The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-08-28
CHAPTER II-Continued.


and | and my boy were left high and
dry. away from the world and all its
sympathies and loves: and all | car
ried with me into this desert of desc
lation was my poverty and feeling of
resentment against world that
kicked me out for no fault Of my own
| was growing contented with my lot
and willing to abide by 1t, when sud
denly fellow-being crossed my path,
willing and anxious TO sympathlZe
with me- He does sympathize. and
more than that. he awakens feelings
and longings | thought dead, but
which instead of being dead. had but
been like smoldering fire gathering
life and vigor; and so in the space of
enc short month find that | am down
among the world again, tied by bond
that | cannot break to man who is
all unconscious of the fact that wher-
ever he goes a woman'S heart and soul
go with him.
'Now. what am to do? Am to be
born again, as 1t were, but to die
again? Am I to suffer calmly and ST.
lently when | know that the second
stage of this woman must be worse
than the first-or. rather, the third
worse than the second? Tell me that.
Dr. Rigby!" she sprang to her feet.
and before I could reply, continues:
That extraordinary race OF people
known as the religious world say that
matches are made in heaven, and |
suppose they would say that the evil
dence of such a heaven-made match
would be in the yearning OF one heart
after another: but suppose that the
yearning is all on the one side, and
that on the side Of the woman. whose
tongue society and social laws have
tied what, then. is she to do; is she
to yearn on until death relieves her.
81 fear So" was the only reply |
could make, and after a moment |
added. There seems no other course
open for her, and after all. Miss Milne.
men have the same thing to fear and
sometimes suffer"
She stopped before me and said
very dsdainfully Men. Men,"
Glove of mans life's thing apart.
IT'S wonans whole existence.
but the cruel injustice of it to the
woman is not the only miserable part
Of the business; there's the man to be
thought of. Is he to be allowed to
throw away unkuowingly the treasure
of such love without protest? He
has sown seeds of kindness on good
soil and shall the fruit be ungathercd
simply because the man does not know
1T is there"
Miss Milne. as she finished this
question. stopped her angry, excited
walk Just in front of me, and | looked
up at her and saw her large eyes
bloodshot and angry, her face carrying
an expression of fixed determination
and capacity for anything, good or
bad. as the case might be. | would
have pittied her if | could but | could
not. That she was suffering severely
there could be no doubt. but there was
an entire absence Of that sorrowful ap-
preciation of sorrow that calls forth
pity,
I longed for the interview to close.
Suddenly the thought flashed across
my mind: Does she expect me to do
anything. and if SO. what? Am | to
go and plead with this man. who has
re-awakened her love: and then, who
is he?"
81 understand. Miss Milne. that this
man of whom you have been speaking
is unconscious of the fact that you love
him."
She had walked to the table now
and sat down and buried her head in
her arms folded before her. Without
looking up, she replied: "All uacon-
scious."
81 don't quite understand what Won
expect of me- cannot go and plead
with this man DO you see anything |
can do for your"
"No. YOU can do nothing. | suppose:
none but the Almighty can, and He
wont"
But do you think you are justified
in taking it so much to heart! Other
women have -"
"Other woren, | am not as other
women are DR.. Richly. The amount
of womans devotion is the measure
of her sorrow: thew cannot love as
do, nor sacrifice themselves as
would and therefore they can not feel
as do"
She rose from her chair TO go. and
was heartily glad. As she drew on heI
shabby gloves I said. by wav of break
ing a silence that was exceedingly M
comfortable: Such power of max
ing or marring lives ought not to he
given to men: there ere few Of us cap
able of using it Alright. none Of us, per
hans If ="
Eyes" she broke in with intense in
terest. what would you do if you were
in his POSITION"
God forbid that | should ever he
If | did find myself there. | think
should conclude that it was better thai
woman suffered for time. for sor
row of that order never lasts, thai
that two lives should be ruined b.
such a union"
"And such speech would be quite