Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-11-08
farewell TO Thee"
BY EARL REED SILVERS.

81 don't think that I can ever care
for you in just that way, Dick The
girl spoke softly, and there was GER
tain wistfulness in her eyes. "You see,
I'm different from most girls. Dad and
1 have lived together for so long that
I shouldt know what to do if didn't
have him to look out for"
"But you can still have him." Dick
Garrett persisted. "He can live with
us and you can look out for him all
you want to-"
"No, Dickl" Dorothy Hayden shook
her head. 81 think that I've given him
so much love and care that l haven't
any left for other people"
Music sounded from the ballroom Of
the Country club. The man rose.
"The orchestra is playing Aloha
Oe,'" he said. do you mind dancing
with me?"
~ should love to-
Together they made their way into
the big ballroom. Dreamlike, the clu-
sic floated across the floor. Dick and
Dorothy danced silently, the girls eyes
half closed, her left hand resting, with
a hint of a caress, on her partners
arm. The weirdly sad music seemed
like living thing, so subtly did it tit
in with the mood Of the two dancers.
But finally the strains died away, and
Dick, stepping back, looked search
ingly into the girls eyes. In their
depths he discovered light which set
his heart to beating wildly. Without
word, he led her to the shadowed ter
race.
"Are you still sure?" he asked softly.
For q moment Dorothy hesitated.
The charm Of the music had not yet
been lost, the swaying rhythm Of the
dance half intoxicated her. Her glance
wandered to the clubhouse porch, light
ed by the mellow glow of many Ian
terms. AS she looked, gray-haired
man framed himself in the doorway,
his thin face silhouetted against the
brilliant background. The light died
from her eyes.
"I'm sure, Dick" she answered. "As
long as he lives, my father will always
be first"
I'm not going to ask you again." he
said slowly, because I believe that
you know your own mind. But 1 love
you, have loved you ever since 1 met
you five years ago. I had hoped" His
voice broke, and he shook his head
half angrily at the display of emotion.
But I'm not going to say anything
about that. Tomorrow I'm going to ac-
cept that position in Panama. A boat
sails in the afternoon, and I'll be on
it."
He paused, and the girl caught her
breath sharply. "'Aloha Oe' means
farewell to thee in English" he coma
.tinued. "Thatsdsace was probably the
last one We'll ever have together. But
I'll always remember it, and whenever
1 hear the music again I'll think of this
one night with YOU" He held out his
hand. $50 guess it's good-by."
For long time after he had gone,
Dorothy stared with unseeing eyes in
to the darkness surrounding the Coun-
try club.
She reviewed her friendship with
Dick Garrett. 1t seemed only yester-
day that he had moved to Westwood,
blond-haired, blue-eyed college boy.
She remembered his little acts Of kind
ness to her father, his consideration,
his unfailing loyalty. Suddenly she
realized that he meant more to her
than anyone else in the world
A shadow fell across the porch and
figure stood before her. She looked
up half hopefully. 1t was her father.
"IVhere's Dick?" he asked.
"He's gone" Her voice was dull.
"He-he leaves for Panama tomor-
row!"
For long two minutes the old man
was silent.
"Why?" he questioned finally.
Because I wouldn't marry him."
She tried to speak bravely, but sob
caught in her throat.
"Don't you love him?"
81 thought I didn't, but I do. Oh,
daddy, daddy!" Suddenly she buried
her face on his shoulder and sobbed
quietly. He waited until the sobbing
had spent itself, and then he spoke
softly:
"Would you like to go homer"
"Yes, any place where I can be by
myself"
Her father smiled, light of reminis-
cnnnn In his eyes