The Lamar register., 1916-07-12

than / mad ever been in my life before.
lie was my ideal OF a man, SO fine
in every way. And it seemed wonder
full to me that Harry could love me.
and for months we were very happy.
But then he began to grow cool, and
Just know that he is tired of me
He never tells me things now. as he
used TO do. And if only | were sure
IL should break the engagement
But / am not sure.
More than once / have started to
write him a letter, releasing him, and
then-then | have torn 1t up because
1 didn't know. How can | know? He
is too honorable ever to tell me if he
has ceased to care for me. How can
l know
Il don't believe that he has ceased
to care. said Julia. Now listen to
me, dear. There is all the difference
in the world between being engaged
and being married. When you are en-
gagged the whole world seems new.
Everything is wonderful You think
you are going to live in a paradise.
But that isn't what counts at all How
many married couples do you know
who live in that state of rapture?"
But Harry and l were going to be
different sobbed the girl.
so everyone thinks, but afterward
you understand your mistake. 1t is
the building up of the life together
that counts. my dear. / know that.
And long engagements are a mistake.
You have simply come to take each
other for granted, that's all. When
you are married your real happiness
will begin"
oh. do you believe that. dear?"
asked May.
Il am sure OF it," said Julia. You
and Harry ought to marry at once,
and then you will understand. know
he cares for you, and il is possible
that he. too, has felt something of
the same thing. That is the whole
trouble. Well, | suppose we must
have lunch IL we are to catch the
early train back"
They went into the hotel. while
Harry waited above. So the girls had
only come over for the day! They
would not look at the hotel register.
Of course. Still. he feared detection;
they could not but know that he had
eavesdropped.
He waited till they came out and
stood on the porch together. Evident.
ly Julia's conversation had raised
Mays spirits. for she looked less un-
happy but she was still a pathetic lit
tie figure as she stood there.
l.. - 81 a.
Julia
Harry watched the two women walk
down the path toward the station.
And. looking after them, suddenly he
felt the fog lift from his heart.
Julia, with her womans intuition.
had guessed rightly. OF course he
loved May, and had never ceased to
love her It was the past. the other
faces he had seen. that had lifted them
selves like ghosts between them. And
he had not understood.
He saw now that it is only by faith
and loyalty that love endures. Love
must be grappled and held. Every
thing that he had attributed TO May.
the coldness. the weariness. was moth
ing but the reflection Of his own inner
heart. He saw her again as she had
been on that wonderful day when she
had promised to become his wife.
And his own heart was singing with
happiness. He went downstairs and
told the landlord that he was return
ing.
When he got back to the city he
found that his business troubles had
had the same Interpretation. Moth.
ing was wrong a man is as he think
eth. He had thought wrong-in every
way he had thought wrongly; he near
ly lost the hand OF happiness out
stretched to him.
1t was with beating heart that he
walked up the road toward his
tancees house on the next day. But
it was with heart steeled against it's
weaknesses. He knew its strength
beyond all doubt. its power to hold
And, even as he held May in his
arms he saw her troubled face clear
and grow radiant. There was a new
warmth u her kisses. She clung Low.
ingly to him. aud was again his sweet.
heart OF old
Harry. do you really love me?" she
whispered.
He smiled at the question. well
enough TO ask YOU when you are go.
ing to make me- hammer still % he an.