Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-02-03
HER SIMPLE STORY

used to see him pass every day
not that | watched for him, but
won't deny that after time I looked
out to see if he were coming. What
harm in the confession2 The past so
far behind me. Does any one suppose
a woman can sit at u window and
close her eyes to everything going on
in the busy street?
1t was very cold day when first
saw him. l remember how | pitied
the poor old gentleman the very in.'
carnation of resrectabllity and POM
posity. when he fell on the CLASSY
bricks with a force that sent his silk
tile and gold bowed glasses far from
him and made him sure there were
| other falls than stocks afford. As |
was turning away he came along and
walked over the ice without the
slightest fear. We all admire courage;
was it immodest in me to look long
and admiringly after him.
Then sat down and sighed as
took up my work Forty years l had
spent beneath this ROOF never repln-
ing at my lot My days were passed
rendering others moro attractive in
order that they might more easily
win the love and happiness / never
dreamed Of never hoped to possess
Why should lp l am no imbecile.
No one pauses long before rose tree
undecided whether to pluck the half
open bud or the whitening full blown
blossom. Hitherto / had been happy
enough in my cosy little home was
proud OF it and content to have my
epitaph in the words. Stitch. stitch.
stitch!"
But that MOI ming when l saw him
felt the void in my life ard l said
boldly: Sarah Smith. if he were
yours you would be happy I" You
see | did not call it love A boarding
school miss might but knew it was
hardly that. True | was considera-
bly, older than he but call it vanity
whatever the question of tho dispar-
ity in age never occurred to me- Oh,
blind. blind
How could win himp He was
perfect stranger to ma but | knew
he had gone into the next house
where Mrs. Brown kept boarders.
All. l had it! l would go in after
tea 1t was only neigh borly And |
did. and she was such pleasant
chatty body that we talked OF one
thing and another as women.will and
l was delighted with her All the
time l watched him. Evidently he
had captivated Mrs. Browns heart
by his grace and melancholy mien.
for he was the only one save ourselves
in her private sitting room. He had
been lying upon the lounge When |
entered and she spoke my name he
merely half rose, gave me long,
languid glance, then sank back again.
stretching his long limbs toward the
fire with an easy, almost insoleut
grace. Some women would have
been provoked, others shocked. |
was neither martinez nor a prude
and as l talked l watched him. |
smiled when | saw that the magnifi-
cent eyes were drawn to mine by my
will. He was even handsomer than
l had thought The melancholy Of
his eyes would win any heart His
silky hair was abundant and beauti :
full and. though deplored the lack Of
a moustache. l felt there was COM
pensation in the distigue whiskers.
Every moment my fancy grew
stronger. 1t is true that pity is akin
to love. Have I told you he was
dumb poor poor fellow?
Mrs. Brown was enthusiastic over
him. She could not have cared more
for son. When was going l warm
~
and be sure to bring 'Dannie' Norton
with her She did not say Mr."
Norton. and / did not wish to have
the appearance of correcting her.
Besides, he had lived in her family
since tho horrible catastrophe that
robbed him of all his kin.
At last | went conscious | had
made good impression. The next
day, as he passed. he looked up at
my window with that indispensable
look in his eyes One morning Mrs.
Brown said confidentially- from .he
| first she seemed to have OWNED ali
that she would bring him that very
evening. His dumbness made him
so bashful poor fellow. he would
never think of coming alone
| made great preparations for the
event which might be so important
to me- A young girl would have
spent the greater part of her time be-
fore the mirror l did not. for | was
singularly free from vanity, and at
40 one knows the surest road to "a
mans heart. | made my sitting
room a perfect bower and prepared
tempting little supper. He looked
pleased and surprised. then sank PEN
sively upon the cushioned chair be-
fore the lire. We had delightful
time. the first OF pleasant series In
short he became so attached to me
that he would rise and sit by me and
rub his cheek against mine or lie
dreamiy with his head upon my
breast. Do not he shocked. He knew
nothing of the cold formaltes of so.
ciety and was as innocent rs a child.
At length he became mine. use the
expression advisedly. My poor Dan
ME seemed so helpless bereft OF the
God givne powers Of speech l de-
termined he should never regret 1t
and oh how happy we werel My pen
fingers over that blissful period whom
he sat by me- looking into my eyes
and the curtain was drawn and the
tea kettle simmering and the shaded
lamp diffused its mellow radiance
over the crimson room where and my
love sat in unspeakable speech. dim
inishing bliss shut in from the world.
Does the gravoness of age fall upon
tho rlomiuu naart Of a loyinp WOman3