The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-11-12
THE SPINSTER.

Ny fire is warm tonight and crackles-
merrily in the open CRATE. My cat is curled
up on her soft cushion and is blissfully
purring herself to sleep. Two books lie on
the cozy little table near me, the 'Reveries
of a Bachelor and the Love Affairs OF
an Old Maid" My knitting. with its
balls of pale blue and deep wine red, rests
idly in my lap. l lean back comfortably
in my big chair, and with half closed eyes
let my wayward thoughts wander where
free fancy leads them.
Who knows what tender feelings steal
into many lonely heart when the shades
are drawn and a brOoding silence settles
down on q quiet little house? 1 cannot
help wondering whether, after all, my
neighbor over the way is more or less happy
than l, and my mind goes back to the
time when we were schoolmates.
Lillian at I6 was the prettiest girl in
school Her wide open blue eyes, her soft,
round cheeks and her waving hair made
her a picture of girlish beauty. She never
cared for study. but romp, picnic or
dance was her delight. Well, at IS she
married one of the boys" and expected to
have a gay time forever after. Her Jack
was q good dancer and drove stylish
horse, all the girls envied her, and what
more could one ask fort
But the first year brought severe disap-
pointments. Lillian grew careless of her
personal appearance and wildly jealous Of
Jack. He hated scenes and preferred to
spend his time where he would not be an
noyed by them. After some bitter lessons
Jacks wife learned to keep within certain
well defined limits. With her fresh beauty
faded and with the knowledge that she has
lost her husbands alteration she drags
along weary life, in which there is neither
pleasure in the present nor hope for the
future. Said 1 to myself, II am far hap
pier in certain loneliness than in such
companionship, and looked around my
cozy room with a sense of relief to think
that no scowling face and no harsh words
marred my ''old maids paradise "
Then l took up my half finished work
and knitted industriouly foR awhile.
was making some socks for little Ted, my
young nephew. Who could tell the proud
joy, the infinite tenderness and love which
were in the heart of Ted's little mother?
There was an answering thrill when l
thought of her and contrasted her life with
mine. How closely she clasped the little
fellow in her arms as if she would shield
ness she watched for the first responsive
look, the first plain word and the first
tottering step. And there was even an
absurd fondness in those tender mother
eyes as she gazed on the antics of her young
son and imagined them vastly superior to
those exhibited by any other infant in the
wide world. Ted was not a commonplace
everyday baby; not he. His wordless bab-
hlinUS were fuIl of wisdom only wa moor
ordinary mortals could not understand the
mysterious language in which they were
uttered.
laid down my knitting and in the red
Goals of the open fire CRATE read the COM
ing years, bringing the inevitable changes
for Ted and his mother. The boy is not
satisfied to live within the clasp of those
sheitering arms. He must see life, be free,
go out into the world and judge for him
self. The mothers eyes are dim with gath
ering tears, and she trembles with fore
bOdings- Her boy, her little Ted, is out
there away from her love and watchful
care He may be cold or weary or i'll. The
great world is pitiless, and there are many
snares. She reads the papers and trembles
at every sensational item. Oh, if she could
only have kept him as he was, little in
nOcent child, when she knew his thoughts
and directed his actionsI Her solitude is
far more lonely than mine, and for the
moment / am glad that the tiny sock in
my lap is for Helen's child and not for
mine.
Right In Her Line.
Just look at that kitten, will you?''
said Mr. IuShfOrth "What satisfaction