The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-28
SHATTERED IDOLS.
A story Of Interrupted Love.

MY poor Leila: is there noshinl
can do for ron - asked Margare
Hammond pityfngty, as she bent owe
her sick friend.
Both girl. were young. but IN q
other respects no stronger contras
could be imagined
Leila Norton vas a fraI little crea
ture. with fluffy yellow hair, q fAii
complexion and faby-blEe eyes. Ma
ture seemed 70 have designed her q
pose a. the type Of those women Who's
clinging dependence il 20 ailnring e
the protecting tenderness Of many
men.
Margaret Hammond, on the con.
frary. had a quick, decided way 81
moving and speaking, which Indicated
indep4rdenee Of character and opin-
ions OF her own. Her clear gray eye
shovel intellect and soul. while they
served 70 make interesting q rather
Main face. She was tall and slender,
bot not graceful, and her chief beauty
was a mass u Sayy. dark brown hair
she was paying a visit 10 Leila,
when the latter became seriously III,
and Margaret at once installed herself
a. chief nurse
siTell me- she repeated, is there
nothing can do for YOU
Leila turned towards her with eyes
like dewy forget-me-
s.Oh, she sobbed. If you would
only write 10 John ~
'fCertainiy, and what shall | say
"Oh, ! don't know. Say lm slek
and ] send my love. II IL such a pity
you don't know John. He j. so nice.
Margaret Erailed and said II he
Iieye girls usually admire their Owl
lovers, bat what do you mean by
NICE Tell me some Of his character
istic traits.
Leila pouted. sHe Is not character
Istiei at all. He Is just lovely. and he
says the sweetest things about me-
hOf course. but ! know about you
and what ! am trying to find out l.
about him.
And am trying to tell you, bui
YOU won't let me. ] don't know how
10 describe him, and-yes He /.
characteristic In one thing, for be viii
not have his picture taken, so have
none to show you.
Never mind. have already painted
him 10 suit myself. and now | am
ready 10 write II you viii dictate the
letter"
ooh. make il q note. and you know
what to say"
SO Margaret wrote az follows:
MY dear Mr. Lessing-My friend
Miss Norton, has requested me 20 in
form YOU Of her serious Illness, which
depriyes her OF the pleasure Of writing
TO you. We hope she viii be better in
a few days, when she viii speak FOR
herself and express to you, more elo-
quently than | can, the love which
she wishes me TO send.
"sincerely your friends friend.
"MARGARET HAMMOND.
This note was received by Mr.. Les
sing in a Western city, and the return
mail brought 10 Leila letter over
flowing with sympathy and love. lie
sent kind regards 10 Miss Hammond
and begged that she would be his
friend also. and write TO him daily
during Miss Norton's Illness.
Quite correspondence followed, for
the fair invalid was sure John" would
be unhappy II he did not know the de-
tails oil each days eonvalescence, bat
in the course of q week or two her
health was fully restored, and after an
aifectionate farewell. Margaret re-
turned To her own home.
How many changes take place in
ten years, Not only those caused by
death. but the inevitable changes OF
life. Youth is transformed into ma
turity, and how many OF its loves and
friendships are discarded as outgrown
garments.
But the friendship OF Margaret and
Leila has withstood the test of time,
though the love OF Leila and John has
long been u dream of the past.
Leila's heart now thrills with other
hopes, and she is soon 10 be a happy
bride. She is making visit 10 Mar
garet-the last one before her mar.
riage. She Is but little changed, has
still the same winning, childlike face
and figure.
Margaret has become thinner, few
threads OF gray CLEAN through her
beautiful hair, and her manner with
strangers has touch OF primness.
She has many friends, but is still UNI
married
Leila, said she one day, what
became OF John Lessing9"
II believe he went farther West.
How strange his name sounds, |
have not thought OF him for years. and
we were once so devoted to each other.
He used to sing me such a pretty song
about Thine eyes so blue and tender.
One verse was something like this:
Thy lips are like the roses
Under sn azure sky.
Allured by their marvellous sweetness
How can pass them by
And just there he always kissed me.
Poor fellow he felt dreadful when |
broke the engagement. lie said he
could never love again, but here comes
the postman. | wonder IL he has a
letter for me from Clarence"
There proved 10 he one. and Leila
was soon so absorbed in IL that she did
not notice that Margaret was also
reading a letter.
Presently Leila looked up with q
smile OF satisfied vanity. and started
with surprise to see the expression of
Margaret face.
What Is it p she asked.
Listen" said Margaret, this letter
is from John I.essingi"
MY dear Miss Hammoui-Pa Pardon
the liberty | take in addressing YOU,
but once you acted the part OF a friend
Co me and convinced nue. that YOU
have a warm heart
DO you not remember that about
10 years ago you wrote me a number
OF bright letters for your friend Mis-
NOrtonf
You and she were great friends in
those days. and ! have often wondered
what has become ~ you. Win YOU
not be kind to me again sud writee
have heard no news from Eastern
friends for some years.
Several years ago | married. and
had a happy home until two year,
ago, when my wife died | have one
little giri.
II have addressed you by your
maiden name, though | am uncertain
whether you sun bear H. 4 prompt
reply viii greatly ohligc. VERY trul,
yours, JoHS LrSsiNu.
Margaret raised her ewes all CLOWNS
with light "ouly think" she said
softly. The stall remembers
"Nes. simpered Leila, he said b,
could never forget me, When yos
write 60 him about me, don't tell hin
ana going 60 be married. and sc,
what he ,ays in his next letter"
\ strange pang shot through Mar
garet and drowned the light in he.
eyes,
Il shall write Whatever you wish.
she replied ani laying down the leits
began 10 speak OF ether things
As soon a. she was alone, she rcrcst
the letter. carefully weighing eScl
word. Yes. she thought. Leila va,