Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
MRS. DISMAL.

One summer while l was spending
my vacation at the seashore with 4
| gay party. as is customary at all sea-
/ side resorts. We went to the beach
| about 10 o'clock in the morning and
stayed there till midday. Some OF us
would get into bathing suits and spend
the time amphibiously between land
and water; others would while away
the time on the sand propped by back
boards and protected from the sun by
| umbrellas.
One morning 1 noticed 4 lady sitting
by herself. The sand was her seat,
and, not even shaded by hat she
wooed the sunlight and the sea breeze
on cheek and forehead. Her eyes We're
bent upon the sky line with q PARKWAY
look in them, as though she We're gaz-
ing upon a distant continent. Her
features We're stamped with melan-
choly. Some great grief was hers, out
of joint with the pleasure seeking
world. Our party was especially hilari-
Gus, and fancicd our merrimeut graf
ell on her.
Every morning the melancholy lady
was at the beach, neither speaking nor
spoken to. Though 1 could not refrain
from sympathizing with her. she was
a damper upon the spirits of others and
consequently repcllent. In the even
ing at times she would stand in q
doorway looking in at those who were
either chatting or playing cards or
dancing. but not for long, and later
some couple emerging from the hotel
g., 4
her sitting in dark corner, the picture
of loneliness.
"Therc'S Mrs. Dismal again." said a
girl on my arm one evening. 'Such
people should not infiict their sorrows
upon others"
l must admit that the melancholy
lady continued 10 be a source of dis
pleasure to all the party except my
self. And she soon came to be the sub
ject of those witticisms which thought
less pleasure seekers are constantly
vieing with each other in perpetrating.
One evening willie we We're all merry
making at a hop given in the hotel
where we We're staying couple came
in with remark about Mrs. Dismal.
The words and the manner in which
walked out of the hotel. sought the OBJ
jcct Cs their remarks and walked
straight up to her.
Pardon me- l said. Il have no one
to introduce me 10 you. have OBJ
served that you suffer and l wish TO
help You. If what / do is an ObtruSion,
/ Will desist.'
There is q FreemaSOnry between
those whose intentions are worthy"
she said. a lady needs no introduce
ton 10 one who has her welfare in
view"
consider me as your physician. You
are suffering from some grief, 4 grief
that l do not wish or need TO probe.
Let me recommend in moderation or
In such measure rs Will be beneficial
to YOU a miuglinG with society"
My condition has driven away all
my friends. For those who are not
friends l have no desire"
You but Illustrate the adage, Laugh,
and the world laughs with you; weep,
and you weep alone
Il have experienced the truth of your
remark. l need to break away from
what must at last i'll all such cases be
come DIO64llS. IDul tiiC Nol III mus ~
come used to considering me as one
set apart for melancholy and does not
take me into its pleasures. l admit this
is my own fault
ut is not your fault 1t is the fault
of an unthinking world that preScribcS
customs and seasons of mourning. We
arenot expected to mourn for ourselves,
but for the world. 1t is not question
Of what we need to alleviate our sOr-
row. but what the world expects of
u.s.
True" she replied musingly, ''thc
world forbade me to be cheerful.
could not be cheerful and l fell into
habitual melancholy"
Let me be instrumental in q new
grasp for you upon the world. l am
with party OF young people. They
are not thoughtful, but they have some
thing which Isl better for your purpose,
normal happy condition. Use them,
and when they have served their pur-
pose turn, if you choose, to stronger
remedies"
She assented. gave me her name and
told me that she had seen husband and
child striker before her eyes. Then,
taking my arm, She walked with me
into the dancing room.
When the boys and girls saw ne
coming with Mrs. Dismal on my
arm their eyes were big with astonish-
mCut. l presented the widow. and with
all the ingenious. unreasoning incon-
siStency of youth they received her
with open arms and made her n part
of their circle.
But the unmerciful crew at once
turned their gibes from her to me In
vain l assured them that l had acted
from diSintereSted motives. The young
men some of them rcfrained from
ovcrSieppinG the bounds; the girls.
never. They dubbed me Mr.. Dis
NAL" and / knew they never referred
10 me and the widow among them
selves without speaking of Us rs the
DISMAL lovers" But If | fell in love
with the lady they followed my ex-
ample. and there was no pains they
would not take 10 serve her or her