The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-26
AN OLD MAID.
ny ALuRA COLLINS.

~@ - N4t1
sin. And then to think that this train co1lG
not make connection with the eastward
bound train 1t is hard enough to stop at
snch q miserable little junction at any time,
bat 20 spend three hours here this dark
morning must prove the very refinement OF
torture. There are a dozen passengers who
must wait and who prepare to make the best
of their stsy here. Oae couple, evidently
lust married, fad the clouds OF a rosy color,
and they walk out of the smoky old depot
to make q tour Of the little town, talking
eagerly the while. Two young fellows wan
der u~neasily about. reading eli the old tat
tered posters, glowing inducements to go
West. and ancient time tables. which invari-
ably decorate the stained walls of & country
depot. These young fellows finally utter ex.
CARNATIONS OF impotence at the dreary
monotOny, and go across the street. to the
hotel, hoping to find something there more
coDgenial 10 them. Two ladies at once take
their departure for the hotel, and other
people stroll out about the depot, aud there
are left two persons. e man and q woman,
who, after q little time, settle themselves to
reading TO pass way the weary moments.
he reads bis paper, she her book, and, occa-
sionally, woman like, she casts a look at her
silent companion, wondering what loved
ones are awaiting his arrival and whether ne
is impatient TO greet them, or If he feels q
mans stoicism in regard TO It; wondering,
too, how it is that each woman thinks the
masculine lives connected with hers so full
those rugged features? Then she
turned her gentle eyes toward the
window and looked out at the dreary
landscape, looked with eyes which saw not
outward objects, but were interpretive
solely. An old maid commonly supposed
IN ho Inc fwno nj 6foronfa1f and nnrou4. hnk
here, evidently, the type failed, for this face
expressed the utmost content. Life had been
filled with much OF sorrow for her. All her
bright plans lad failed OF f%ruitlon; one after
another she had bidder good-Dy to them,
and had turned bravely again 10 face the
coming Of q new future. a future to be peo-
pied sgain by her bright fancies-the old
fancies al dead and gone from her except as
they fingered in memory. an old maid she
is, so far as years 90, but no home is happier
than her little ideal home. She has filled its
rooms with bright little faces, eagerly call
ing to mother, ndt h dream father is strong,
earnest, helpful and loving. Her dream
noms is happier far than many
a fine lady's real home, al
though she has not pictured any
that the carpets are faded from much sun
light and worn from the tread Of msny little
feet. and there is much planning to make
both ends meet" bet she bss imagined IN
E~eiHt1DctS HNiDg IN THIS lOEdl nome, ana
loving unseihshness can make all triEiS IN re-
gard 70 wave and meons seem very straight
indeed. Her companion in tais depot is an
elderly person, q StOIt, large man. with
keen eyes and & moUth az complete odds
with the eyes, net belonging 10 them appar-
entity. Often eyes do NOT barnonize in col
oring with the rest OF the face, but generally
expressions are akin. This maH had 4 SEN
sltive mouth, one with q m0urnf0l droop to
It. Those who looked at him caught them
selves wondering which would conquer
keen. hard eyes, or sensitive month. He
read for some time, then gave a quick look
at the thoUehtful face near him. and said ad-
rsptly: Not q very pleasant arrangement,
this
A quick flush passed over the gentle face
before him "a flush which his keen eyes
noted instantly and understood flush
which told of the ~girlishness yet left to this
lonely woman.
Not that il matters much to me where I
am" he continued. Life can't give me
anything harder than I've had"
That is a bad thing to say" she said, in
her timid way.
"a true thing, though he responded. and
the corners OF his sensitive mouth dropped q
little more. al feel as il / had nothing left to
live for. Ny wife died q year ago. here
the voice broke. Distress ever calls some
souls cut from their reserve, and here was
such u one, and she said quickly; "Ah, but
you have all those vanished days and months
n years TO remember, all tbs loYlluess OF
her life 10 think Of now"
How did you Know her life was lovely"
he qusried, = little sharply. She hesitated a
moment and then said, simply: at must
have been, or you would not miss her from
your living SO much q tribute 10 the manly
worth Ia the face she saw before her which
was keenly relished by the owner OF the face.
He sighed and then looked for q time out of
the smoky window, then said: AFTER all.
life is q strange muddle," and. receiving a
look Of understanding IN response to this SEN
timent. be went on:
I'VE don't know what is right to do, and
yet we're punished by fixed Law If We don't
do the right. That doesn't seem Just to me-"
.Oh, but it will come out straight IN next
life" she cried eagerly.
81 don't know whether it will or not, he
responded. II haven't seen the next life
vet. and don't know what II is like-don't
even know if there will be e next life. / only
know that We are hedged in and around IN
this life"
But surely the next lie will take away
all the rough places oiEEhis," che said; lit
will make Us understand all that seems so
strange about this and-there must be a fu-
ture life; God surely would not put Us into
this life and let so much 20 out OF it incom-
plete. That seems 20 me the strongest reason
for = future that so many Gle vita their life
work only Just begun"
lis that = Jeason or a hope with you?''
he ash ed. She hesitated and did not answer,
and Just then enc Of the restless young men
who had bsen a fellow passenger OF theirs
came IN enc glaucsd CASUALLY st the two.
That glance made her elfc0nscious. and
n b ush dyed the delicate face IS she turned,
in = cecioed way, the pages of her book, =:
II she were determined not 10 let this strang'
er get POSSESSION CT her wandering thoughts
egain. The young man passed out Of the
Staten and the elderly one rose and walked
restsesSly aboas the room. knitting the
shaggy brows occasionally az s0ne troubled
thought. The three hours passed, and !
o'rlock cams, and q train came. Can 1 as
sist your ne asked gently, reaching out q
hsfu. brown hand for some OF the numerous
bundles she Wa carrying. She hsaded some