Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-02-02

an Old Maid" My knitting, with Its
balls Of pale blue and deep wine red,
rests idly in my lap. l lean back COM
rortably in my big chair, and with half
closed eyes let my hayward thoughts
wander where free fancy leads them.
" no knows what tender feelings
lsteal into many lonely heart when
lie shades are drawn and n brooding
silence settles down on a quiet little
Iouse? cannot help wondering wheth-
Ter, after all, my neighbor over the way
5 more or less happy than l, and my
mind goes back to the time when we
were schoolmates.
Lillian at IL was the prettiest girl in
school. Her wide-open blue eyes, her
soft, round cheeks, and her waving hair
mad, her Il picture of girlish beauty.
She never cared for study, but romp,
picnic, or a dance was her delight.
at IS she married one of the
and expected to have n gay
forever after. Her Jack was a
ID dancer and drove a stylish horse,
II the girls envied her, and what more
ould one ask for?
But the first year brought severe dis
ppointments. Lillian grew careless of
err personal appearance and wildly
,alous Of Jack. He hated scenes, and
referred to spend his time where he
'ould not be annoyed by them. After
ONE bitter lessons Jacks wife learned
keep within certain well-defined linn
$. With her fresh beauty faded, and
it'll the knowledge that she has lost
IL husbands alteration, she drags
ong a weary life, in which there is
either pleasure in the present nor hope
+ the future. Said to myself, Il am
happier in certain loneliness than
such companionship," and l looked
ound my coy room with sense of
lief 10 think that no scowling face
I'd no harsh words marred my "Old
aids Paradise"
Then took up my half-fnished work
ID knitted industriously for awhile.
vas making some socks for little Ted,
young nephew. Who could tell the
oud Joy, the infinite tenderness and
e which We're in the heart of Ted's
tie mother? There was an answer
thrill when / thought of her, and
ltrasted her life with mine. How
sely she clasped the little fellow in
arms, as if she would shield him
IN all the world! With what eager
IS she watched for the first respon-
look, the first plain word, and the
It lettering step. And there was
N an absurd fondness in those ten
mother eyes as she gazed on the
les of her young son and imagined
M vastly superior to those exhibited
any other infant in the wide world.
was not n commonplace, everyday
", not he. His wordless babblings
&c full of wisdom, only we poor Or
airy mortals could not understand
mysterious language In which they
e uttered.
laid down my knitting and in the
Goals of the open fire CRATE l read
coming years, bringing the inevita-
changes for Ted and his mother.
9boy is not satisfied to live within
elasp of those sheltering arms. He
t see life, be free, go out into the
Id and judge for himself. The
hers eyes are dim with gathering
aud she trembles with forebod-
Her boy, her little Ted, is out
e, away from her love and watch
are. He may be cold, or weary, or
The great world is pitiless, and
are many snares. She reads the
,rs and trembles at every sensa-
al item. o, If she could only have
him as he was, a little innocent
!, Ihen she knew his thoughts and
ted his actions. Her solitude is
more lonely than mine, and for the
ent am glad that the tiny sock in
ap Is for Helen's child and not for
as the years spin on I see Ted,
n; no longer a needless child; the
ort and support Of his mother. He
gone through the fires and come
to her, with his bJyish fancies,
gotism and Ignorance replaced by
.uict decision and self-reliance of
nature man. How his mother ap-
to him, defers to him, and anti
IS his wishes! In her eyes he Is
It and the handsomest young
T-n. She is proud of his
piaVe~--o her, and with a
iEat, un n,