The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-10
ASin That Brought
A Blessing
By OSCAR cox


recommend her but q pretty race.
used to think that she wished me 10
marry Margaret Deane, who knew how
to sew and cook and do lot Of practl-
cal things in which l took no interest.
I rather admired Gwendolin German.
Gwendolin was a tender flower, Just
such a girl as a man likes to take un-
der his protection. Her cheek was not
round and rosy, but there was little
pale red in its center like rosebud
painted on china cup, with lips OF the
same hue.
The time came when l made up my
mind that unless could win Gwendo-
lin my life would be failure. l was
but twenty, aud that's very young for
a man to feel that his happiness is
bound up for life In one person. How
ever, l proved my constancy by years
Of devotion to the image had set up
in my heart. Fearing that could not
express myself with sufficient delicacy
to impress one SO young, so modest, so
tender, l wrote my proposal In letter.
l was several days composing 1t, and
when finished left 1t for another day
on my desk in order to read it once
more before posting it.
l was suddenly called away, and
when l returned the letter was gone.
l asked my mother what had become
of it, and she said that 1t had been
posted with batch of letters that had
been sent to the mail while l was
away from home. With this l was
content and confident that GwendOln
had received il and waited anxiously
for reply.
When l met my love again l was
much embarrassed. My imagination
made her seem to me cold, even Of
Tended, and as she made no reference
to my letter it occurred to me that for
some reason-l imagined dozen-she
was displeased with my proposal.
did not call again, and within year
her family left the place where lived,
and she went with them. My heart
went with her. ] lived on bachelor.
My mother frequently invited Mar
garet Deane to our house, and could
see that she was Intentionally placing
her in my way Margaret accepted
whatever attention gave her, which
was not much, but when I was un-
mindful of her she did not seem to
notice it. AS the year passed I made
friend of her, but it did not occur to
me to make love to her
When l was thirty my mother died.
Before her death she made me a con-
fession
My dearest boy" she said, before
| die | wish your forgiveness. Ten
years ago | saw that you were about to
choose companion for life who would
not make you happy. kept the letter
you wrote to Gwendolin Germain. hop
ing to gain time to direct your atten-
tion to Margaret Deane. Ten wears
have passed, and every year l have in
tended to send your letter to Gwen
dolin. ! have never done so till today
BY tomorrow morning she will know
for the first time Of your proposal. but
by that time I shall have left you free
to choose for yourself"
And so my mother. to whom was so
devoted. had caused me ten years Of
misery. forgave her and did not utter
a word Of complaint. Indeed, the pain
| suffered at her loss neutralized any
feeling OF regret for my long suffering.
The day after laid her in the grave
| took up number Of letters that had
! accumulated mostly Of condolenca-
and among them WAS one from Gwen.
dolin. 1t brought the first Of different
sensations from what had experienced
since the beginning of my mothers III
ness. But with ii came the remem.
brance of what my mother must have
endured from her distaste for nv
choice. Margaret had been with her
constantly in her last days and had
comforted her as If she had been ber
own daughter
1 1elt an inclination to complete the
sacrifice my mother had brought abour
by acceding to her wishes and giving
Marsaret tire option OF being my wife.
But was bound In honor to Gwendo.
lin as well as by love. In her letter she
asked me to come and see her II fol.
so inclined
A few days later 1 went to see her
She still lived with her family. who
were wealthy-more so than when !
mad parted from her-in a stately man.
sion. 1t was evening when I called
and l was ushered into a private mar.
lor. In few minutes a bony. sallow
scrawny woman came into the room
dressed In the height of fashion. ha.
decked with jewels, her hands coyere,
with rings. I barely recognized Gwen.
dolin and would not have done 40 had
she not preserved the rosebud in be,
cheek by touch of paint.
so your poor mother has gone " s,e
said. What silly thing to keen ron,
letter from me! Just as If wors
counting on you. You were lovely as .
boy, admit; but, you know. nana hos
always brought me up to understar nd
that must marry money ana :,
| course that wonld not ,nol,,s Va