The Glenwood post., 1918-08-10
CONFESSIONS
BY AGNES q. eRooAN.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Y

judith, In her pretty frock, sat at
the plano and played enchantingly.
Douglas, back among the shadows,
sighed as the tender words came to
him. Something about:
"When breeze Of springtime blows the
lilac blooms apart,
The image of ones first love is shaken
on ones heart"
'That's true," he murmured invol-
UNFAIRLY.
Judith swung around on the stool.
Speaking from experience?" she teas
ed, but the serious face of her flancee
checked further raillery.
Dearest" he said, "come here. That
pathetic little song has awakened men,
ories;. perhaps owe you confes-
sion. was very insistent, you re-
member, probing into your girlish
friendships, to make sure there had
been no other love before me. Your
more generous nature did not require
that assurance.
"What is it your song says. Judith?
The image of ones first love is shaken
on ones heart Well, the pitiful mem
ory that stirs in my heart, but makes
me love you more. Yet it Is there.
every springtime. with the coming Of
the flowers. It was spring time when
I met her. the girl who claimed my
first youthful fancy. When have
told you Of her. the ghost may be for
ever laid, and flowers lose their power
to shake this image on my heart"
The man laughed shortly. "An un-
easy conscience would be the more
truthful explanation of my memories"
he said. 81 had just graduated from
college, when father sent me over to
France to learn that branch of our
business. My duties brought me in
touch with the peasant class, and
there was among our workers little
maid, golden haired. with the ap-
pealing dark eyes of child. She was
very shy, Marie.
"She lived farther up in the village,
she told me, and aimlessly one eve
ming I made my way to the cottage
home. Hardly more than one room 1t
was, and spring flowers blooming all
around. There was white ruffled
curtain IN the window, and Marie's
potted flowers nodding there, too. She
wore white muslin cap on her head,
and her eyes would dance beneath its
saucy fold, as I talked my stammering
French"
The man paused, again he sighed. II
thought it was love" he said. 'Marie's
invalid mother would call to us cheer.
lily from her couch as we sat side By
side on the porch stone at twilight
And one night, when the scent Of flow
ers, and the silvering moonlight SEEM
Cd to all the world with magic. asked
Marie to be my wife. F1 re-- Z ar
"Quick and fearful was hsr aecspt
ance.
amy sonr called the mother from
hsr couch, and It was done. After
that, I know not how. the romance
ded. Evenings upon the porch stone,
grew to be wearisome realities. Marie
with her pretty tricks Of expression
but the amusing peasant girl of the
workroom." ~ " "a
Douglas paused; Judith, with
catch in her voice spoke.
"And thenr
IT came away" he answered slowly.
"back to this country"
1.-THE French girl loved your" Ju.
dith persisted.
Across the mans eyes flashed
memory of Marie's oft-repeated assur.
ance. Impatiently he nodded his head.
His fiancee arose wearily. you left
her to break her heart" she accused,
"while you found happiness with me.
Do you think can keep you now, Doug.
las, with that always between us? Obi"
she turned on him fiercely, did you
send her no consoling message? Did
you not try to learn what became Of
that poor little unhappy thing. with
her sick mother7"
II wrote her." the man answered
doggedly, Saying that 1t had all been
q mistake. Her response came, but
much was unlntelligible to me-"
Judith's lip curled scornfully. Ell
you still have that letter, may I see
itr' she asked.
II will bring 1t to you," Douglas
promised. But his flancee shook hei
head.
"You may mail It," she said. =
do not wish to see you again until
have thought things out"
you mean-?" he demanded, but
the girl eluded his outstretched arms
The scent Of spring flowers seemed
nauseating, as he gioomily passed out
through the garden, then in desperate
resignation Douglas searched out the
old French letter and mailed 1t.
After misery Of waiting judith
summoned him BY telephone.
"Marie's letter." she began evenly
appears also to be confession. Thu
little peasant girl was marrying yos
to benefit her invalid mother. m
trus love Of her heart. 4 poor bui
honest TrSnchman being 'dSsolatsd