The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-09
What Does Love
Mean?
By JOHN PALMER

BY JOHN PALMER
"What is 1t, Harry?' Daisy chung
to her tiance's arm nervously as
they saw the native crowd sur
rounding something :nat had just
been taken out Of the river.
Don't look, dear. Just sui
eide, | expect. They kill themselves
for tritles, these natives"
How terrible" said the little
bride-to-be, shudderins. II shall
feel more comfortable when our
boat has sailed"
Harry Beamish had been employed
in the country for three years. He
had left u girl behind him in Amer
lea. The day of their marriage had
seemed imp0ssibly remote, and, In
the end, he had done is nearly all
his friends did-had taken tem-
porary bride from the village.
Almond Blossom! How faithful
she had been! He had grown
really fond of her. And he had
come to be thankful that there had
been no children. That might have
proved tie, bar. In the back
of his mind there was always the
dream Of some day going home-tO
Daisy.
But the understanding between
them had practically lapsed. And
there had been an epistolnry quar-
rel. Daisy had ceased to write.
And Harry had settled down with
Almond Blossom. 1t was most
respectable menage. All his friends
envied him. There had even come
a time when he had thought of tax
ing Almond Blossom TO the clergy
man. But, after all. why tie him
self, and why anticipate the fu-
ture?
The years went by. Three years.
A letter came from Daisy. Her
father was bringing her out on his
business triple had substantial
interests In the country and had
got Harry his job. And-did he
care for her the same? If so?
Then 1t was Harry had known
that deep down within him there
had always been the same tug at
his heart. He wanted to return
to America. Daisy had limited at
position which her father wanted
him to fill at home. And Of course.
If he answered her letter 1t could
only mean one thing.
Almond Blossom was watching
him rs he replied. Harry thought
she did not understand. but she un-
derstood very well. She understood
how to read his face. She loved
him. She had just gone on loving
him in her submissive way.
The day before the ship came in
no use telling her before, and
Harry dreaded scenes-he quietly
said that their association must
come to an end. She had always
known that it was to be temporary.
He was going to send her back to
her father with rich gifts. She
would be one of the richest girls in
the village.
Almond Blossom had listened to
him quietly, and bowed in her
quaint way. Not a flicker of dis.
tress showed itself on her face.
you're good girl to take 1t like
that" said Harry. patting her Shout
der. "Some girls would have made
an awful fuss, but you'll be we'll
looked after, believe me. And then
you'll have the chance Of picking
up a rich husband"
He was to meet Daisy and her
father when the boat came In, and
they were going straight on to
HongkOng, and thence back to
America. On the last morning
Harry stole quietly out Of the house
while Almond Blossom was sleep
Ing. He could not bear to say good
by to her.
Yet he did look at her face,
placid in sleep, and a curious feel
ing choked him. But he thrust
that weakness aside. After all,
these Orientals did not feel rs
and Europeans did.
So he turned his back upon the
little house and all its memories,
and soon he was at the wharf.
"Hnrry!"
,"Daisy!"
Htr arms were around his neck.
She was frankly kissing him. All
the past seemed like an evil dream.
There was delay of about an
|io,r on the bOat-custOms formal.
tics. At last they were permitted
to land.
"How picturesque this canal
scene Isl" said Daisy. ~ wish
had my camera with me. Oh. look!
What IS that. Harfy?" E
"Don't look, -deaf! Just sui.
eide; I expect. They kill themselves
FOR trifes, these natives
"How terrible y said Daisy, shud.
dering. II shall feel more com /
portable when our boat has sailed. l
What dc they kill themselves FORT
For, lOve?" ass,
s"I.ove? No, q they don't know
what It meansEin our sense Of
The word"
90. 1924. Western Newspaper Union,
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