The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-02-01
A POSSIBLE LOSS.

I met her on the shores of the lake.
There were real tears in her eyes.
| ooh, Mr.. Vansittart, she cried, "what
shall I do? My husbands out in boat,
ever so far away, and the winds rising,
and the boatman says that it's awfully
dangerous when there's storm, and"-
I tilted my hat forward and scratched
my head.
81 don't see what you can do" said
I oompassionately. I had sat next her
three nights at table d'hote and liked
her extremely.
''Look at those trees! Oh, how it
blows! And see! Great wavesl"
"The wind is certainly getting up" I
admitted, sitting down on garden seat.
ooh, Mr.. Vansittart, suppose he
should be drownedP'
Suppose hop paused. The idea
was new one to me. I turned it over
in my mind. "Well, suppose he should?"
I said at last in an inquiring tone.
"And we've only been married a
yearp'
eyes, yes, said I thoughtfully.
| "Your love is still fresh?"
GAS fresh as the day when"-
"Your romance has not worn off; the
day of disillusion has not come. Your
husbands memory would be the sweet
est of consultations to you"
"But, Mr.. Vansit''-
"There would be no alloy in your rec
objections. You are young, your life
would not be spoiled, but it would be,
as it We're, hallowed by sweet and not
too poignant regrets. In the course of
time the violence of grief would wear
off,
She sat down on the bench beside me
and dug the end of her parasol into the
path.
"You would feel, +" pursued, "that,
sacred as these memories were, precious
as they were, you would not be justi-
fed in giving your whole life to them.
And at last it may be that another
would come who''v-
ooh, I can hardly imagine that, Mr.,
Vansittart.
''Try," said I encouragingly. Zone
who, though not perhaps the equal in
all respects of him you had lost, could
yet shelter you from the world'-
''I should want some one, shouldn' t
r."
''And give you an honest, enduring,
nnwavering affection.
''It wouldn't be the same thing, :"
said she.
depend upon it, " returned earnest
ly, ''it would be in some ways better,
for he-your second husband-might
well be one who could appreciate the
depths Of your nature, who would be
serious when You were"-
"Instead Of always making jokes?
Ye-es, Mr. Vansittart''
'Serious and yet able to enter into
your lighter moods, always good tenn
pered"-
HE would bea wonderful husband,
then!"
"Generous-nay, lavish--in giving
you whatever"-
"Fancyp'
"You wished for. unsparing in his
efforts to please you''-
"What, after marriage?'
devoted absolutely to you. Why,
it's lovely picture.
"Yes, it does sound NICE" she con-
ceded, digging with the parasol.
Gould not such one, )" continued,
leaning toward her, "by his affectionate
and constant efforts, in the course of
time heal the wound caused by your
cruel calamity?'
81 don't know. Yes-I suppose So
well, perhaps in time, Mr.. Vansittart,
he might.
HE would" said I positively. 81
can imagine myself
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Vansittart?'
II say, can imagine myself making
it the work, he whole preoccupation,
the worthy task, of my life thus to re.
store happiness to one from whom il
seemed to have departed forever" 3"
SIT would be a splendid thing for q
man to do. wouldn't it?"
There was pause. Then she said:
"But, Mr.. Vansittart, would you,
who are SO young and so-and so-and
SOL mean, who are SO young, be con-
tent with heart that has spent its first
love ON another, in which the freshness
of youthful
J II sometimes Think" interrupted,
in low but urgent tones, 'that affection
of that kind is nobler, higher, better
than the rash impulsiveness of an igno-
rant girl, 1t would be sympathetic
communion Of minds, of souls, Mrs.
Lawrence.
'Yes, I see Yes, 1t would, Mr.. Van.
sittart."
81 my sympathy for you," pursued.