The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-01
The Change In
Edwin Leroy
BY ETHEL HOLMES

spiritual man, though he was what
may be termed thoughtful one. He
was not given to philosophic specula.
lions, nor was he of devotional ma
ture. If he had any especial intellec-
tual prediction 1t was for science,
though even In this he read only what
was written for popular instruction.
Circumstances had compelled him to
assist himself on several occasions, and
this had given him reputation for be-
ing combative..
One day-rather, one moment-a great
change came over him. He was walk
ing on a road and met a girl. He
looked at her; she looked at him. She
lowered her eyes, but before she did
SO some vague internal announcement
was made in both that they were
mates. Leroy turned and Joined her.
There was no conversational introduce
ton. They walked on together.
The mating between Edwin Leroy
and Camilla Head was a spiritual as
well as physical one. The two souls
became one at the moment Of meeting
A year after their marriage Camilla
died. Leroy laid away his earthly
partner with no great show of feeling.
He did not weep at her grave. To
him she had not been buried. She had
not wholly departed from him. He
was denied material communication
with her, but there was a spiritual
unity between them that could not be
broken.
One day Leroy was strolling about
In his garden. He seemed to be talk
ing to his flowers, but he was COM
muning with the spirit Of his wife. A
man entered and hurried toward him.
Sir said the stranger, II loved
woman whom, I have been told, you
married. Though she did not love me,
| loved and still love her. | am told
that she is dead. l desire to visit her
grave. VIII you tell me where you
have buried herT'
II have not buried her
The writer looked at Leroy wonder |
lngly /
THAT receptacle" continued Leroy, |
that conveyance, that machine Of |
flesh which Is intended to hold soul |
during brief period of preparation |
for a superior existence, has been
buried. You Will find 1t in the church
yard short distance up the road"
Having given this information, lie
Roy turned again TO his flowers. The
fact that another had loved his wife
did not seem either TO interest or move
him. This indication that he was so
sure that his dead wife had belonged
to him alone antagonized the visitor
Had | met Camilla" said the latter,
"a few months before you found her
the result might have been different"
no" said Leroy, st would not"
why are you so sure OF thatp
Because Camilla was destined for a
perfect union. She could never have
accepted any other"
There was something irritating to
the stranger in this complacent view
of LeRoy's with reference to the wo-
man who had refused the one and
mated with the other. While the wild
over remained unruffied. the discarded
over waved warm with smolderfng
anger.
Your love for her was human" he
laid. "Yod possessed her In the flesh.
Vow she is mine Some day l will go
o her
Many are going. but who shall meet
n the infinite we cannot know while
lere'
"In the infinite there is no marriage
,amilla will be 10 me at least as much
s she will be TO you
"She will not be to you what she has
zen TO me-"
This reference to the fact that the
yoman he had loved had been In the
esh possessed by his rival caused the
tranger TO lose his equanimity.
you lie" he SAID. -
Leroy stopped TO pick flower. :.
did you hear me- said the other ;.
ngrily. Il say you lie =,
"rf you wish 10 quarrel with me-" ;,
aid Leroy, rising and at the same Il
me inhalinx the perfume OF the fiow-
r he had r,ucked, you will have to
elect some other cause There can
e no quarrel In which the dead is con-
arned.' r,
The man stood looking at Leroy in :,
sort of confused wonder. This last :,
ord shamed him
Pardon" he said. II have not been -
sed TO living in this world wherein r
lu live l am a mortal; you seem to
i've placed your foot on the threshold
the infinite" |
II have not placed it there; she is
awing me She is the magnet, the |
,edle Where she is there / point" |
II beg that you will excuse this I'M
arranted intrusion; 1t was not intend
as such when came here"
Forgive my want OF attention to
,ur wish. Come; will show you |
e grave"
The two walked in silence TO the -
urchyard, and Leroy led the way
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