The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-08-15
MY DEARIE!
Hy MILDRED WHITE.



His head bowed upon his arms,
Brant sat motionless Except for his
solitary presence. the office had long
been deserted. He wished that twilight
might fall so that he could think
things out In restfu darkness. His
brain was weary going over ii all and
his heart seemed 10 have grown old
and weary. too. Love had hit him
hard, and love, In Brants life had
heretofore been an unknown quantity
He had been amused at its effect upon
several of his bachelor friends, trans
forming the reckless into model hus-
bands or bringing deep gravity to the
lives of gay and thoughtless, through
disappointment.
He, strong, confident and good to
look upon, had not considered the pos
sibility of being numbered among the
latter, yet here he was suffering as he
had never suffered-in the realization
Of q hopeless love. Why should fate
| have chosen to mock him.
Gay MacClaren was known across
| the continent for the charm of her
| wonderful voice. He, himself, had lis
| tened breathless TO its rendition In the
! photograph. And Gay MacClarens love
| ~ face was favorite with magazine
| illustrators.
"Our Gay" the press referred to
her. and this gifted brilliant young
woman, who had captivated nations
admiration, was the object of Brant
Williams alteration.
"Who was he?" he reflected gloom
lily, 'that he dare offer even homage
to this woman--he an humble clerk In
citys business concern"
Brant had lived sacrificing life
but he gave himself no credit for this
the dear invalid mother who was
gone had been to him a comfort as
we'll as a care. No--he was a nobody
ridiculous nobody in his constant fol-
lowing after this glorious rainbow, for
Brant had neglected no opportunity
since his first marvellous meeting with
her of seeing his goddess.
The wife of the senior member of
the firm had taken motherly interest
In him from his days of bookkeeping
she liked his courteous manner. She
relied implicitly upon his advice In
business matters Of her own; she
liked, too, the wave Of his heavy hair
and the frank gaze of his dark eyes.
Brant's employer had nodded when
his wife expressed her tiattering opin-
ion of his clerk.
"RelIable fellow" he said. SO when
Mrs. Whiting gave her after-opera re-
|; ception, at which the celebrated sing
err was present, Brant was presented
to Miss Gay MacClaren quite as
: though it were the most natural thing
r in the world for an humble clerk to at
tend q feted beauty, and Miss Gay
herself seemed as naturally" pleased
But Brant was dazzled, strangely
happy-strangely Respondent. He had
remained in this contradictory state
ever since
Recklessly he followed the girl from
the opera to every drawing-room
which Mrs. Writings influence could
open and now, at the last. realizing his
own helpless plight, Brant was going
away as the only means of saving his
sef-respect.
II he remained he must reveal his
| pTeSuIHpluUuS SeCIets he WOulu put
the ocean between his beloved and
himself before he should bring upo
her the pain of discovery. For he
knew that to bring sorrow to any
creature would be like sorrow to this
tender-hearted woman.
In fancy he heard again the lit of
her speaking voice with always Its
hint of song He recalled poignantly
the endearing glance of her beautiful
eyes as she sang her Irish lyrics, and
Brant wondered vaguely, If 1t had
been Mrs. Writings kindness of heart
which had prompted her to persuade
the senior member, to name himself as
the firms agent abroad.
Brant arose abruptly and left the
office. This was his last night of see
ing her. He had promised himself this
memory and Mrs. Whiting had helped
She had not forgotten him with an In
vitation to her evening of music"
Gay MacClaren sat among her ad
mirers as Brant entered the room. A
n violinist was playing as she bent for
q ward to bow to him and her face was
N sweetly serious. Then as he sanl
r. sadly back into his chair little Gay
II crossed the room, pausing at his side
10 For a moment her smile flashed a
80 him.
20 ITO you" she murmured and Wen
10 through the applauding throng to tn,
II piano.
20 II will play my own accompani
NJ ment," she announced, 'improvising a.
a. l go along" Then Brant heard hel
"a thrilling, joyous voice:
Eye may wander far away. but yell
never never stay;
at Yen be coming back to me again m,
ot dearie
w Though we cross the ocean wide, an tn
stretchin lands beside
or Sure your heart with tender longin
or Will grow weary.
III And If you further roam 1t viii not b
you alone
That's grievin' with a longin' sad an