The morning call., 1893-09-03
1T WAS HER ONLY NOVEL.
An Episode in Old Maids Life, as Told by
Blanche Atkinson


dale in Lakeland. It is farmhonsey
enough TO supply fresh butter and real
nev-laid eggs-with worn oak stairs 200
years old. low ceilings and uneven floors:
but civilized enough to satisfy luxurious
longiugs for plated forks and sponge
baths. And here l have read your letter.
nv dear goddaughter, and l hardly know
whether TO laugh or cry over it. Crying is
not easy as a summer shower to me. how
ever. When l cry it is as f the founda-
tions of the great deep were broken up
Yet l can't laugh at you, either.
"Once upon time-and it does not seem
so very long ago-I was young, and fell in
love, and broke my heart, too, like YOU
and it was no laughing matter. Still, here
l am, you see. a well-contented old maid,
knitting stockings for a fine family of
nepheWs and nieces, and finding the world,
on the whole, an interesting place of resi-
dence. My dear. be sensible girl. Don't
let your life be spoiled because you happen
to be in love with a man to VIII ON. you tell
nae. you have hardly spoken, and who has
no interest of any kind in you. If it is a
tree and lasting love, and destined never
to be returned, then you must make up
your mind that the supreme Joy Of life is
not TO be yours But when that is gone
there Is still good stout, useful kind of
happiness which may be yours. and which
wears we'll. 1t is no kindness TO tell you
TO hope that things will come right
Things don't always come as We wish, and
that Is what we mean by right Never
mind about hoping-at present Resolve
not tn be beaten. Make the utmost of your
other sources of happiness until they over
come this unEappiness. Probably some
day you will look back from the vantage
ground of wifehoOd and motherb pod upon
this passionate trouble with a smile That
Is not my fate, but even | can use nv
past sorrow now to point moral for your
benefit.
The man l gave my heart to married
another woman, and L have never ceased
10 love him, in absolute hopelessness of
any return. But as you know, l am not
an unhappy woman. Though l have not
the Conversations of great wealth, great
opportunities or talents. | have numerous
interests and affections; and when | slip
away to place like this. where blessed
peace laps me round and amuSe myself
with writing a novel, ! am as blssful as "A
queen. SO will you be again some day,
even If your hardhearted hero remains
lnSenSlbie. There Is an idea that change
of scene is beneficial in such cases as
yours. Ii you think so you may come here
to me-"
The writer paused, and turned her
sweet, grave eyes To the storm and rain
dashed window.
Il don't bit want her, It will be n
great worry TO have to listen TO q love-sick
girls rawlings But as she has told me |
suppose 1t would be 4 relief to her mind,
and l must make the best of tiff she
should come.
With sigh Patience Wright finished
her letter, and had just moved to the fire.
side when the sound Of footstep crunch
ing the gravel In front of the house sur
prlsed her. None of the farm people came
10 the front door. and she had no visitors.
There was knock; In o minute the
farmers little daughter, who waited upon
MISS Wright, opened the door and an
nounced-
i Here's gentleman to see you, miss"
Anthony Roscoe, the man e. whom she
had given her heart twenty-five years ago,
whom she had loved with hopeless love
ever since, bnJ had not seen for many
years, stood in the room and held out his
haDd. He was still handsome. with crisp,
gray hair and mustache and gloriouSly
dark and eloquent eyeS-eyes even capable
OF uttering unfathomable things which his
, MIND had never conceiVed-eYes which
seemed to look tenderly ut a woman when
he only meant to be civil TO her, and which
appeared TO cherish in their mys eriOus
depths a whole world OF poetlcal dreams
and tar-away lmagnatiOns, when he was
In reality merely tired and hungry and
wondering when dinner would be ready.
To add to the charm of these beautiful
eyes be was fairly successful artist, and
knew how TO dress picturesQueiy; further
more he was an exceedingly gOod-natured
and agreeable man. and known 10 have
been unfortunate in his domestic circnm-
stances-all of which fascinating details
were as nothing to poor Patience, standing
there trying TO smile calmly, as he eX-
planned how he had heard of her near
neigh bOrho0d. and hove sick TO death of
the rattle Of billiard balls at the hotel, he
had dafn md
hunt up his old friend. To her he was
simply the Anthony Roscoe" who had
been the companion of her brothers, the
idol of her girlhood. the ideal man of her
dreams.
Your name was in the visitors book,
and l knew there could not be another Pa
thence Wright" be said, besides, your
handwriting is hardly changed, and, in
deed, you are hardly-very little changed
1t is good to find anything in the world
which belonged TO our young days so little
changed"
They sat down and looked at one another
with curious longing eyes, trying to bring
back to the faces worn from within and
without by many years of life the round
ness and smOOthness OF youth. Patience
shook her head.
1T isn't possible. Anthony ! 1 cannot
make myself say that you are not altered
But it is good to see you again. changed or
not You have been living abroad all these
years?"
Yes. OF course you heard about my
wife?"
"A little; just what was common talk"
well, it was that common talk | could
not stand at home. Abroad scandal is not
so loud-voiced as here. You know / took
my wife back afterward. She died few
months ago; and then | thought l would
like to come home before the end of al
things and see one or two old friends
And you are settled in England nov"
Yes. You NAV have heard that [
paint, and am not quite unknown TO a
plcture-purchasing British public?"
hes, nave noticed your name in cata-
logues, and seen your pictures. too; and
sometimes admired them greatly"
MI. Roscoe laughed good humoredly
How like you, Patience! The qualified
praise OF that sometimes reveals YOUR old
uncomfortable honesty. You must tell
ME all about Yourself-and every one"
An hour slipped PLEASANTLY away: pIeas-
antly to the man. who had a natural fond
ness for feminine communicating and
who had been cruelty shut out from If for
many years of his life; and with strange
blissfulness to the woman who summed her
self once more in the light OF the face she
!, t.