New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-31

Look at that woman going slowly down
Crab Point in the sunset.
She does not seem like one through whose
youth and hopes have burned any black
frosts Of disappointment and blight. You
know, when you look into the dear sweet.
ness of the eyes. and watch the soft line OF
the scarlet lips, where the light of pleasant
thoughts seems ready to break into smile,
that life has much which is glad and good
to Margaret Duane.
She has never loved again, it is true.
nature like hers RECEIVERS slowly from such
a vital shock as she received. Ii no man
since that time has crossed her path to stir
heart or soul out Of their long calm, yet
Margaret has learned that life may be tuli
of dignity and happiness without that one
human love.
Tie sun has dropped behind the sea.
Under the red fire of the clouds the waters
heave and glow, but Margaret does not see
it all, she sees only that dreadful night.
with lis lost moon and its reproachtul
stars, when she went to the river to die.
She has reached the shore now. There
are some low, ragged rocks here, with knots
of sea-weed in the crevices. and around
these rocks the tide has risen in long. green
sweils tie water must be several feet
deep by this time.
Suddenly Margaret hears a laugh--a low,
happy laugh. in the throat of a child She
looks up and sees him hanging over the
edge OF the rock-a pretty boy with brown
ISL cheeks and hair which elitters gold III
the sun: he leans far over after some daz-
cling bit of rock, he reaches it, he loses lis
balance: with a terrible cry Margaret
springs forward ard reaches out her arms:
he comes against them; his fall is 50 heavy
that il knocks her down, but the boy Goes
not fall into the sea- as he would have done
but 1or those outstretched arms. they
nave saved him from drowning.
A woman's Shrek rings overhead ''ob
ny boy, my boy y and she dashes down the
rocks and into view.
Size is IA handsome woman, and elegantly
dressed her robe rustleS and her diamonds
culver il the light.
Somehow. vixen Won have said that, Won
have said al. Despite the fine features
there is something wanting in this woulan5
face. Behind it dwclls no lofty. tender
soul. |, is a face that will grow Old early
L j. rapidly losing its bloom. and when It's
youth has gone all its charm will 90 yet il
is precisely the kind Of face which has is
time of triumph. of incense, and Hdtttry
and the woOing OF men.
Look az the two women standing there.
Margaret. So cool and sweet and flesh. n
contrast. Yet she WAS never SO handsome,
and quite likely Is older than this woman.
The, lutter Is s0btiug betwiXt excitement
and fright 'HOu were almost drowned.
Dick, she says, land the lady has saved
your life
At that moment gentleman. startled by
the cries OF mother and child, hurries
around the corner OF the rocks.
What is the matter here !" he asks, com.
Ing up 70 the group.
Margaret has arisen now. ard brushed
back her disa-ranged hair, showinga cat ON
her forehead. The fright and fall have
shaken hcra GOOD deal.
"Oh. Dick :" says the sobbing mother.
the child would certainly have gone INFO
the water, ard been dead before now. ii the
lady Lat. not caught him as he fell. l shall
never get over II =
Margaret al tha- name. turned sEarpIv
aroun1. and she and Dick Kennedy looked
each other II The face
lLey were both very white. but she. at
least, was quite calm.
Il am very glad | saved the Child" she
sal, SIM, y. and then She turned AMI walked
quietly away.
And he could desert NE fox that woman
that = said Margaret To herself. There WAS
no scu:n or bitterness in her face or tones.
Only great wonder in both.
Dick. 90 you know that woman ;" asked
Mrs. Kennedy. the tears still on her cLec,is.
her arms around her boy, who had been
bruised Il little, and frightened treat deal
10y hi. fall, and was now sobbing Justify.
Il did once lie said, and the man le!t
witt- and child and went after the woman
gong with slIch aQuiet grace up Crab poin-.
Margaret" She stood still at the we'll |
known voice. winch once had made her !
very pulses thrill with JOY, and 50 she
tronttd her old lover.
DO You know you have saved the life Il
luy child"
Il am glad of It. as | said"
Sue turned and went on again. lie ipl- !
lowed her. "Margaret," he sad, Il treated |
you ike hrutc-I know it."
She turned on him steady and bri ght the |
SGaT-blue eyes he remembered Wei: her
voice did no1 falrer. Il think you did, Dick
Kennedy. or worse than that
lie was silent a moment at that, bu, he |
kept on walking by her side.
Then he broke out with IA passionate i'm
patience: AT least. ii it viii do yoa arv
good. | swear that | have paid an awful |
penalty for ny folly and madness Of that
Tine. Margaret, You have had your re
veIge.
Il never wanted any. You knew ne too
well TO imagine that, Dick Kennedy her
voice soft and steady like her face
He looked al her with some bitterness in
lis eyes, with some curiosity. too. Il was
. monster, know. Margaret, but, bad as
vas. | should be glad to hear you say the
I'D hurt has healed"
| SUPPOSE Dick Kennedy thought he was
cling he truth, yet it would have gratiiiel
rs sc!t-love TO know that some tenderness
fingered FOR him in this womans soul
Margaret turned now and faced him
his lover OF her youth. The wind tiuttered
Il her lali: the dark iustrOus eyes seemed
o prcbe behind his face to his soul
He. TOO, had grown old in these years.
'ut II was not the slight frosts on temples
nj beard that struck her
no Il al,
or the worse, in heart am. soul. during
Lese years. Not that the world counted
IN tor a Dad IEan. He had been Success
title Was 2n honorable business man. and
e had buried himself i'll his material pros
Gritty: but the real man, the best. which
iargaret mad known and loved had been
70 wing hard, and cold, and skei,;icaI all |
lrSe wears.
And this was what Margaret saw. Yes.
':ck Kennedy" she said, the hurt was
eep and long, TOO honest still for any dis
ui>es: hut It has healed-heaied utterly.
ow 90 back to your wife and child. They
eed YOU,
She turned ard left him. Il was evident .
Ic did not need him
lie stood and watched her with a great
-If-reprOach and longing in his eyes as she
ent up Grab Point in the fading light {
one, and quiet and graceful like herself I
But he dld not see the sudden light which /
use into her eyes and grew upon her face t
Or near the PRAYER which came that night {
II the first time out OF the soul OF Mar I
tret Duane. "Oh, my God thank thee t
lat even at such price | was saved from
slnS the wife OF this man"
Wild Bill.
Among the white scouts were numbered a
ne Of the most noted of their class. The S
ost prominent man among them was V