cord in my
heart and I've ready every one since

IL struck an answering cord IN my
heart and I've ready every one since
| then"
Yes, Marsh" said silva steadily,
although her eyes were shining
strangely and her little white rang
less hands were tightly clenched in
her lap.
That's all-only tell me how can
meet her?" he asked.
you would probably be disappoint-
ed" she said pityingly. Very likely
she is some middle-aged woman, who
is pouring out her disappointment in
life through the medium of poetry.
Every soul has to have some outlet"
she ended musingly.
"Never!" protested Mashall vigor.
ously. s.she is young and full of the
spring of life. The same fire runs in
her veins as in mine, and | know,
silva, that she is for me-her mes
sages are for mel"
"Conceited!" said silva, rising from
her seat and leaning against vine
draped pillar with her back to the
moonlight.
"Oh, silva, I am disappointed in
you,' he cried; Il thought you'd give
a fellow some advice instead of treat
ing me fiippantly. You must know
I'm not gushing don't mean to
be-"
Forgive me, Mash,'' said silva
quietly. You want to ask me how to
approach the sort of girl you know
she is?"
That's 1T, exactly! She writes I'M
der single name, Avis, but she must
have a surname, and she must have
a home somewhere, and l want to
meet her and some day marry her."
you are in earnest, Marshall?'
asked silva in shaking voice.
Il am" he said solemnly.
Then l will arrange it so you can
meet Avis-and l hope you won't be
disappointed, but I'm afraid you will.
Here comes Fen Purdy-this is his
dance. l must co.
"Ah, but you're brick, Siva-the
next dance is mine, and we'll dance it,
eh, not sit it out?"
"As you please" murmured silva
and was gone.
Marshall arose and went to one of
the open windows, leaning against the
frame and looking in on the dancers.
Now that he had intrusted his secret
to silva Smith, he felt that there was
more reality to it than the mere
dreaming of the identity of the poet
ess whose verses had won his love-
Strangely contented, As watched the
pretty scene within, glowing every
time silva Smith passed him, Fen
Purdy's black sleeve against the pale
pink of her gown. Siva's hair was
bronze brown with golden lights and
her eyes were the same and her face
was beautiful-surpassingly lovely
tonight, with her lips curved into a
happy smile and her brown eyes shin
ing with inward Joy.
All at once Marshall was jealous Of
Fen Purdy, who had fallen helplessly
in love with silva. Purdy was rich
and handsome and silva was SO desir-
able! Why had Marshall never
thought of that before? BY the time
the dance was over Marshall Bowman
knew that he was in love with silva
Smith, that he always had been and
that he would tell her of it as soon
as he could reach her side.
He claimed her at once and took
her out to the angle seat. silva
Smith," he said solemnly, 81 know
you'll think I'm a fool, but I've just
discovered that there is somebody I
love more than Avis"
silva uttered a. low cry and her
hands fled to her heart.
What is it, Siva?" he asked,
alarmed
"A little pain near my heart-I have
it often. Pray tell me of your new
love-"
Not new one-only, silva, dear,
I've been watching you dancing in
there and I find that you are the girl
of my heart after all. I don't sup
pose you could learn to like me lit
tle?"
Il? Why, Marsh, never thought
you cared for me-"
1T came to me all at once that if
you married Fen Purdy and | mar
ried Avis, my paper lady, that l would
be wretched all the days of my life
You've been my confessor for so long,
dear, you know all my sins-you
couldn't care, could you, Siva?'
And silva told him she could care
and she had cared for a long time.
How about poor Avis of the poems?' o.
she asked after while.
"Ah, can't marry both you," he
laughed happily, land l choose you. "
IF you marry me you will marry
Avis, too" said silva softly. "Oh, you
blind Marshall! Transpose the letters
Of her name and you get mine!
wrote those verses to you-and found
you after ALL
1--WE found each other" amended
Marshall tenderly.