Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1913-03-06
WHAT Love MEANS
How Doris Lorimer Learned That
One Person Had Become
Very Dear.
BY M. DlBBELl-.

had serious affair of the heart He
regarded with rather patronizing and
plying manner those of his friends
who considered wife and home the
best that life could give them.
Il would rather be free to go and
come as choose, than to be bound
with the matrimonial chain" he told
his friend Frank Whiting, having over
taken that young man on the street
Few days before the date announced
for his marriage to pretty Kitty Slo-
cum. Il hope you will be happy,
Frank, but nothing cuts like the letters
with which one has manaded himself"
He smiled with the eonplaceney OF as
sured wisdom.
oh, rubbish" atorted his unappre-
cfative friend. Wait till you fnd the
right,ene and all the chains in creation
wouldn't keep you from marrying her
If She would have you" He turned
and left Gilbert, who watched his re-
treating form with benevolent pity.
Poor chap. he has it bad" he said
to himself, continuing on his home
ward way.
Mrs. Horton, the housekeeper, had
taken the best of care of the big Far.
RANDALL mansion for many years. Gil
bert had come into possession Of this
fine old place upon the passing of his
uncle, and Mrs. Horton was part of the
inheritance
Gilbert Farrandale was left an or
phan, and his bachelor uncle had
adopted him as his own child. I'm
doubtedly living all these years with
confirmed celibate had much to do
with the nephew's profound knowl-
edge on the subject of love and mar
rage.
Gilbert had received an invitation to
young Writings wedding. Appoint
ed day and hour found him waiting
tn the Slocum home for the coming of
two foolish youngsters, as he regard
ed them.
Kitty Slocum In filmy white ad-
vanced down the long room with
Frank Whiting at her side. She was
pretty enough to touch even harder
heart than Gilbert's. Gilbert's eyes
fell next on the cousin who, with Kit
tvs brother, Ernest. followed the
bridal pair, and the delights of bach.
elor freedom began suddenly to fade
for him,
The clergyman joined the young
people In marriage, and Gilbert was
among the first to offer congratula.
tons. Then he turned to speak with
Ernest Slocum. and obtained an intro
duction to the cousin, the mere sight
of whom had given him new outlook
on life
Doris Lorimer was the picture OF
youth and happiness. Her big brown
eyes were enough in themselves to
have made her beautiful She had
come from her home in distant part
of the state to act as her cousins lady
In waiting, and she was to remain
with the Slocum family indefinitely.
Hers was the office of smoothing over
the parting of Mr.. and Mrs. Slocum
from their oily daughter.
After the Slocum household had set.
tied back into its regular routine Gil
bert Farrandale found his way there
frequently, but his friends were no
longer favored with antimatrimonial
lectures.
Doris always met Gilbert with per.
feet friendliness, but there was moth
ing in her manner to indicate that the
arrow which had pierced his heart
had even touched her own.
Gilbert was only too we'll aware of
this fact, but he tried to reassure him.
self with the hope that as he really
knew so little of feminine ways hers
might be the usual attitude In such a
case.
Finding Doris alone on the piazza
one evening. about six weeks after his
first meeting with her, Gilbert re-
solved to know his fate, and her glance
OF kind greeting gave him courage to
say
Doris, love you; will you marry
met" then he thought, II must be
crazy to put 1t so stupidity" and wait.
ed In an agony of apprehension for her
answer.
Doris smile broadened, and she re.
piled calmly, why, Mr.. Farrandale,
could not think of being SO cruel as
to let you manacle yourself with the
letters which cut SO deeply"
Gilbert's heart seemed to sink into
the earth on hearing these fateful
words.
Il was fool to say that" he de.
clared. 81 thought l was so wise,
when In fact | had 10 idea what love
meant But now ! have learned.
love you, Doris. Do not punish me
for ignorance know the truth now. -
He held out his hands to her in
frank appeal.
Doris look grew kinder, but, alas,
there was not love for him In the
brown eyes. Love cannot be forced,
she said, land sometimes ! think it is
not my nature to love any one person
but to care for each of those who are
dear to me, and they are many"
Had Gilbert been In the right mood
he might have smiled at this Minerva
like utteranee from one who was SC
plainly made for love. But he was far
too much in earnest to see anything
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