The Harrison times., 1916-04-22

used TO do. And IL only | were sure
II should break the engagement.
But | am not sure.
More than once have started 10
write him letter, releasing him, and
then-then | have torn it up because
l didn't know. How can | know? lie
is too honorable ever to tell me il he
has ceased to care for me. How can
/ 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 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 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 it is possible
that he, too, has felt something OF
the same thing. That is the whole
trouble. Well, | suppose we must
have lunch if 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 ill 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 pathetic lit.
tie figure as she stood there.
Come, dear, let us be going said
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 woman's intuition,
had guessed rightly. OF course he
loved May, and had never ceased to
love her. 1t 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 q beating heart that he
walked up the road toward his
tiancee's house on the next day. But
1t was with heart steeled against its
weaknesses. He knew it's strength
beyond oil 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 new
warmth in her kisses. She clung Low.
ingly to him, and 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 happier STILL" he an.
swered.