The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-11-20
: WAY OF THE HEART
BY WlNlFRED C. o'eRIEN.
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The canoe drifted lazlly with the
current close to the low bank of a
placid, narrow river that ran through
the woods. A young man luy in it's
bottom with eyes closed, his face
marred by the expression Of bitterness
and the stern set mouth. Edgar Raw.
ley, noted young painter and received
In the best society, was seeking balm
for bruised heart and hurt pride.
He had asked Marion BrOcebridge,
one Of the beauties of the debutanteS.
to marry him, and after few months
engagement, she had, without warning,
sent back his ring with Il cruel little
note that "she thought that they were
not Congenial enough TO marry"
Then the news came of her engage.
ment, and the engagement of the sea
sons belle, Marjorie Brooke; Marion
to Alan Coe, the banker, md Mar
jorle's to Stanley Lewis, the poet. Half
the young girls and all the women
were frankly In love with Stanley and
they envled Marjorie her possession.
Just as he was sending the canoe
ont into mId-stream with a sweeping
stroke, he heard loud call for help,
and looking up the bank he espied n
girl in a pink dress with her hands
held In front of her, seeming to push
some object away. With spring, Ed
gar landed on the bank and picking Up
a large club which was sometimes used
to push boats out into the stream, he
haStened TO the scene.
When he neared the girl he gave a
start Of surprise as he saw that it was
Marjorie Brooke, bur he stlfied a cry
of alarm for there on the log was q
three.foot diamond rattler, swishlng
nearer ana nearer, and rattllng fierce
ly. With q well-almed blow the club
landed with stlnging force on the head
Of the rattler, crushing 1t Immediately,
and both watched the sllmy body with
It's beautiful diamond markings writhe
in its death agonies.
Then he turned to the girl; "There
are not many of those large rattlerS
around here. am surprised that this
one should have venturcd out at ALL"
Suddenly she made little rush, and
throwing her arms about him kissed
him firmly on the mouth and then flew
up the path before he had vaguely
sensed her action. Somehow II was a
plcasurable thought that she had kissed
him, he that thought that he must be
lacking in something so that no wom-
en- could love him. He turned slowly
and then his eyes caught book which
she had dropped, and STOPPING he
picked II up, also a little laCe-bordered
handkerchief. Without realizing what
he was doing he had read the page
that was lying open. "How could l
ever have thought that I was In love
with that person.
'T will never be deceived by my feel.
lngs again. I mean never to fall In
love II / can help IT,"
There was more on the closely writ
ten page. but that was all that Edgar
read before he came to himself that he
was reading girls personal secrets.
Thinking TO send them to Marjorie
on the following day, he dropped them
In his pocket and turned the canoe
homeward. A few hours later In his
den, smoking, suddenly he had an In
spirauon. and hastily he ran UP the
short fight Of stairs TO his lighted stu
do There was an unfinished painting
there of the low bank, the stunted fir
trees and the sweeping forest beyond
the placid river. With quick, sure
strokes he sketched in the figure Of O
young girl IN pink dress, with large
shade hat hanging down from her
shoulders, her hands stretched out and
an expression Of such fear that invol-
unfairly would make one shudder, and
lastly the venomous snake, with its
diamond markings. He called the pic
tute Fear" and knew without doubt
tha' It would be we'll received at the
prize exhibition In the fall.
The following afternoon he made his
way TO the little cottage which Mar
lOrie occupied and found her drying
her bslt BY the hedge. She thanked
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