Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-05
AN AvERTEp TRAGEDY.

Persons of marked sentimental tend
encies often make themselves appear
ridiculous in the eyes of their more
practical and sensible friends.
When these sentimental v8garies
take the form of disappointments in
affairs of the heart there is nc doing
any thing with or for them.
The affection must, like some dis
eases, run its course, which it usually
does with amazing rapidity. leaving
the victim still on this earth, notwith-
standing his or her predictions to the
contrary.
l was once visited, says a we'll
known poet. by young woman OF
most wOeful cast of cOuntenance. She
seemed to be in condition of settled
melancholy, signing often and deeply.
while her hand frequently went up in
the vicinity of her heart.
Greeting her politely. asked how
could be of service to her.
"You see before you woman whose
life has been wrecked, whose youths
fair day has been turned to the black
ness of night. who has had all the
beauty and sweetness and tenderness
Of life taken from her by the pertidy of
man." she said. in a STACEY voice.
As wasn't the man in question, and
did not feel myself in any degree re-
sponsible for the real culprit, Won
dered what part was to play in this
tragedy.
The STACEY young woman enlight-
ened me by saying:
"You have Il heart"
owned up to the charge.
Il have long read and loved your
verses. your heart-breathings, your
divine inspirations. and. in my days of
happin ess, when the birds seemed to
sing only for me. when the sky seemed
blue for me alone, when the gentle
winds of heaven seemed l started
to my feet, believing the woman to be
crazy. To my amusement she waved
Inc toward chair, saying:
''Pray be seated. SIR" an act of
graciousness was grateful for. par
ticularly as l was in my own house.
Sir" began the young woman
again. Il have loved-loved and lost.
My maiden affections have been won
only to be cast away; VOWS of affection
have been poured into my innocent
ear. You see before you a broken
hearted girl. The sun of my life is
about to set. The sands are nearly
run. The early SHOWS will cover my
grave. shall be at rest, and. rs Il
dying girl. come to you to make one
last request"
.'What is that?' 1 asked. A more
perfect picture of physical health !
had never seen, and the ''wasting-
away" process had not manifested it.
self in the least.
The affair became intensely ludicrous
when the young woman suddenly fell
on her knees at my feet. and said:
Promise that you will write poem
on my death, something that will be
an everlasting sting and reproach to
the man who has wrecked my life. l
W III SNc Nou Iiio ttIlNl tt'tNlCSS.
will contide every thing to YOU. Let
the poem be one long reproach. Write
something that will scar itself in let
tiers of fire on his heart. Have it put
in all the papers-will you promise?'
REFRESHING as best could my desire
to laugh aloud, / managed to say:
Il am sorry. Miss, but fear can
not very well make such promise.
l."
She rose to her feet. stiffened her.
self. glared at ME. and Kissed out:
lit is enough; you refuse the poor
petition of 4 dying girl. l have told
you my name. Watch the death-rolls.
My name will soon appear there. Then
groan in your remorse. Adieu. heart
of stone. adieu!'' and out she sailed.
That was five years ago; to-day l
met happy. wholesome looking
mother wheeling baby-cab before her
in which there sat splendid infant.
the diving image of his mother. She
led puffy checked. rosy little chap of
three years by the hand. The cfild's
other hand was clasped in that of
big. rosy-cheeked. jolly man. whom 1
had seen before. He was. in fact
butcher who had lately come into our
street.
Az l approached the happy family
the mother said:
There. Sammy; let papa lead you.
mamma must attend to baby"
knew that voice. looked keenly
at the woman. She looked at me. Our
eyes met Hers fell. As l live. she
was that dying girl l had met five
years before.-Zenas Dane, IN Good