The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-11-12

odJ5 WAcESu care HOF apprehension
nor any doubt found place. days when
his upright. honorable, clean soul re-
Joiced in the love of a woman, In the
glory Of perfect womanhood that was
without a flaw. Poets and historians
were base revilers to the contrary; he.
Stephen Wade, knew.
He saw d moonlit night, heavily
scented with jasmine, when his very
heart ached with the perfect Joy of
Hving-when, In the pale shadows of
arching palm alleys. his perfect Joy
turned to agony. his strong hand
clinched about the fragile toy OF lace
and pearl. had crushed 1t as his hopes
were crushed under the faying scorn
Of her voice. under the Indifferent
mockery Of her softly luminous eyes.
Bewildered with pain. he had turned
away with ashen face He had walk
ed miles through the brilliant night,
every star hanging like a lamp in the
sky, while the clinging perfume of the
jasmine flowers that rioted the wayside
hedges overpowered his senses and
numbed his agony for the time
When the first pink flush Of dawn
had spread into the pale morning sky
he had stopped beside a fern edged
pool. Hot eyed and weary, he lifted
one hand and looked at the fan, at
first stupidity. then with growing ap-
prehension and then realization. He
shuddered now as he thought of the
hours. days. months. years that had
followed.
Then had come his meeting with
Constance Vardemond, his warm ad-
miratton for her beauty and her sweet.
sound disposition. They had become
the best Of friends. They understood
each other perfectly. but he had never
dreamed Of marriage. He did not want
to marry any one-now. But some one
had whispered word, or it material
lied in the air, for it had never evolved
from his modest inner consciousness
that Constance cared
Stephen Wade did not hesitate. He
held out his hand and his heart and
his life, and she took them gracefully,
as one who thankfully receives a great
boon, and between them had come a
perfect peace and understanding.
To Stephen, Constance Vardemond
represented the highest type of wo-
manhood that he believed could exist.
Beyond that his nature. which had
been hammered into cool, calm, even
ness of temperament, did not inquire
Tomorrow they would be married with
all the pomp and brilliant pageantry
that was part of such occasions In
their circle. This was the last night
he could open the book Of the past
deep toned clock chimed the hour.
He passed hand YEARLY over his
eyes. "Of course 1t is near dinner
time" he muttered. "And after din
ner there is Constance-it- believe
this is customary
He laughed harshly and picked up
the fan. The simple action seemed to
give vent to some inward storm Of
passion. for suddenly he tore the sticks
into fragments and tossed them into
the fire. Then with fierce cry he
leaned forward and snatched a small
bit from the glowing mass. With scar
ed fingers be clutched the smoky latter
Of lace and splinter of pearl and press
ed it to his lips passionately. Then he
Aung it back into the fire
With compressed lips and sullen.
miserable eyes he watched the licking
flames devour his little all-the only
thing he had cared for in the world
There was last hurst of devouring
fame and then. when not one atom of
his fetch remained. he sprang to his
feet and faced the large photograph of
Constance VaFdemond that stood on
the table behind him
He looked at 1t with a grave stead
fastness In eyes from which all pas
sion had fed and where nothing but a
great peace remained
Constance should never know that
the love he was bringing to her was a
make believe. sham The love she
had chosen to honor him with should
receive its full quota of deep. earnest
affection. and he would make 1t the
nurpose of his life that the woman
who loved him should never guess
that he had none 10 give In return
ut is good to begin life anew" he
smiled confidently.
There was soft tap at the door
sDinner Is served. Mr. Stephen