Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-12-27

AID an orphan. All your life you had
had everything YOU wanted, except
the thing you wanted most OF all--sin-
cere and disnterested love. Your
father and mother had died before you
could remember them. and you had
been left to the care OF cold uncle
and aunt. who thought that they had
done their entire duty towards you by
seeing that you were properly fed.
clothed and educated. and implanting
in you distrust Of every human be.
Ing who came about you.
You never knew the Joy that other
girls had OF being liked for them.
selves. when suitors came you were
told they we're fortune hunters. PEG.
pie, In speaking OF you. never praised
you for any charm OF your own. or any
grace. or accomplishment They al.
ways said that you were rich. and you
wondered sometimes II they knew how
,heir words hurt, or how It must seem
to a girl to come TO believe that there
was nothing about her that could win
love-that she must buy it with the
money she hated.
Finally you began to realize that
your whole nature was being warped
by your environment. that your soul
was being atrophied, and so you ran
away from II all You persuaded dear
old Mrs. Bullion to take you away as
her hired companion to little quiet
place, where no one would recognize
you. You wore plain little cotton
gowns. and snobs who would have
funkied before the rich Miss Maitland
snubbed and ignored you. but there
was a man who saw the womans heart
under the shabby gown. andethe won.
ans brain under the common hat. and
wife I'VE shall be very poor" he
said. for have my way yet 20 make
in the world. but. please God. We shall
fight the battle out shoulder TO shout
der"
You remember" went on her Heart
how. with your head upon his breast
and his arms around you you planned
out the future-the little house, with
the rose above the door. the dear little
economies. the struggles. and the final
success. and you drank deep of the cup
OF Joy, for you knew life had made you
rich at last. for you were loved for
yourself alone-loved as woman
would be when a strong man trembles
at her touch, and his smile grows soft
and tender only for you. Then, at last
came the time when you had to tell
him that you were none other than the
rich Miss Maitland"
And he went white as death while
known il he would never have asked
you to be his wife. interrupted Pride
But il was then too late" triumph
antly cried her Heart; "he loved you
and nothing-no money, nor position
nor anything. could change that. You
came home" continued her Heart
and your worldly wise uncle and aunt
called him q furtune hunter. and said
that he was going to marry you fol-
your money. You did not believe them
but. by and by. as you plunged into
the old life. with It's sordid strivings
and selfishness. and disbelief in all that
is high and true. the old distrust began
TO creep up and poison life again
He should have trusted your love
said Pride: "he should have known
that you were merely playing"
Ills life" said her Heart. sadly
had not taught him how to play. II
had all been hard. bitter seriousness
NJ t,shn anil fnfe
this other mans eyes with the counter
felt OF the look you had worn when
your head lay supon his breast. he
thought that you were faithless and
Ioveless. and that you--you who had
so much-had come down out of your
high estate to rob him OF the little he
had and 10 make life worthless"
Then" said Pride. desperately. he
came and flung back your promise In
your face and told you that he was
ashamed to have loved so poor a
thing
Love does not go at any mans bid
ding" sighed her Heart YOU saw him
the other day. He looked III. and worm
and poor. Tomorrow will be Christ.
mas day"
Think" began Pride; but Miss
Maitland had risen up with look on
her face OF great and exceeding Joy.
Think. can think OF nothing but
my love-" she cried.
The next morning Miss Maitland
arose early. and spent much time at
her desk printing large placard in
bold and unmistakable letters. This
done she donned a simple little gray
gown much affected by her the sum
mer before. and over this she threw
long cloak. An hour later she directed
her astonished coachman TO drive her
to certain building on one of whose
upper floors a struggling young lawyer
was. at the moment. engaged In dc.
vouring with his eye the photograph
OF comely young woman. AS she
reached his office door Miss Matt.
lands courage wavered and sank. but.
taking a death grip upon IT, she hur.