The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-12-29
Mrs. Disma al
lOriginal.l

my vacation at the SeaShOre with a
gay party, as is customary st 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.
Cne morning l noticed 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 a faraway
look in them, as though she were gaz-
ing upon 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 fancied our merriment graf
I ed on her.
/ Every morning the melancholy lady
was ut the beach, neither speaking nor
spoken to. Though l could not refrain
from sympathizing with her, she was
damper upon the spirits of others and
consequently repellent. In the even
ing at times she would stand in
doorway looking in at those who We're
either chatting or playing cards or
dancing, but not for long, and later
some couple emerging from the hotel
for stroll on the piazza would see
her sitting in dark corner, the picture
of loneliness.
There's Mrs Dismal again." said a
girl on my arm one evening. such
people should not infict their sorrows
upon others"
must admit that the melancholy
lady continued to be source OF dis
pleasure to all the party except my
self. And she soon came to be the sub
iect of those witticisms which thought
less pleasure seekers are constantly
vieing with each other in perpetrating.
One evening while we were all merry
making at hop given in the hotel
where we were staying couple came
In with a remark about Mrs. Dismal.
TIE words and the manner i'll which
they were received angcred me.
walked out Of the hotel. sought the Oh
iect OF their remarks ana walked
straight up to her.
Pardon me-" said. Il have no one
to introduce me to you. | have OBJ
served that you suffer and wish 10
help YOU. If what do is an Obtruslon.
I will Gesist."
There is Freemasonry between
those whose intentions are worthy
she said. "A lady needs no introduce
ton to one who has her welfare in
view"
Consider me as your physician. You
are suffering from some grief, a Grlef
that | do not wish or need to probe.
Let me. recommend in moderation or
in such measure as will be beneficial
to YOU mingling with society
"AIy condition has driven away all
my friends For those who are mol
friends have no desire"
"You but illustrate the adage. Laugh
| and the world laughs with you; weep
and you weep alone
81 have experienced the truth of your
remark. | need to break away fron
: what must at last III all such cases be
come brooding. But the weird has be-
come used to considering me as one
set apart for melancholy and does no
!. take rle into it's pleasures. l admit ths'
is my own fault
l sIt is not your fault. 1t is the fanl
Of an unthinking world that prescripe'
i customs and seasons of mourning. W.
arenot expected to mourn for ourselves
but for the world. 1t is not question
of what we need to alleviate our sor
f row but what the world expects o
I u.s.
{, ."rrue." size replied mnsingiy. IN
world forbade me to be cheerful.
could not be cheerful and | fell int
habitual melancholy
IS LET me be instrumental In a neV
+ grasp for you upon tie world. al
with a party Of young people. The
y are not thoughtful. but they have some
+ thing which is better for your purpose
y normal happy condition Use theh
and when they have served their pul
pose turn, if you choose. to stronge
remedies
She assented, gave me her name an
told me that she had seen husband an
child striken before her eyes. Ihel
taking my arm. she walked with y
into the dancing room.
When the boys and girls saw II
coming with Mrs. Dismal on n
arm their eyes were big with astonis
nent presented the widow, and vii
all the ingenious, unreasonins inco
sistency of youth they received b
with open arms and made her pa
Of their circle.
But the unmerciful crew at on
turned their gibes from her to me.
vain I assured them that | had act
from disinterested motives. The your
men-some Of them-refrained fro
overstepping the bounds; the cir
never They dubbed me MIR. u
NAL" and | knew they never referr
to me and the widow among the
selves without speaking of us as
..Dismal lovers" But if fell in 10