The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-04-11
AN OLD MAID.

loWerlng morning which made
one wish for the sunny South or for
Italy, for any place which would
make one feel happier than could
ms dismal morning in Wisconsin.
And then to think that this train
eRuld not make connection with the
eastward bound train ! 1t was hard
enough TO stop at such miserable
Hitle junction at any time, but to
spend three hours here this dark
morning must prove the very refine
ment of torture. There are a dozen
MESSENGERS who must wait and who
tprepare to make the best Of their
tsRy here. One couple, evidently
iJlstmarried. find the clouds Of rosy
color, and they walk out of the smO-
KY old depot to make tour of the
y. ~ y ,fAtown tallsing eagerly the while.
/ Two young fellows wander uneasily
about. reading all the old tattered
posters, glowing inducements to 90
WeS, and ancient time tables, which
invariably decorate the stained walls
OF puntry depot. These young fell
lows inally uttered eXclamatiOns of
impatence at the dreary monOtony
and 60 across the street to hotel,
hoping to find something there more
oopnapial tp thop, NV, I.Ji,g =, =
once take their departure for the no.
tel, and other people stroll out about
the dept and there are left two per-
sons, a man and woman, who, after
little time, settle themselves to read
ing to pass away the weary moments.
He reals his paper, she her book.
and occasionally, woman like, she
casts a Hook at her silent companion,
wondering what loved ones are
awaiting his arrival and whether he
is impatient to greet them, or if he
feels mans stoicism in regard to it;
wondering, too, how it is that each
woman thinks the masculine lives
connected with hers so full of manly
graces and beauty, and who could
find manly beauty in those rugged
features Then she turned her gen
tie eyes toward the window and look
ed out at the dreary landscape, and
looked with eyes which saw not out
ward objects, hut were introspective
solely. An old maid, commonly
supposed to be the type of discomfort
and unrest; but here, evidently, the
type failed, for this face expressed
allied with much of sorrow for her,
all her bright plans had failed Of fru-
|itiOn; one after another she had biu
den good bye to them and had turn
ed hraVely again to face the coming
of a new future, Il future to be peO-
pied again by her bright fancieS all
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 calling to
mother and the dreamfather is strong
and earnest, helpful and Toying, Her
dream home is HAPPIER far than many
fine lady's real home, although she
has not pictured any grandeur about
it. Oh, no, she dreams that the car
pets are faded from much sunlight
and worn from the thread Of many
lite feet, that there is much plan
ming to "make both ends meet" but
she has imagined unselfishness living
in this little home, and loving un-
selfshness can make all trials in re-
gard to ways and means seem very
slight indeed. Her companion in
this depot is an elderly person, a
stout, large man, with keen eyes
and a mouth at complete odds with
the eyes, not belonging to them APP
parently. Often eyes do not harmo-
nize in coloring with the rest of the
face, but generally expressions are
strongly akin. This man had SEN
sitiVe mouth, one with mOurnful
droOp to it. Those who looked at
him caught themselves wondering
which would conquer-keen, hard
eyes or sensitive mouth. He read
for some time, then gave quick
look at the face near him, and said
abruptly: mot very pleasant ar
rangement, this"
A quick flush passed over the gen
tie face before him "a flush which
his keen eyes noted instantly and un
derstood-a flush which told of the
girlishness yet left to this lonely wo
man.
mot that it matters much to mt
where l am," he continued. "Lift
can't give me anything harder than
I've had"
"That is a bad thing to say" sh,
said, in her timid way.
IA true thing, though" !" he respon
ded, and the corners of his sensitiv