Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-04-06
HIS COUSINS WIFE.

He came down to the grand old river
bound plantation to visit his cousin,
whom his mother had taught him to
love and revere; and he experienced
pang OF regret ON learning that MS
cousin was away from home for an IN
definite length OF time.
While he sat In the Old-rashioned par
lor thinking OF his dead mother ana
this unknown cousin whose generosity
had so cheered his life, his cousins
wife came In 10 welcome him WIN
warm. outstretched hands, and atter
that he almost ceased 10 reckon time;
she was 80 much younger thah ne
had expected. and SO bewilderils'y
lovely chat he was content 10 stay ON
and ON. dimly conscious that ne Was
dishonorable--th he ought to 20 away
vet finding il more impossible as the
dsvs went by. and soothing his uneasy
conscience by the assurance uiat NC
nn,,ht ~ walt till his cousins return
nsvs heightened into weeks, and ne
began 10 feel as II his cousin were
myth-a dark. cloudy, threatening
dr.am rhey had never talked ~ him
much. and now his name never ptssf'l
their lips,
sometimes when they sat together
ON the Wide Yrranda overlooking the
swollen river that Tapped hunsrily
against the leyee, hs caught a sluhpae
OF something like despair ~ hrr rsrs
and noticed the pathetic, doWhWatu
curve or her lip or what Was siis
ha aFtE HsEIN
his life 10 know
She had been watching white wing
ed fruit ugger and, turning % hith
caught the anxious Questioning u Ms
pale face
What do you see out there she
asked. did you think you saw some
one drowning
browning lie shook his head
then his glance met hers, AMI suddenly
he lost an desire 10 hide his feelings
Tor her flr bent forward resting Ills
chin ia his han,is, and glow sanustd
his b0yish features. hr would have
spoken then. but She interrupted him
with a half frightened wish u make
him stifie what she knew h. must not
tell
How horrible IL must BE- % drown,
she said hurrirdly ~ feel thn terri,
bic dark waters closing lu upon one
pressing down down lnty thar hld4-
ous. hlthy slime
"YOu are mistaken b. answered.
In the second ~ Jimr she had given
he hal rrgainrd bis srlgounyrul aui
the excitement that had dnrkrur'l bis
and r,-ldrued his cheek had faded.
too; I would rather drown than die
any other way. Just thiuk " wing la
the soft cool water irttlng tbs little
waves Kiss yuu a. the darkness ~.
celyea you the stiIl cool dark rss ''
Hush. sou are shpuiAh What 10
you want with silence AMI darkness 2
I want you % ~ out into the light AMI
make something ~ ypur talents
want 70 hear ~ you sometimes, after.
you leave u.s.
She held out her small white hand
to him. and though hr huugrr.t 10 kiss
II pa&sipnltrly yet h. WltfuilY mtaun
derstgod. and stopping lirtrti heg hand.
kcruhier from the huur and give Il 10
her
Ntany nights he paced M aud d1wu
the Wg0ulit yrrulH after 4hr had
gone 10 her rUpm. trying a. trnr him.
SELF away before brF husbands return
Nrt thu memory - her DARK. hppsieaa
eyes and wlstrul To-. drove All thr
blood la his tsdy sursius from hia
heart - his brain aDI back again. am
h. was giddy. and pressed his forc.
head against The cold white pillars ~
feel the breeze from tbs river ripping
his hair
Then In the morning be Lost All wish
70 X. Had lowered about her. like the
wrctrhrd moth that kisses thr Hight an
bis body falls dead
Ono" he ncryed himself 10 AK n fcyg
questions about her husband. who fnttat
BE- ~ strange character 10 leave her
thus alone for weeks at a time She
lookel at thn boys handsome face
and hair SMILED. thcn. pointing H.
BIZ n driftwpOd tossing On the waves
In the wake 81 a passing steamer. shr
said earnestly.
Women are Ike yunler piece OF
drift they only live In the wake 81
mans life. nre tossed by the careless
movements hithrT and thlthcr a. long
as they can follow md then
Her embroidery had fallen from her
hands: now she took II Mp again. laugh
ing with forced gaipty
Then there are always these inn
possible flowers. IN impossible rnIora,
10 console us. our ideals AMI our
flowers are alike lmppsslblc"'