Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-28
MISUNDERSTANDING
! / Repented at Leisure. !
ri BERTHA M. CLAY. E
nj IL
BERTHA M. CLAY.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

have chosen a strange subject; and a
dinner-party is hardly the occasion one
would select for the discussion of
pain"
Il have an unfortunate habit of
speaking Of the subject that occupies
me" she confessed.
And you were thinking so intently
Of pain? That is a strange subject for
a young ladys musing."
rs it," she asked. simply.
L think so. A young girls thoughts
should be devoted to music or flower,
to pleasures past or to come; her
musings should be bright, cheerful.
hopeful"
Mine never are" she sighed; and
then she seemed to repent of her
words, and he, seeing that she wished
them unspoken, took no notice of
them
"As stranger to you," he said, 81
must apologize for what I am going
to say. Will you give me a full and
free pardon before 1 commit the Of
fense?'
Yes" she replied; you may say
what you will to me-"
Then forgive me if | tell you that
L think you are inclined to look upon
the gloomy side of life There is
plenty of pain, but there is also plenty
! OF pleasure. Do you never think of
| that-Of all that life holds so bright
and beautiful that men never wish to
leave it,"
No." she replied; my thoughts
seldom dwell on that brighter side"
THAT seems strange" he returned.
you are the first young lady l have
met with so peculiar turn of mind"
Sac thought to herself, with a bit
! terness words could not describe, that
she was in all probability the only
one he had ever met with who carried
about with her a terrible secret-the
only one who, bearing a noble name,
was in secrecy the wife of a criminal.
You do not think l am presuming
upon your kindness i'll speaking so
, jreely?" he inquired.
No." she replied, raising her sweet,
| clear eyes to his face; 81 am CRATE
full to you. l shall remember all that
you have said" Presently she asked:
! do you remember these lines of Bar
ry CornwalIs:
| We toll through pain and wrong
We fight and fly
We love-we lose-and then ere long
Stone-dead we lie.
o Life, is all thy song
Endure and diet
! That is the great lessOn-the great end
! Of life" she commented; endure and
,Ie. When one has learned that, the
secret Of life is known"
My dear Miss st. Norman, what
sad views you take! Believe me, l
! have suffered my share; 1 have gone
through the bitterness of death, yet
did not die. For every one there is a
vast amount of pleasure and happiness
| IN this world, if they will but seek it.
! How is it that a man who has neither
money, nor home, nor food, who is
| sick even unto death and worn with
! privation, whose every breath is full
of pain-hOw is it that even such a
man will cling with the utmost te-
nacity to life? There must be some
| thing in it despite its sorrows, or we
should not cling so eagerly to it."
But what" she inquired, "if a per-
son completely destroys all the pos
sible happiness of lifetime by one
rash actiOn?'
THAT rarely happens" he answered;
''and l do not think it possible to de-
stroy all happiness. What, for in
stance, can take from US our love of
nature? What can change the beauty
of the sunrise, the glory of the sunset,
the holy calm of starlit nights, the
mystical silence of the woods?
would that l could choose for you
books to read, pictures to look at,
scenes to enjoy, that would give you
brighter, happier ideas of life than
you seem to possess"
You shall so teach me if you will"
she returned, and the compact was
made then and there.