Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-10-11
A POSSIBLE LOSS.

met her on the shores Of the lake.
Thoro wero real tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Mr.. Vansittart, " she cried, what
shall I do? My husbands out in a boat,
ever 80 far away, and the winds rising,
and tho boatman says that it's awfully
dangerous when there's storm, and
l tilted my hat forward and scratched
my head.
II don't see what you can do" said
1 compassionately. ! had sat mex her
three nights at table d'hote and liked
her extremely.
Look at those treesl Oh, how it
blowsi And seel Great wavesr'
''Tho wind is certainly getting up" /
admitted, sitting down on q garden seat.
'Oh, Mr.. Vansittart, suppose he
should be drownedl'
Suppose hep l paused. The idea
was a new ono to me. 1 turned IL over
In my mind. "Well, suppose he shouldl"
l said at last in an inquiring tone.
And we've only been married a
yearl"
Eyes, yes" said 1 thoughtfully.
your love is still fresh?''
"As fresh as the day when
Your romauco has not worn of; the
day Of disillusion has not come. Your
husbands memory would DO 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,
rs it were, hallowed by sweet and not
too poignant regrets. In the course Of
time the violence of grief would wear
Of"
She sat down ON the bench beside me
and dug the end of her parasol into the
path.
"You would feel, E" I 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
"Oh, 1 can hardly irnagi nc that, Mr..
Vansittart."
Try" said I e%noouragingly. "Ono
who, though not perhaps the equal in
all respects of him you had lost, could
yet shelter you from the world
II should want some one, shouldn't
IY'
"And give you an honest, enduring,
%unwaYering affection"
st wouldn't be the same thing, -
said she.
Depend upon it, " Ireturned earnest
y, ''it would be in some ways better,
for he-your second husband-mighl
we'll be II who could appreciate the
depths Of your nature, who would b
serious whom you wore''--
"Instead Of always making jokes
Ye-es, MIR. Vansittart
Serious and yet able to enter int
your lighter moods, always good tenn
pered'-
He would be a wonderful husband
thenr'
"Generous-nay, lavish-in givinI
you whatever
Fancy"
you wished for, u~nsparing in hi
efforts to please you
What, after marriage?'
Devoted absolutely to you. Why
it's a lovely picture"
Eyes. it does sound nice, " she cor
ceded, digging with the parasol.
Gould not such a one, +" / continued
leaning toward her, ''by his affectionai
and constant efforts, in the course
time heal tho wound caused by yOT
cruel calamity"
Il don't know. Yes-I suppose So
we'll, perhaps In time Mr.. Vansittar
hs might"
'He would, said I positively. :
can imagine myself
II beg your pardon, MIR. Vansittarti
Il say, / can imagine myself makiI
Il the work, he whole p~reoooupatio
the worthy task. Of my life thus to r
store happiness 70 one from whom
seemed to have departed forever"
1T would DO a splendid thing for
man to do, wouldn't itY'
There was a pause. Then she said;
'But, Mr. Vansittart would 20
who arc 50 young and so-and so-al
SOL mean, who are 90 young, be co
tent with q heart thai has spent Its fl
love on another. IN which the freahne
Of youthful'-
IT sometimes think. " / interrupts
in low bnt urgent tones. that afiecti'
Of that kind Is nobler, higher, betl
than the rash impulsiveness Of an ign
rant girl. II would be q sympathel
communion Of minds, Of souls Mi
Lawrence.
Eyes, / sea Yes, IL would, Mr. Va
aittart."
my sympathy for you, I pursue