The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Splendid Folly, by Margaret Pedler

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Title: The Splendid Folly

Author: Margaret Pedler

Release Date: August 4, 2005 [eBook #16427]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SPLENDID FOLLY***

E-text prepared by Al Haines

THE SPLENDID FOLLY

by

MARGARET PEDLER

Author of the Hermit of Far End, etc.

New York
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers

1921

TO MY HUSBAND

W. G. Q. PEDLER

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I THE VERDICT
II FELLOW-TRAVELLERS
III AN ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH
IV CRAILING RECTORY
V THE SECOND MEETING
VI THE AFTERMATH OF AN ADVENTURE
VII DIANA SINGS
VIII MRS. LAWRENCE'S HOSPITALITY
IX A CONTEST OF WILLS
X MISS LERMONTOF'S ADVICE
XI THE YEAR'S FRUIT
XII MAX ERRINGTON'S RETURN
XIII THE FRIEND WHO STOOD BY
XIV THE FLAME OF LOVE
XV DIANA'S DECISION
XVI BARONI'S OPINION OF MATRIMONY
XVII "WHOM GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER"
XVIII THE APPROACHING SHADOW
XIX THE "FIRST NIGHT" PERFORMANCE
XX THE SHADOW FALLS
XXI THE OTHER WOMAN
XXII THE PARTING OF THE WAYS
XXIII PAIN
XXIV THE VISION OF LOVE
XXV BREAKING-POINT
XXVI THE REAPING
XXVII CARLO BARONI EXPLAINS
XXVIII THE AWAKENING
XXIX SACRIFICE

THE HAVEN OF MEMORY

Do you remember
Our great love's pure unfolding,
The troth you gave,
And prayed for God's upholding,
Long and long ago?

Out of the past
A dream--and then the waking--
Comes back to me,
Of love and love's forsaking,
Ere the summer waned.

Ah! Let me dream
That still a little kindness
Dwelt in the smile
That chid my foolish blindness,
When you said good-bye.

Let me remember,
When I am very lonely,
How once your love
But crowned and blessed me only,
Long and long ago!

MARGARET PEDLER.

NOTE:--Musical setting by Isador Epstein. Published by G. Ricordi &
Co.; 14 East 43rd Street, New York.

THE SPLENDID FOLLY

CHAPTER I

THE VERDICT

The