The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-02-14

is true but | can never think OF you
otherwise than as very dear friend
| did think once that there might be
something besides eomradeship be
tween us, but that has passed ] know
now that can never be"
But Margaret, this is far differ
ent from what YOU gave me reason
10 expect the last time saw you.
While | was away Harold Vain has
come with his money and fine clothes,
Can II be that you love him? | be-
! lieye you have been led from your
self by the glitter of gold.
Don't say that, John, 1t is not that.
not altogether, at least But have
been your chum too long TO think |
marrying you now. So why should |
not make as good a match as | can
| with some one else? confess that
do not care for Harold Vain, but he
has plenty of money and loves me. If
/ | do not love anybody ! may as well
marry him and have the fine things |
have always wished for,
And you will sacrifice my love and
yours Just for money. Madge, YOUR
eyes are blinded to the truth by the
glitter of his gold You do love me,
you know it, but you crave wealth and
position. ! have nothing TO offer now,
but my practice is increasing all the
time and | have several fine cases Of.
fered me. There will be no happiness
where true love is trampled on. am
not going to ask you again, but think
Il over, Madge, and do not let money
win over honest love" He STROBE sad
ly down the path from the summer
house.
Margaret sat gazing after him. her
pretty eyes full of tears. She did love
him; her heart would not let her for
get that, but she wanted the pleasures
that money could procure. Harold
Vain, millionaire and clubman, had
fallen In love with her. She did not
care for him.
Frank Howard walked quickly down
the path to the road. He was thinking
what an empty existence life would be
to him without Margaret. From his
earliest childhood he had known her,
little Margaret Allen. They had read
7 of late from their favorite authors In
the evenings and had spent much time
together Now it was all to end. She
had given him every reason to hope
until Vain had appeared.
There was a whrl of dust, the dis
cordant honk of horn, as Harold
Vain passed him In his huge touring
car. He waved patronizingly as he
passed and was soon lost to sight He
was going to see Margaret, to take heI
for a spin What chance did a young
lawyer have with man worth mil
lions? Frank cut the heads from the
daisies with his cane as he thought.
Soon he reached Uniontown, the lit
tie village near which Margaret lived
: AS he walked slowly down the street
he saw a book in the window of z
store and stopped to look at it He
read the title, Loves of the Ancient
. Gods" and stepped inside. II was JUS
the thing. He and Margaret had beer
reading mythology together when he
had asked her to be his. This would
be a fitting reminder Of their happ!
hours. He would send 1t to her with
letter Of farewell.
He fastened home to write he
letter to accompany the book, Whel
he had finished it he read what he hat
written:
Dear little girl, | am sending yol
this little volume as sort OF farewell
memento. 1t will recall all those day
we loved so well, but in particular thu
one in which you decided that lie witt
money and without love is preferable
10 life with me where love, at least, 1
abundant. | am not complaining a
your choice. You are making sacrt
flee OF yourself as well as Of me,
Il leave for New York tonight Yo
know | have been offered position
with the law firm Of Herndon
Hastings All have held them off TO
is because | did not want to leave YOU
But that is all Overt If you decide tina
love IS best, send for me. Frank
That night Frank Howard took tn
train for New York, and after readin
the letter over and over Margaret A
len cried herself TO sleep.
Two weeks had passed since Fran
had gone, During that time Margare
had been alternately happy in be
dreams OF pleasure when she shoul
have married Harold, and miserabl
when she thought Of the man she love-
It was as Frank had said, she wa
sacrificing his love because she wa
blinded by Wain's gold Yet she coul
not resist.
She had received the book with tn
- letter, but had not yet brought herse
q TO read It. The title called back OIL
ie memories too sweet for her preser
G sorrow. One day she cut the leave
70 and idly turned them as she sat alor
in the summer house where she an
Frank had parted not long before. 81
was not reading, but suddenly her eye
n were attracted by certain passag
r. and she read Not until the end Of Il
OF chapter was reached did she sto
az Then the book fell TO the floor unn
% uced.