Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-02-05
WITHOUT A HEART.

lneTe IL really very llItlp III tnR
story Indeed, 1t would never have been
written but for the woman's dearest
friend. who, dying alone and uncared
for, with heart full Of bitterness to.
ward the whole world. begged that
pile of yellow letters be opened aud read
after her DEATH ''She would have had
me burn them" she said in tren.
bling voice, but that | will not grant
her All else | granted her. Neyerthe.
Less there was only one other woman
whom she wronged more deeply. Let US
both be avenged i'll the reading Of these. -
She whom her friend ut SO late IN
wonder Of her day and generation.
Women have sometimes been heard to
say that they have no hearts, but they
do not mean it, This woman did
Friendship, humanity, religion" she
said over and over again, AZ girls have
said before, "these / care for. these
understand, for these will make sacri.
fees, but not your idle talk Of love,
which wrecks mems lives and fills
womens hearts with unrest for one
render Thanksgiving that ! have no
heart Then those who were older said
TO her, us elders have said before wait
awhile. You are young yet. We shall
see your heart yield some day"
mo. she answered, you shall not
Nee it yield, because IL will not and the
reason it will not yield IL because have
no heart Nature, more mercifui to me
than to my sisters. put little hard
piece OF ice in its place which keeps me
cold to the most passionate pleading
which was ever uttered in the name Of
love. -
People predicted that she would be-
come soured old maid and regret her
lot. She did not. She grew more beau
tiful and brilliant and scornful every
day. Lovers came, and she Knocked them
one and all; she Knocked them to the
end. and 10 the end they came. She kept
their Licensees, though not for love. for
often to her confidential friends she
would allude to them with the intensest
bitterness az the men she hated most In
the world. And when they inquired
with surprise, knowing that the reject
ed suiturs Ind most cause to hate her,
But wherein have they offondedy CHE
would only laugh in reply, and her
laugh had hard, cold ring in it like
tho tinkle Of some icebound waterfall.
She did incalculable harm. There was
q sweet. shy girl to whom she was All
oracle. who took timid counsel with her
wben,a man came and told her that he
worshipcd ner and wished 10 have her
for his wife. This girl the woman with.
out heart earnestly advised not To
marry.
But love him, too, " said the girl.
"Would you persuade me that my affec-
ton at least will not lnsti There IL
something in loving, even II there is no
answer to the cry Of ones heart"
At this the tinkling laugh Of the wo.
man without a heart sounded clearer
than ever. Then, dear child. "she said
more graveiy, let me tell you positive
ly, il viii not last. 1t will not last, be-
cause il is only dream-the madness
OF day or an hour born Of youth aud
beauty and fieeting with them. Look
around you and see women by the thou.
sands, dragged down into the mire,
crowned with q crown of thorns, cruel
fed ON their own affections, because
tht had hearts aud believed in love.
Then look ut me---free, tranquil and
happy--and choose"
SO conviBcingly did she speak that
the young girI, to whom her words were
very gospel Of authority, believed her
and would not listen to her lover.
ThercUpon he grieved inconsolately for
space Of time, then married some one
else, both of whom were very bitter to
the woinan who had loved him. This
woman afterward became the dearest
| friend Of her with whom this story
deals and lived with her until death
smote one Of them.
But the woman without heart lived
to see them grow old and sad and
stricken with care and other burdens
who had prophcsied sorrow for her, and
she piticd them nnfeignedly for the
hearts they carried in their bosoms, and
when they said, What, has no man
ever found yours for you yetr' she
laughed exultantly and said; mo, and
he never will. / will give q munihcent
reward to him who finds the man who
can find my heart d" And age made no
perceptible inroads upon her. for beauty
and wealth and health and happiness
were hers to the end, and even glory.
for she had talent. which wins worship
and friendship and success and not the
bitter sweet gift Of genius. But though
everything which life could offer wss
swept 70 her ON the tide Of the succeed
ing years. the hour came when abs mus,
part with them and with life and with
the body in which. 70 she asserted, abe
had for sOn.any years carried piece Of