Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-08-23
GROWING GLORY
BY MILDRED WHITE.



studying. her own plaintive face.
"Why," she asked herself, ''had youth
passed her by, leaving so few of it's
pleasures. For surely this silvery
shimmering crown upon her head was
proof that youth had gone, and she
must no longer deceive herself with
it's possible coming joys"
Thoughtfully she Embossed the heavy
coils of hair, letting it fall in a wavy
mass about her shoulders, almost. it
seemed to have turned white in q
night. A few silvery strands which
appeared from time to time had not
seemed to matter, but now-Con-
stances dark eyes were brooding and
pathos curved her red lips. Always
she had been attendant upon a pa
tient invalid in q wheel chair. And
while girl companions enjoyed them
selves here or there, Constance
solaced herself with the thought that
faithful service was the least she
could give, in gratitude for the care
her aunt had bestowed upon her own
orphaned childhood. Now Aunt Della
was gone, and after long sojourn in
the outer world, from which she had
been withheld, Constance returned
again, with grateful sense of home
coming to the empty house on the hill.
Constance had arisen early upon
this first Sunday of her homecoming,
and had gone alone to answer the call
Of the bell swaying high in the old
church steeple. Very conscious was
she of the silent nudges and whisper-
ings in her direction.
DO you see Constance Gail?" she
could fancy her old neighbors saying
her hair has turned white"
Resentfully she glanced at the copo.
panions of her girlhood, with their
brown or black locks unchanged; yes
youth had been unkind in leaving her
so soon. Thus, as she sat before her
mirror, into the eyes that still were
young, came a sudden retrospective
smile. After all, there had been q few
hours of enchantment, of light-hearted
1rresponsibility, and though these oc.
caslons stood out with startling dis.
tlnctness, perhaps the one best re-
membered was that of the olden-tim.
party at Stauntons. She had gone
dressed as Colonial maiden, while a
friend had stayed with her aunt fol
company, and perhaps the memory OF
this evening was especially pleasure.
Die because of the daring, mysterious
cavalier who had claimed her undiyid.
ed attention.
Seated now before her mirror. the
face of Constance flushed between its
curtain of silvery hair; the man ha6
kissed her goodnight, and she had
never forgotten the kiss.
Why should she recall the episode
now, awakened to the fact of a you'll
past and gone? With careless grace
she pinned up the masses of her hail
and moved toward the door. It was
the twilight bell which called to wor
snip. Hatless, through the summer
night, Constance followed on down tn,
lane. Back in the old family pew. s
! sensation of being steadily observed
caused her to raise her eyes to the gal
I lery; and there, looking down upol
her, as though in glad recognition, wa.
the very same daring face.
Older, of course, was this man 1,
the gallery, with certain grave dis
tlnction, but there could be no mis-
taking the fine, frank face or the dee,
eyes with their humorous twinkle
hardly had she stepped out again int,
the night, when he was at her side.
Il claim remembrance" the man sal,
quickly, from the long ago. You ma,
have forgotten a certain bold youn,
guest OF the Stauntons, who attende,
: their olden-time party, but I have new
er forgotten my charming companion
whose name I had not even known
Lou must pardon me for assisting Won
! recoliection; we met during the eve
ming OF the party upon the veranda
and In spirit of youthful adventure
preferred to spend the evening with
out learning each others identity. A
midnight, like Cinderella of the ball
you disappeared, and" he laughe,
shortly. Il saw you no more"
constance, gazing into the man.
eyes, smiled. II remember It all" sh
said; but you are mistaken as TO tn
last. Several times upon the stree
afterward I passed you without rec
: ognltion. That was the humiliatin,
ending Of my adventure"
impossible !" the man declared
why, walked the village streets
searching in vain for golden-haire,
maid. From the fair texture of Won
skin, fancted your hair must be gold
en-. The night of the dance, YOU ma,
recall. 1t was powdered white, glorious
~ white, like some olden-time picture
beneath 1t your eyes, with their dar]
Drows and lashes, were beautiful"
The man was walking along now q
ner side. seeming almost to forget th
Iact OF her real presence, in the de
mght OF her past fancied one
Through the years that are gone" h
went on, Il have kept upon INV dress