Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-04-26
A Wise Little Woman.

IT06u, 6W06I AlI, Auu Iuo cOO1 UEocZ
from the sea. Louisa was q schoo
teacher, and. I'm quite sure, not one o
the noisy, wild young creatures whom
she thought to guide in the paths o
knowledge enjoyed the weekly holida.
as she did.
But even Saturday was not all holiday
she had brought home exercises t.
correct, and copy books to look over
and she began to reflect that she coult
not afford to stay out much longer
sat down to rest-for her long walk haG
tired heron q seat formed by ar
old tree trunk thet had lain long enough
to be all green and oss-covered, anG
only little way In front Of her the see
washed up against the rough, shingly
beach. Louisa still fingered, and flung
little loose stones into the water, and as
each skinned the surface and disap.
peared she thought, "Now. I must real.
ly go-this will be the last."
Then, with an effort, she rose, and
turned resolutely toward home, and as
she did so she became aware of the fig
ure of man at little distance. He
was walking rapidly toward her, and
though she scarcely recognized him,
she was conscious of familiar look
about his appearance-hi his figure, his
walk-altOgethe he looked like soEle
one she ought to remember, yet could
not. AS he came quite close, she utter
ed an exclamation which signified at
once recognition and surprise, and she
stood still, staring at him and wonder
ing.
It was Mr.. Glover-Glover the mil
liOnaire, as some people called him but
he was scarcely worth 81 ,O0O, 900, al
though he was, past all doubt, the great
man and the rich man of the place.
Among other things, he was q power
in the school where Louisa taught, and
In that way she had seen him OCCASION
ally, and had even changed words with
him now and then. But never in all her
experience had Louisa seen Mr.. Glover
or any one e]se-l0ok as that gentle
man now looked. His face wore the
pallor of the dead his eyes were wild
and haggard; his dress disordered, and
his movements uncertain and shaky,
like drunken mans. He would have
passed her by, UNCONSCIOUS of her pre-
sence, without look; but Louisa step
ped forward, laid her hand heavily on
his arm, and called him sharply by his
name.
In long years after she often said that
something told her she must do 80.
Mr.. Glover stopped and looked at her
stupidity, as though the sound of his
own name was strange to him, and he
was trying to think what it had to do
with him or why it was spoken to him.
Louisa was frightened at herself, as
at him, and began to tremble; and then
her eyes filled up with tears that present.
1y rolled down over her cheeks.
"Oh, Mr.. Glover" she sobbed, "what
is the matter-what is the matter ?'
And then Mr.. Glover-who was q
good deal of gentleman by nature
seeing a woman in tears, forgot his
own trouble and looked at her atten.
lively.
why, it is Miss Clare-little Miss
Clare, the school ma'amv he said, as
he recognized her. 'And. what is the
matter with you, my dear!-Why do
you cry, and who has been annoying
you ?"
mo one-oh, no indeed-and there's
nothing. the matter except that you
seem to be in such deep trouble, sir. and
II was afraid"
"And that's why you are afraid-you
cry for me :" asked Mr.. Glover; lean it
be possible?"
He sat down on the moss covered tree
trunk where Louisa had been resting,
and motioning to her to do so also, he
said:
'Sit down, Miss Glare, sit down."
Louisa obeyed instantly.
Are you very unhappy, Miss Clare?"
asked Mr.. Glover.
Unhappy sir-about what?"
"Oh! nothing in particular. Imean
merely in general way"
~ am not unhappy at all, SIR"
us it possible? And yet, your salary
let me think. I believe it is some.
thing about $500 year that they give
you ?'
Just $500 year, sir"
And yet you are not unhappy 2"
VERY seldom. am very happy, on
the contrary. All! sir-it is not alone
the possession of money that makes peo.
pie happy"
And then. fearing that she said some.
thing 80 personal it might be rude-for
ly not happy-LOuisa felt the color
mount to her cheeks, and her eyes Drop
ped before the intent gaze of her COM
panion.
"Do you think man might ever be
happy, and yet quite poor ?n asked Mr..
G!over-''so poor that, compared with
what he had been, his position would
be one almost of poverty ?n
"Oh yes," said Louisa, with gentle
confidence in her own word Il am
quite sure of that; for what does the
most extravagant wealth give more
than one can enjoy simply by having
enough? One can only eat or drink or
sleep enough-at least one ought not to
do 80 any more than enough,6 she ad-
ded, with q smile; land those who do
are not happier for it."
Mr.. Glover looked at her as though
she had solved the great problem of ex-
istence.
what a wise little woman!n he
said and then drawing pistol from his
pocket. he rose, took few steps for
ward, and flung the weapon from him
with such force that it went singing
through the air and fell into the water
beyond.
Louisa had started up with scarcely
repressed cry of fright; but as Mr.. Clio
yer returned and reseated himself. she
sat down beside him.
Miss Clare" he said, earnestly and
gratefully. "you have saved me from
committing q great crime. I came out
mere TO Kill myself with that pistol you
have seen me throw away and but for
your Intervention, the tears in your
gentle eyes. and the hopeful courage in
your voice. would have done it. I
vii! tell you now-what all the world
Will know to-morrow-I am a ruined
man. But will not die like coward:
l will live and face the music, as they
say. Goodbye, you wise little woman.
You have saved life-more, perhaps
you have saved an immortal soul this
morning simply by being the brave,
contented, hopeful being that you are.
Good bye! good-bye!"
He wrung her hands hard enough to
bring the tears in her eyes, and turned
away, while Louisa went home rather
dizzy, her heart in whirl, and alto
gether too much amazed BY the scene
just ended to think much about her
own share in It.
When the state of Mr.. Glover's mon.
ey affairs became public, there was the
usual nine days wonder. He Welded
everything to his creditors, and found
that they were more nearly satisfied
than ne had hoped for; they even lef.
him little house which was once rent
ed ct low rate to Louisa Clsre's moth
or, and which Louisa. in her vildesf