, 1873-03-09
A PLEA FOR THE WOMAN.

NY masculine friend, have tried in many
ways to reach you, but hare failed. Tonight,
surcharged with venom, must bring my guns
to bear upon you at short range. You won't
take hint you won't profit by all the poetry
that ia showered upon just such unfeeling fel-
lows as you You will plod mercilessly on,
crushing, with savage heel, the flowers Of happi-
ness before you, waiting to be plucked; you will
let that thick crust Of bitterness crowd back all
the goodness Of your soul, and you must take
the consequences.
I eaw you at the play last night, and, lost in
the great human sea that suIged around you,
you were lost to aelf-consciouHness, too. Oh |
low tired and worn you looked How tile fur
tows have deepened since knew you for q
genial, jovia1 fellowi How, as in the intensity
OF interest you watched tho mimic play Of
human passion, the real man came out, and told
of the gnaWings that are every day mailing
the way hard for you! How, in spite Of self, tho
moisture would creep for moment into your
eyes, as you saw one madly thrust happiness
from him; and then, ashamed OF the sympathy
that proved your fanced weakness, how hercely
you pressed your lips together, and looked hast
ily enc side, to drive away the fancy, while the
face grew hard again! Do you think that, all
forgetting the actors and the stage, as watch
ed you from my safo retreat, did not know of
what you we're thinking? Do you believe that
I, your old-time confdant, albeit you have
thrown me off now, end have treated me- shah
billy since told you Of your faults you be-
love that could not see the inner workings Of
the heart? Como back with me. Do you re-
member the night when you told mo OF the hap
piness you hoped to gain, and how warmly you
grnsped my hand as said, in reply, She's
little too good for you, old fellow 7" We'll, It's
all over now, and it may be little cruel
to rake the ashes, from d memory you
claim to be doing You q surgical
kindness by tearing open that old wound, and
putting new life into two hearts, If possible.
Whose fault was it, and who suffers most You
need not tell NE aloud I know every shade of e1-
preston your face can wear so a1ook will answer
It was Misunderstanding, and you parted in
hot indignation, you two. It was years ago, but
oh! how the heart aches yet, If you will give it
time. You try to think her false, and she tells
herself you we're not what you professed; but
somehow, with all the coldness, and contempt,
and hatred you bear each other, an accidental
meeting will make you both miserable for days.
The Tecollections Of the old happy hours will
come thronging in at the most unlucky times.
the Sunday service, leaving always behind the
spirit Of unrest.
All! you are going to epeakl You are the in
lured party, and yont dignity demands that you
huou4u uot Laha t4e ulbt step Toward rGc0NClllQ-
tion, however much you may desire it; aud, On
the whole, yon don't know that yon do desire it.
Nonsense! Throw away that brayado when
talking with me. know, as well as know that
you live, that you hare rs true heart as ever
beat under broadcloth, and all these shan1s and
subterfuges on behalf Of dignity are unworthy
your manhood No, my much-respected friend.
fortunately we are all allie; re must have human
sympathy; ne can't live without it; and, when
we find one peculiarly fitted to make us happy,
we desire intimate relations with that one.
Clouds may come, but it is not in our nature to
forget. Il, with the surgeons knife and unprac-
tised hand, hare made you cringo with pain,
have sensihiities, aud the fact may get into your
dull brain that the merry laugh Of the
girl you knew in the olden time is Of