The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-09
Lives Start at
the Altar
BY JOHN PALMER

BY JOHN PALMER
Three days before their marriage
Luke said: "Armine, feel so un-
worthy Of you and you have ideal.
lied me. IL think you ought to
know some Of the things I've
DONE"
Armine looked Mt him with her
innocent blue eyes. Luke, dear.
it doesn't matter, so long as know
that you care for me-"
'But, Armine, dearest, you-yOu
see you told me you had never
kissed any man before me, and l.
Oh, If you knew some Of the things
I've done!"
"Tell me then, II you care to-"
said Armine softly.
swell, IL was practically en-.
gagged to girl two years ago, and
of course l used to kiss her every
time we met. I couldn't bring my
self to tell you about her"
There was pain in Armine's
voice. ibid you care for her as
much rs me, Luke?"
"Of course not. dearest. That
would be impossible"
"Oh, we'll, then, 1t doesn't mat
ter" Arlpine answered.
"But then I--well, only the week
before I met you I kissed a girl
under the mistletoe. A strange girl
whom I'd just met"
"A strange girl. Luke7 How
could your"
II don't know, Armine. It was
Just an impulse Of desperation. I
think"
"Oh, we'll, It doesn't matter.
Luke. You-you've never kissed
any girl since you cared for me,
have you?"
NO." answered Luke. ''but IL
was as good as engaged to another
girl five years ago"
"What, still another one?"
"It's terrible" said Luke. II
l suppose l was unconsciously look
ing for you, and. not flniing you, I
got reckless. I never cared for
any of them nearly as much as
do for you"
Luke, dearest" said Armine, "all
that you have told me sounds
dreadful in way. But SO long
as I am sure that you love me for
myself alone, it doesn't matter.
Don't let US speak about 1t any
more"
You're an angel" answered
Luke, embracing her.
Armine went home. Seating her.
self at her desk, she bowed her
head In thought for long time.
Then, opening a drawer. she took
out a letter and re-read it:
"Why must you throw yourself
away on this man when he can
never be to you what / have been?
Don't you remember those days at
the beach last summer. when we
lived for each other. those vows of
eternal love? Where have they
gone? Where is the girl know who
now writes to me SO calmly that
she Is engaged to be married?
Armine, l can't believe you are the
same girl?
II know I shall do we'll In the
West, and that it will not be long
before I am able to send for you.
Won't you trust me and wait? /
send you a thousand kisses-such
kisses as I gave you last summer.
when you swore to love me through
all eternity"
She read it and her eyes grew
softer. Then she penned her re-
ply
Il do love you, and I shall always
love you, I suppose, my dear. But
life and love, as l am discovering.
are two very different things. The
man l am engaged to can assure
me of a future. which you, poor
boy, will never be able to do, in
spite of all your hopes. You are
not the providing temperament.
"John, dear, / do love you,. but
what you ask Of me is quite impos.
sible. l am tired of supporting my.
! self-in an Office, and Luke offers
| me happy release from drudgery
{ In taking this decision I am only
1 doing what every girl who has
/ reached the age Of twenty-five has
to do. I am Observation-Disclosures
but this has to be-"
She stamped, addressed and
sealed the envelope, and slipped
out with It to the post. On the
way she met Luke again.
'Fmas coming around to see you
I was afraid" he stammered, 'tha,
you might have been 80 shocked a,
what / told you."
She smiled up at him beautifully
4 Luke, dear, all the past Is blotted
/ out" she said. sour lives together
start from the. day we stand up q,
the altar together"
Which meant great deal more
than he was destined ever to know
! o. 1924, Western Nswspapsr Union.1