The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-08-10
Story of a Heart
By Ada Patterson.

out in little impromptu party with
my family and some other school girls
that : heard the whisper; 'Sh! Jack
has gone away. Don't tell Alice And
they say at the bank that some money
is gone Oh, I'm afraid she heard!'
He was gone for two years. Con-
Trajectory rumOrs Of him came to US,
but there were no letters. Then one
evening when 1 had drifted away from
the other young people and sat here
listIess and miserable, my head on my
hand and my eyes trying to trace the
ghOstly outlines Of the island, he stood
beside me looking down smilingly.
Neither of US spoke. He stood looking
down at me, and finally he stopped TO
kiss me. I moved away, and he looked
surprised.
They won't see uS-we are in the
shadow he demonstrated
IS I am glad to see you again. Jack
said, simply, giving him my hand.
" Tell me you did not believe that I
took that money he said
=. 1 never did, I said. truthfully.
And that you are glad have come
back TO clear my name
" Indeed I am
And have you loved me little while
yes. with all my heart
Then we must be married soon, dear
Never, Jack
7 could not took at him and be strong.
looked at the dim outlines of the fading
island and remembered how wTetched I
had been every time loOkei at 1t for two
years and the sight gave me strength for
what had to do.
g I can never marry you, Jack said
because love you too well You have 1t
IN your power to hurt me too much. In
these two years that you have been away
have grown from a girl into sorrowful
woman You took all my hght-heartSd-
ness away with you And YOU have not
brought it back. I was woman cropping
I sadly in the dark, and stretching forth
frightened hands for help. Oh. for a
deaTl But you We're not there TO give It,
Jack-not even in spirit-and the loneIi-
ness was like death. And so I can't mar
~ you, Jack, because you have made me
suffer so much, and because YOU could
make me suffer again. I am afraid Of
YOU Jack. and / am afraid to love -
The woman's voice was still firm. and
she sat straight and tall as before. but
we were silent for what seemed a long
time.
Suddenly the screech of the whistle
from the coming train. She rose slowly.
There IS no tyranny so terrible as the
tyranny OF an idea, she said The idea
that must not marry one who had the
power 10 make me suffer grew stronger
than myself When men asked me to
marry them I asked myself only, DO I
care enough for him to let any word OF
his said or unsaid. any act. done or un-
done, hurt me?' And I turned one after
I another away. At last I met Benny. He
amused me- We are good friends 7 am
, tolerant of his eccentricities. AID his tenn
/ per makes me laugh. think 7 am a good
wife You know 7 STAYED home the night
/ OF the charity ball because his govt was
worse. And. Oh heaven be thanked
/ her eyes wandered for q last glimpse Of
the receding island-.T don't care what
Benny may or may not do. The unex
pected no longer frightens me. We are
not necessary to each other. What misery
/ If we werel 1 am content, and peace is
/ better than joy"
But Benny I asked
D
you staying on the track because the
I train might cure your govt If il got near
! enough dear2
/ As We separated at the train door she
said. languidly: You think You viii
write it some time, no matter what YOU
[ think OF it2'.
I Will I said. and 7 have
ADA PATTERSON.
Copyright. 1901. by W p Hearst)