Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-06

jim
Stuart's brow contracted and hi
took her hand in his. stroked 1t ten.
derly and studied the beautiful lines
as they melted from the firmly shaped
wrist into the rounded arm and grace.
fully moulded body.
I'm afraid you've asked a bigger
question than l can answer, dear" hi
said, with serious accent. I've beer
wondering lately whether the world
hasn't lost the secret Of happy mating
and marrying. A more beautiful ever
life l have never seen than the one ir
the home of my childhood. Yet my
mother was only fourteen and my
father twenty-One when they were
married. You see, dear, that was ir
the old days when boys and girls were
not afraid-when love dared to laugh
at cares about houses and lands and
goods and chattels, when Nature
claimed her own. when the voices OF
the deepest impulses of our bodies
and souls were heard first and the
chatterings about careers and social
triumphs were left to settle them
selves. Now folks only allow them
selves to marry in cold blood, calcu-
lating with accuracy their bank ac-
counts. My mother had been married
six months at your age, and yet here
sit on a pedestal and have the i'm
taIl 90 oh
But you're not impudent, Jim," she
broke in eagerly, "and I understand
Her eyes were looking steadily into
his.
I'm beginning to wonder" Stuart
continued, whether Nature made q
mistake when she made woman as she
is. once knew a girl of fifteen to
whom I believe life was the deepest
tragedy or the highest joy of which
her heart will ever be capable. Else
why did the blood come and go so
quickly in her cheeks?"
sudden flush mantled Harriets
face and she turned away that he
might not see.
why did she feel the loud beating
of her heart at the approach of the man
she imagined to be her hero? Why
did she drop her eyes in confusion"
The deep brown eyes were looking
into his now with steady light. She
had mastered herself and he could not
guess her secret. Her heart beat so
loudly she wondered If he could hear.
Stuart's voice had grown dreamy,
as If thousand tender memories were
trooping into his heart from the past
and he was talking to himself.
why were her hands so moist and
warm to the touch of the boy who
held them, and why did they tremble
so violently? Why did she turn so pale?
so pale and so suddenly, he thought
she was about to faint? When again
in life can one see this moment OF
the blossoming of both soul and body
this quivering readiness for the
touch of the lover for whose coming
she waits with such frank and honest
eagerness?"
Again the little figure bent forward
with Breathless interest as she slowly
asked:
"Oh, Jim, when did you see this?"
Stuart's head bent low and rested
between his hands.
Il loved such a little girl once,
dear"
Harriet's face suddenly flushed with
Joy. 1t was too wonderful to be true,
but 1t was true! And he had chosen
this curious way to tell her. Her voice
sank to the softest whisper as she
bent closer:
And you love her still, Jim"
His head dropped lower as he sigh
ed:
"I loved and lost her, little pal!
She was married two days ago. God
called me in the morning of life to
claim my own. But 1 wasn't bold
enough. waited, and worldly wis
dom, prudence, and common sense be-
came her tutors to make her wise,
She came to the great city, learned its
ways and sold herself for gold. A
priest of God standing before his al
tar confirmed the sale while a crowd
Of fools looked on in awe"
The color had slowly returned to the
little freckled face with it's crown OF
golden hair, and the deep brown eyes
overfowed with tears for just a mo-
ment She brushed them away before
he raised his head, so that he never
knew.
She put her hand on his head and
stroked the dark hair tenderly.
I'm so sorry, Jim," she said simply
Il understand now"
He raised his head and took her
hand in his again.
It's very sweet to have you share
this ugly secret Of my life, little pal
1t will help me-"
And you are sorry you ever knew
her, jim"
No, I'm not sorry. You see, dearie
there's just one thing even God can't
do-create a human character. He
can on,y give us will-the spark
from his own soul. We must do the
rest. I've grown to see that there's
just one thing in the world that's real
ly big-big as God is big-the man
who has attained a character.
haven't lived at all yet. I'm just be-
ginning to see what 1t means to live
Until now I've thought only of myself
A new light has illumined the way
Now-rm going to live for others
From today l shall ask nothing for
myself, and l can never be disappoint-
ed again."
Harriet looked up quickly.
Would it please you, Jim, if should
make a great snger?"
More than can tell you, dear
Your voice is a divine gift. l envy
you its power"
Her eyes were shining with a great
purpose.
Il know that it means years and
years of patient work-but I'll do it,
che cried