The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-05-03
The Wayfarer
Copyright. 1914 by Associated Literary Press)

By MAUDE BERNARD

Esmond turned an angry face UP
to him. What have you to say about
it?" he snarled.
Something" said the Wayfarer,
quietly, Il know your reputation in
town, Esmond-and Cecily is too
sweet to be hurt by you"
In love with her yourseli?" de-
manded Esmond.
Perhaps. But that has nothing to
DO with the case. You'd better pack
up your pictures, and run along
home"
IN take Cecily with me-" said the
ether
81 think not said the Wayfarer.
because when Cecily learns the truth
l dent think she will want to 60"
Its pretty small thing for one
man to talk about another"
Not when the other is using the
hospitality of a girls father to ac-
Conplish his own ends. I shall tell
Drake what I know of your past. He
can decide whether it is necessary to
warn Cecily. Personally, l don't be-
lieve that Cecily will miss you after
you have been away a week"
Like you?"
"At least I can offer clean hands
and true and steadfast affection
The next day the artist went in
town.
After his departure Cecily dropped
and faded.
Can it be that she really loved
him." the Wayfarer often asked
himself.
He tried in every way to make her
happy.
I'm an old fellow" he said, but
really 1 know some interesting
things"
Cecily began to enjoy the walks
with him He did not talk to her rs
Bruce had done of the beauty of her
eyes and the charm of her smile. But
he had a way of telling her things that
were delightful, and as time went on
Cecily began to feel that she was in
close communion with a wonderful
heart and mind.
you don't paint your pictures,
she said one day, timidly. You tell
them"
Such a sweet comradeship as il
grew to be! The Wayfarer sent to
town, now and then, for books, and
once there was a box of candy, and
at another time a wonderful bunch
of violets.
How extravaganza" said Cecily.
shifting the flowers with delight.
But you like them" said the Way
farer.
One day Bruce Esmond came back
81 have a perfect right to come
he said to the Wayfarer. Il am free
Legally" was the question.
"A divorce" said Esmond. Now
shall marry Cecily."
The anger of the Wayfarer burst
out. You shall not have her." he
said. "You will break her heart as
you have broken the hearts of other
women who have trusted you-you
shall not have her.
And just then some one said behind
them, Are you talking about me?'
Cecily stood there, looking at them
with grave eyes.
1t was Esmond who answered her.
"He says l shall not marry you" he
said. "And probably you think treat
ed you badly because l wooed you
before | was free. But I loved you so
much, Cecily. And he-he has moth
ing but his money"
Cecily looked up at the Wayfarer.
Does he mean-that-that you are
rich?" she asked.
Eyes" said the Wayfarer.
"But you came tramping along the
road like any common traveller"
because 1 was tired of the things
that riches could bring. Il wanted
other things like love-Cecily."
And so they stood before her, these
two men, asking, pleading for her
favor.
Cecily sobbed with her face in her
hands.
Go away" she said, go away. both
of you"
But as the Wayfarer went slowly,
she cried after him. ooh, I shall miss
our long walks together, and the
books"
He turned back "Why should my
money stand in the way?"
you deceived me-" she said, land
and if I should say yes now you
might think it was because wanted
to be rich
81 should think it was because you
loved me-" he said.
From the other side of the hedge
Bruce spoke, bitterly, ITS always
wealth that wins"
But Cecily smiled at him.
He has taught me something that
you will never know" she said. 81
ask only that we shall be good COM
rades along the road-wayfarers to-
gether-until death parts
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