The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-15
Al OLD MAlD.

A lowering morning which made one
wish for the sunny South or for Italy,
for any place which would mako one
feel happier than could this dismal
morning in Wisconsin. And then "a
think that this tfAiA tohid Aot taaks
connection with the eastward bound
tram! I. is hard enough to stop at
such q miserable little junction
at any time, but to spend three
hours here this dark morning
must prove the very refinement Of
torture. There are dozen passengers
whe must wait and who prepare I'd
iaaks tie best 81 their stay ~ here, One
couple. evidently just married, find
the clouds of rosy color, and they
walk out of the smoky old depot to
make atour Of the little town, talking
eagerly the While. Tive yotnk fei-
lows wander uneasily about, reading
all the old tattered posters, glowing
inducements to 60 west, and ancient
time tables. which invariably decorate
the stained walls Of . country depot.
These young fellows finally utter
EXPLANATIONS of impatiance at the
dreary monotony, and go across the
street to the hotel. hoping 10 find
something there more congenial tc
them. Two ladies Ut dice take thei,
departure for the hotel, and othe,
people stroll out about the depot, and
there are left two persons, a man and
woman, who, after little time, settle
themselves to reading to pass away
the weafy moments. He reads his
paper, she her book, and, occasionally
woman like, she casts look at he,
silent companion; wondering whal
loved ohes are awaiting his arrival
and whether he is impatient to gree,
them, or if he feel q mans stoicism in
regard to it; wondering, too, how it il
that each woman thinks the mascu.
line lives connected with hers, sc
full of manly graces and beauty, and
who could find manly beauty in
turned hef gentle eyes toward the
window and looked out at the dreary
landscape, locke d with eyes which saw
not outward objects, but were intro.
spectivc solely. An old maid. common.
" supposed to be the type of disoon.
tent and unresti but here, evidently,
the type failed, for this face expressed
the utmost of content. Life had been
filled with much of sorrow for her, all
her bright plans had failed of fruition,
one after another she had hidden good
by to them and had turned bravely
again to face the coming of a new fu-
ture, o future to be peopled again
by her bright iancies-the old fan.
cies all dead and gone from her
except as they fingered in mem
ory. An old maid she is, so far as
years ago, but no home is happier thai,
her little ideal l,ome. SHE has filled its
rooms with bright little faces eagerly
calling to mother and the drea u.fsther
is strong, earnest, helpful and loving.
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 carpets
are faded from much sunlight and worn
from the tread of many little feet, that
there is much planning to make both
ends meet" but she has imagined un.
seltishness living in the ideal home; and
loving unselfishness can make all trials
in regard to ways and means. seem very
slight indeed. Her companion lii this
depot is an elderly person, . stout,
large man, with keen eyes and mouth
ut complete odds with the eyes, not be-
longing to them apparently. Often
eyes do not harmonic in coloring with
the rest of face, but generally ex-
pressions are strongly akin. This man
lad sensitive nsuth, one with 4
mournful droop to il. Those who look
ed at him canght themselves wondering
which would conquer-keen, hard eyes,
Or sensitive mouth. He read for some
time, then gave quick look at the
thoughtful face near him, and said,
abruptly: Not very pleasant arrang-
A quick flush passed over the gentle
face before him-a flush which hls keen
eyes noted instantly and understood
flush which told Of the girlishness yet
left to this lonely woman.
"Not that it matters much to me
where lam. lie continued. Life can
not give me anything harder than I've
had"
''That is a bad thing to say" she
said, in her timid way.
"a true thing, enough, he respond
ed, and the corners of his sensitive
mouth dropped little more. I feel as
if had nothing left to live for. MY
wife died year ago and" here the
voice broke. Distress ever calls some
souls out from their reserve, and here
was such one, and she said, quickly
"Ah, but you have all those vanished
days AMI months and years to remem-
ber, all the loveliness of her life to think
of now"
"How did you know her life was love-
~. {" he queried, little sharply. She
hesitated q moment and then said,
simply: 1T must have been, or you
would not miss her from your living 90
much," q tribute to the manly worth in
the face she saw before her which was
keenly relished by the owner of the
face. He sighed and then looked for
time out Of the smoky window, then
said: "After all. life is strange mud
die, and receiving a look of understand
ing in response to this sentiment, he
went on:
eve don't know what is right to do,
and yet we're punished by fixed laws ii
we don't do the right. That doesn't
seem just to me-"
ooh, but it will come out straight in
next life, she cried eagerly.
II don't know whether it will or not, :
he responded, Il haven't seen the next
life yet, and don't know what it is like
don't even know if there will be &
next life. I only know that we are
hedged in and around in this life."
"But surely the next life will tax.
swsy all the rough places Of this" Oh,