The Delta independent., 1899-06-09
ONLY A STORY.

The afternoon sun blzzed down on
the brown roof of the little railway sta
tion. and train pulled forth great bill
lows Of black smoke into the white heat
cd air. a group Of istless. lounging
farmers was outlined against the un-
painted wall Of the depot. the stolid
look OF indifference upon their faces
seeming to make them akin TO the
shriveled grass and dropping clover.
That they were really hopeless was not
without cause. The summer had been
hot and wretched and desolate. The
corn had dried before it came to tassel.
the wheat had rusted and the meadows
Drowned before the haying time.
Caiue Denton took OF his jaunty
straw hat and leaned from the window.
His quick eye took note Of the expires
sionless faces Of the lOungers and their
attitude of hopelessness. Poor devilsi''
he murmured to himself. "Wordef
what they have to live for anyway
The keen eye moved on past the nm
painted buildings to the hot glare Of
the sEndy road. A child stood thrusting
her little bare feet into the dust and
watching him shyly under the shadow
Of her sunbonnet. Caine whistled softly
under his breath-he loved q child-aDd
was rewarded by u shy smile. quickly
suppressed by the insertion Of two little
brown fingers between tho red hps.
'.The Only bit Of brightness In the land
icape. he thought, and as the train
moved laboriously forward. "and BOW
that Is gone" and he leaned back in
his seat wearily.
He was handsome fellow. women
would say-and really they are the
Judges the world most hOnors-the
Of his chest making one forget that he
was little short in stature. Perfectly
formed. with the muscles Of . gladiator.
he was q delight to the eye. Then his
Aace. clear cut. with high. nobls foes-
bead crowned with soft. wavy. brown
haiE. tho Arm. square chin, the KEGS
blue eyes full Of frs and intslligescs
under straight dark brow& was remark.
ably pleasing One studying IL would
say. ''Ho IL fnancier. practical. firm
born to success. but in the mouth
there was o contradiction Of this-a
certain full Tipped tenderness which in
dicated q struggle with passion. the
kind which filings reason to the winds
and gloats in possession.
Was there anything wanting in his
life that was necessary to happiness'
No. the world would ray. Wealth, sta.
tion. hosts Of friends. were his. Yes.
and love. All children loved him and
many women. He had sown good seed
and brought many broken life ont Of
darkness into light.
He had never married-the reason.
perhaps. because Of the nonappearsnce
Of his ideal Several years ago he had
met a woman. and several times during
tho progress Of their acquaintance he
had imagined that he loved her. There
was in her flashes Of intellect that he
admired; there was the deep. under
ground swell Of passion that he secretly
loved in q woman: there were the little
loving ways Of speech and manner that
reminded him Of his dead mother; there
was the desire tn be helpful that touched
him and the Griseldalike patience that
hurt him, for he felt bis incompetence
to act us she would navo had him act
Yet there were nioments-but she was
not beautiful-and he was an artist by
nature.
Tho train whirled on through the
meadows baref and browner. Game
turned his tired eyes within. The crisp
pages Of his magazine opened TO story.
..Shadows Wearily his eyes Travelled
over its first page as they had Travelled
over the dreariness Of earth parched
landscape. He turned the second page
nnd frown Of perplexity knit the dark
=.
brought back days Of long ago.
Caine laid down the magazine II
brought it all back-that time when al
most he loved n woman. He read en-.
Twas n simple little story Of love and
faith cnd the love and the faith belong
ed to the wOman-is 1t not often soy
The man nll but loved woman who
was poor and plain. who had naught to
attract but heart full Of sympathy
for humankind. full Of longings for bet
Ter things. full Of an ungovernsble
idolntrous worship for that which she
rould not attain.
The man had left her, moving she
loved him. succeasful. secure in his ow,
strength 70 live his life aIope-and the
woman loved ON. How her heart was
laid bare in the story! What fervor.
whnt I.assion. what longing were ex.
presecdi There was . prayer for the
IOyed one in every hse-and the heart.
break At the endi
Good God" be Thought ''Can only
. woman love after air.
How weak were his own smotions b.
side thia Whist were idealsf Did NOT
shis su6ssinS a ssotber fog oossen nut
awsy all thosght a tbsmf
What . fool. baind foul - had bssa
"a - - thas ~ vuuAao Wss hssaliag
~ Aaass - htn. AytAG slowlv. esuslly