The Osceola times., 1884-12-06
TWO STREET CAR INCIDENTS.
A Mans IIi-Copceaied Grief and n wo-
man's stratagem.

mans stratagem.
| The whole world is ashamed of its
tears. ltwants everybody TO know when
it rejoices, and see its smiles but it
hides its wounds and weeps alone.
Tears are useful as emotional jew els in
literature, but in real life they are not
respected.
On street car one day saw two ex-
amples of the bitterness of tears which
could not be concealed from the public's
unsympathetic gaze.
A good looking young German, of the
comfortable middle class, got aboard.
The conductor collected his fare and the
car jolted on, the business Of perforating
each other with their eyes being contin-
ued by the silent passengers, with the
customary infexible impudence and in
sistence.
The young German was uncomfortable.
lie was suffering mental anguish, and
making heroic efforts TO conceal ii from
the piercing rows of eyes opposite him.
The muscles of his smoothly shaven face
twitched nervously; he moved uneasily
in his seat and vainly tried to finda way
to look which would give some relief.
OF course everybody saw his embarrass-
ment and looked at nim with SPECIAL in
terest Ordinary humanity is not over
charged with deicacy, even when it is
most sympathetic.
The young man furtively wiped his
eyes, which were gushing with tears,
while affecting to merely rub off his
forehead. He urned around and looked
out of the window behind him, and held
his face steadily toward the sky to keep
the teats from escaping in a trickling
stream lown his face. More staring
more curious interest in his i'll concealed
toItures.
In his despeialion he forgot that he
had paid his fare and. fishing in his
pocket, brought to light another nickel
which he handed toward the conductor,
That Iunclionary saw but did not accept
the coin. He simply helped the passen-
gers to look at him.
Did pay my fare?" asked the poor
man, trying to control the sobs in his
voice
II guess So" answered the conductor.
Then the Germans self control gave
way, his nervous tension snapped and
as The copious tears gushed forth, he
walled "Oh, my little girl is dead, and
| don't know what Pm doing"
The passengers were touched, but
they did no, take their eyes frcm him,
and it was no time TO put their sympa-
thy in words Unable to endure their
gaze in his broken condition, the young
man suddenly left the car. HIS honest
grief could not be carried in the sight OF
other human beings, all Of whom had
suffered and wept like himself.
He he'd scarcely disappeared when a
young girl and an elderly woman enter
ed together. The girls eyes were swim
ming IN tears which soon refused TO stay
within the prescribed limit, yet the
thought of letting all these strangers see
her weep was even bitterer than the
sorrow that had started her TO weeping.
The elder woman locked troubled. but
she had stronger nerves. She whisper
ed to her companion: Hold your
handkerchief to one eye all the time,
then every body will think that your eye,
not your heart. has been hurt"
The young girl acted on the suggestion
without replying. She held the hand
kerchief in wad over the right eye, as
though it could not bear the light, and
continued to weep without attracting
attention. The other passengers saw
nothing but woman with disabled
eye, and after glance or two ceased to
look at her. | was struck with the wis
dom of the sad little stratagem. A
wound in the eye is not thing to be
ashamed of. 1t excited no morbid Curl
ositv or humiliaiing pity but wound
on the soul must be hidden.
ALICE LEE WATSON.