Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-02-18

wife and the mother of his children 2
would like to put my arms round
her and touch her once, if she would
letme. She is SO beautiful, they say"
ooh, I could never bear to see her;
it would kill me. And they are SO
happy together today. He is loving
her so!"
Don yo,, want him to be happy?.
The Older wcnlan looked down at
her Have you never loved him at
hus'
The youn~er wo1nan's face was
covered with her hands. "Oh, it's SO
terrible. SO dark. and shall go Oh
living year after year, always in this
awful pain! Oh, if could only die.'
The older woman stood looking
into the FIRE; then slowly and meas
uredly she said: There are times in
life when everything seems dark,
when the brain reels, and we cannot
see that there is anything but death.
But if we wait long enough, after
long, long years, calm comes. It
may be we cannot say it was well,
but we are contented; we accept the
past. The struggle is ended. That
day may come for you perhaps
sooner than you think" She spoke
slowly and with difficulty.
No, it can never come for me- If
once I have loved a thing, l love it
forever can never forget"
Love is not the only end in life,
There are other things to live for
''Oh, yes, for you! To me love is
everything!'
Nov you must so, dear"
The younger woman stood up. 1T
has been such a comfort to talk to
you think l should have killed
myself if had not come. You help
me SO. shall always be grateful to
you"
The elder woman took her hand
II want to ask something Of you
''What is its'
Il cannot quite explain to you.
You will not understand But there
are times when something more ter
rible can come into a life than that
it should lose what it loves. If you
have had dream Of what life ought
to be, and you try to make it real,
and you fall, and something you have
killed out in your heart for long years
wakes up and cries, Let each man
play his own game and care nothing
for the hand of his fellow! Each
man for himself So the game must
be Played! and you doubt all you
have lived for. and the ground seems
washing out under your feet. y
She paused. Such time has come
to me now. If you would promise
me that if ever another woman
comes to seek your help you will
give it to her and Try to love WON
an even while she is standing in your
light it will help me. | think |
should be able to keep my faith. y
"Oh, l will do anything you ask
me to. You are SO good and great
"Oh, good and great! if you knew!
Now go, dear
II have not kept you from your,
work, have r.
NO; | have not been working
lately. Goodby, dear.
The younger woman went, and the
elder knelt down by the chair and
walled like a little child when you
have struck it and it does not dare
to cry loudly.
A year after 1t was early spring
again.
The woman sat at her desk writ
ing; behind her the fire burned
brightly. She was writing a leading
article on the causes which i'll diff
ferent peoples lead to the adoption Of
free trade or protection principles.
The woman wrote on quickly.
After awhile the servant entered and
laid a pile CT letters cn the table.
Tell the boy shall have done III ff
teen minutes. She wrote ON. Then
she caught sight Of the writing on
one of the letters. SLeput down her
pen and opened it. It ran thus:
DEAR FRIEND-I am writing to you because
know you will rejoice To hear of my great
happiness. DO you remember how you told me
that day By the fire to Wait, and that after
long, long years should that all was for
the best? That time has come sooner than we
hoped. Last week in Rome married 10
the best. nobiesr, most large hearted OF men.
We are now in Iiorsl.ce together You don't
know how beautiful all life is 10 lnc. know
now that that old passion was only gi4is
foolish dream. My husband is the first man
have ever truly loved. lie loves me and In-
derstands me rs no other lEan ever could.
am thankful that my dream was broken; God
had better things in store for me. don't hate
that woman any more; love every one! How
are you, dear? We shall come and see you as
soon as we arrive in England. | always think
Of YOU, 80 happy in your great work and help
ing other people. l don't think now it is terri
bic to be woman: it is lovely.
l hope you are enjoying this beautiful spring
weather Yours, always full of gratitude aud
love- +.
The woman read the letter, then
she stood up and walked toward the
fire. She did not reread it, but stood
with it open in her hand, looking
down into the blaze. Her lips were
drawn in at the corners. Presently
she tore the letter up slowly, and
watched the bits floating down one
by one into the grave. Then she
went back to her desk and began to
write. with her mouth still drawn in
at the corners. After awhile she
laid her arm on the paper and her
head on her arm, and seemed to go
to sleep there.
Presently the servant knocked; the
boy was waiting. Tell him to wait