The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-02-22
WEDDING LONG
DELAYED
Fate Works Strangely to
Complete a Romance.

| 1ell IN love with Marguerite Searle, ana
when her mother would not consent TO
the marriage he felt that the bottom
had fallen out of the universe. Mar
/ guerite would not marry him without
that consent, and as there was no hope
and he felt he could not live near her
and not possess her he went to n point
as far distant as he could well get
within the limits of the United States.
He settled in Seattle.
He was an attractive fellow, and
there were attractive girls in the far
west, but Olcott considered his heart
broken and would have none of them.
He was certainly a faithful lover, for
he cherished Marguerites image in his
heart, and, though he and she grew
out of their youth, that image remain
ed the same. Marguerite married to
suit her mother about year after
Olcott's separation, but Olcott did not
hear Of it till long after and then only
that she was married. When, where
and to whom he did not learn.
Then Olcott's uncle died and left him
fortune on condition that he should
accepted the terms and the fortune
and went east to manage his estate.
He was now forty instead of twenty
and began to feel the necessity of Il
companion. He was expected by the
terms of the will to open the manor
house and would need some one to
take care of it and preside over it.
The romance in him had died out--at
least he said so-and he made up his
mind to marry on common sense prin-
ciples. Some of his friends advised
him TO choose a woman much younger
than himself, since the wife should be
younger than the husband, and he
would find a girl of twenty much more
tractable than a woman of forty. But
Olcott-or, rather, Howe, which was
now his name-demurred declaring
that he would marry one near his own
age.
Among those to whom he was intro
duced after his return to the east was
Il Mrs. Harding, Il widow. There was
something about her that reminded
him of his old love. Perhaps this in
fiuenced him, though he did not ac-
knowledge it to himself. At any rate,
he made up his mind the first time he
saw her that she was the woman he
wanted. He was hurried into some
what precipitate proposal from the
fact that she was preparing for two
years absence in Europe.
Il know" he said to her, that we
have both passed that romantic period
where we think we can love but once,
| confess that my heart was given to
another when was but half my pres
ent age, and l have been true in ro-
mantle point of view to the girl ]
loved and shall always be thus true
But the affection of more mature
years is still mine to give, and 1 am
told by married people that the love OF
romance in time hardens into family
love that, il less violent, is far deeper
and more enduring. That love / offer
YOU
81, too" said the widow, have pass
ed into that stage which you describe.
have had one love in which my heart
was absolutely engaged, and l can
never have another such, but l can
love as you say, and if such love is
acceptable to you it is yours"
Howe WINGED. He was quite willing
to give a dead love. but when it came
to the point he found he preferred a
live one in return.
''There is difference" he said, "be-
tween our cases. In yours the object
of your love is dead; in mine she may
, be living, though, 1 confess, as to this
| am not informed. She married years
ago, since when l have heard nothing
, of her"
"You mistake" replied the widow.
! My husband was not the love refer
to. In my girlhood l loved one whom
| could not marry"
'Then," said Howe, 1--WE are quits as
to these two loves. Had we not better
let them remain buried in the dead
, past and devote ourselves to a living
present? l confess these old loves
when confronted with new ones are
musty and have a sepulchral odor
] Dear Mrs. Harding
"Call me Marguerite" she whispered
letting her head fail on his breast.
''Marguerite?'
YES, Marguerite"
, Marguerite Searler
, II was Marguerite Searle."
; "And am
Anthony Olcott."
"You knew meP
From the first. A woman's love il
/ not a mans, to forget even the slight
est trait, tone of voice, a step, lool
! of the eye. She treasures these in hel
J heart, and when they come to her agar
/ after years of absence, though dis
: guised, they have for her the same
, charm as of old"
: Marguerite, forgive me for not
! True, you reminded me Of yourself
= but confess"-
? '"There is nothing to forgive you fo
= unless it is for being a man. Men can
4 not retain what is so enduring in wo
t man"
3 "But it was you, not l, who"-
3 "Yes; obeyed my parents, though |
Q cost me more than it cost you. In thl