Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-01-25

business had detained him. stll. she
loved him with all her girlish heart,
and as she sat there In the sweet,
early spring air after he had LEFT her,
feeling alone as though on desert
island. she realized that she was be
ginning to understand more of her
woman's nature. to make excuses and
forgive without knowing why.
The day passed slowly. and she
felt she could scarcely walt untn eve
ming. The dreariness of the house be-
came more pronounced because OF the
calls from many OF her girl friends,
who came so openly to question her
absence from the dance, that she felt
To them all she replied gaily. hiding
her worry beneath smile.
why, there's nothing in 1t. Surely
Ted and l ought to be allowed the
privilege Of choosing our way Of spend
Ing an evening. You see. Ted Is a bit
Jealous, and honestly believe he
doesn't like me TO dance with any one
else" And with this palpabie but In
nocent fiction. smilingly given. she
disarmed even her chum who was to
lie maid of honor at the wedding.
The latter laughed teasingly as she
cried:
Sand to think that you'd be so much
In love, Nell. that you'd be willing to
give up dance like that last night"
But Nell only smiled beck:
"Just wait. Grace, until your turn
comes, and then you'll know how dear
the right one can be-" and there was
catch in her throat as she spoke, for
surely Ted was dearer than even her
sense of Justice, and she felt she could
still trust him.
AT last, when the cleaning of the
spring evening wrapped the world In
It's cloud, with trembling fingers Helen
dressed for Ted. her heart beating SO
rapidly that she could scarcely get
her breath. Long before eight she was
ready for him, but II was after nine
before she heard his ring and ran TO
let him in. Somehow she could not re-
proach him, he seemed so tired and
worn. His eyes were deep with fatigue
and ring encircled, and so she only
pat her arms up and drew his head
down, saying gently:
my poor boy, how tired he looks;
come. sit down and rest"
you darling!" he whispered, and
FOR a moment he rested his aching
head on the little shoulder lovingly
offered for his support, and then he
broke out with:
Thank God, it's all over" and drew
her closer to him. All curiosity sud-
denly left Helen. No longer was she
a petulant girl, jealous of her rights,
but a strong. courageous woman, with
deep trust in the integrity of the
man she was going to marry. and she
laid her hrm cool hand on his burn
ing one so confidingly that he raised
1t to his lips before he began:
II wonder, Nellie If were to ask
you to keep on trusting me without
eny explanation, you'd do it?"
Without any hesitation, she re-
turned:
I've been thinking about that pic
ture. Ted, and l believe the man was
right; he could not have loved the
girl as he ought, II he had not been
true to his honor. If you can't tell me,
1t is all right"
It was worth good deal to him,
this simple confession of her faith, but
fortunately leu ulu not nave 10 tah0
advantage of it. With a little laugh Y
of pure joy, he sat with his arm
about her and told her the story
which after AL was simple, once she
understood. An employers son, who
had fallen into bad company. had been
driven to forging his fathers name.
The check was presented and dis
puted, and then Ted had been sent
to find the missing wrong-doer.
II spent the whole of last night look
ing for him, and most Of today in get
ting him to go back home. had prom
Used not to breathe word of 1t until
I landed him safely, and couldn't
break my word. not even for you,
sweetheart" and he spoke earnestly.
"oh, Ted, how good you are" she
said softly
mo, 1t was the only thing to do.
Bob's father has been pretty good to
me, and now that he and Bob under
stand each other, the boy will be ALI
right. SO no harms done If you don't
mind being loved second to honor.
That's your only rival"
you could not have loved me as
much as you do If you had not given
me that rival" was Nells reply.
Copyright. 1912. by w. G. chapman)
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