The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-08
THE PITY OF II.


| emotions and managed TO tell the Others
the contents They easily understood
Myrtle's feelings ana refrained from talk
or comment of any sort. They advised
her TO rest ana be excused from company,
out she insisted on rising at once to
dress, and during the evening she aston
ished her family by her brillisncy. In
fact, her manner from tnst time was
greatly changed; at times she was gay
then depressed.
No one referred to the letter or to the
writer and no one saw the answer, of a
few words that was sent.
After, this time passed with Myrtle
much the same as with other young wives
in home duties and preparations for the
little one that came in the course of the
year. she aud ber husband lived at a viii
lsge some distance from the home city,
nut made frequent visits TO mother and
the girls.
The worst of the gold fever had passed
by this time, but there broke out a west
ern agricultural fever, and tue victims
believed they had only TO go to the rich
Mississippi valley lands to reap a fortune
with ease. Mr.. fremont and Laura's
husband decided to go to Illinois. Tc the
loyal New England girls il was great
trial TO leave home ald mot her and 60 to
what seemed to them the ends of the the
earth. But their sense of duty as wives
led them to 60 uncomplainingly. 30 one
August day, each with little boy, the
sisters went with their hopeful bus bands
10 the Land of Promise.
Travellers of this day cannot imagine
the scene that met the gaze of the pill
grims OF the tifties, TO the prairies of
Illinois and adjoining States. Where
are now highly cultivated farms with
substantial buildings, orchards, lawns,
and gardens, interspersed with bustling
cities, with all the modern improvements,
was then one broad expsnse of treeles,
| prairie, with not house. not even a bush
OF any size in sight, except the lines of
willows along the banks of the creeks.
To such sea OF waving grass our New
England friends came. They boarded In
the little town nearest to their section,
while their house was being built. 1t
was OF two rooms, arranged for an addi-
tion later. and the two families lived to-
gether for some time.
Pen and pencil would fail to describe
the experiences that befell these home
sick young women. Mr.. fremont was a
horticulturist and Mr.. Raymond had
| lived on o farm in his youth, so they had
some scrt of an idea of the work that
came to them to do. but Myrtle and her
sister had always lived in the city, and
although never used to luxury had al
ways been accustomed to the comforts
and conveniences OF city life. They both
knew how to work, but many things were
new to them. Some ludicrous experiences
brig htened their lives, and Laura, with
health ana hope tried to see the beat of
| everything, and worked hard cheerfully,
| but Myrtle's natural disposition was diff
| ferent, and hope seemed dead in ner. She
was a faithful wife, but her old gaiety
seldom appeared. After a time a little
girl was born and she nsver seemed quite
as strong after tnat. When Laura would
say 81 ct us make the best Of Ii MYRTLE"
she would reply, "There IL no best to t!''
Finally a disease fastened itself on her
and she had not strength nor desire to
rally. she was sent home to the loved
East, hoping she would return cured.
Only she knew she had gone home to die.
She seemed contented with the friends,
and patiently endured the pain. dying,
because she could not struggle with life's
disappointmeDts, in early womanhood.
Only Mrs. Sharon guessed of the first,
deep disappointment tnat made all others
of secondary Importance. Mrs. sharon
loved her sister dearly. and IL she had
made a mistake in her advice, she most
bitterly mourncd, when she saw the
faded life.
At the cemetery, as the funeral process
sion passed through the gates, a stranger,
standing at the keepers lodge asked
casually, "Whose funeral is this?"
The keeper, who was personally ac-
quainted with the Vanes was glad to tell
all he knew Of the case to the pleasant
stranger.
"It is Mrs. fremont. Her family lives
here, but she has been out West several
years on an Illinois farm. She came
home hoping to get better but died. She
was beauty. The Vane girls we're all
good looking, and the oldest one was
called the handsomest, but Myrtle, in my
opinion, was the flower OF the flock!
"why, what is IL sirg Not Ill are you,
sir?p
"Nc. mol" gnsped the stranger. "I
shall be better in minute. am tired
fiom a long journey. Pll 60 on through
the cemetery"
lie slowly followed the carriages along
the winding drive and watched them lay
away all that was mortal OF beautiful
Myrtle Vsue, and ho murmured, with
unsteady lips, "Ah, the pity Of IT. the
pity OF it"
Back on the vast prairies OF Illinois q
lonely sister worked alone and she too,