Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-06-03
THE TURN OF THE BALANCE.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
~~O~OONO~~O


"A HE had always loved him, eager
~ ly, passionately, as few sisters,
" perhaps, love even an only broth
err. They had been comrades, playfel-
lows, companions from the time ne
began TO toddle-he two years older
than she, proud of her and devoted to
her. She did not marry very young
simply because, as she frankly admit
ted, her suitors We're not nearly as nice
as Jim, and she could not bring herself
to like any one "a, no fell below that in
variable standard of comparison.
When at last she did say yes. 1t was
to man In every way Jims opposite,
except In that of being thoroughly
good fellow--a man grave, plain, prac-
teal and quiet, very much in love with
her. and ready for her sake. to adopt
her delightful brother. Jlm's business
required him to travel Il good deal, but
when he came back 1t was to her.
She was very happy with her hus-
band and with the little daughter who
came to them after year or two, but
her happiness was more and more of
the staid and quiet kind. She grew
like her husband, as women will. rs
the years passed. falling into his Sc
date and prosaic attitude of mind, and
losing some of the brillianey and ami
nation which had been her chief
charm.
Jim, however, was the link that
bound her to her youth. He was UNI
changed With bis coming. the sound
of his elastic step. his ringing voice,
came back all the brightness and gay
ETY. of the past. Joyously they renew
ed the old intercourse Their childish
associations, their old jokes and by
words, their old mutual attitude to-
ward people and things. made their
companionship a delight to them both
10 the husband, In his quiet way. It
was scarcely less. The three were at
their best and happiest when they
We're together.
II was no wonder, then, that Jim's
sudden marriage, after fifteen such
years, nearly broke Helen's heart. She
knew 1t meant practically the losing
of him out of her life He would still
be the atfectionate and faithful broth
er. but the core of his fidelity and
affection would be elsewhere. The new
wife was a stranger Her surround
ings would be his, her interests. her
friends, her associates. her life. The
old days were over, and Helen knew 1t.
She was too wise aud deep hearted
woman to cherish any petty jealousy
She made the bride heartily welcome.
reJoieed honestly and openly in her
brothers happiness. and shed her in-A
eytable tears In secret
During the three perfect years of his
married life Helen continued to miss
him keenly and constantly. How keen
~ how constantly, she acknowledged
10 herself now for the first time. as she
sat looking out of the carriage window.
as she was borne steadily westward,
toward the bereaved and grlef-strlcken
home. The news of her sister-in-law's
sudden death had come to her as Il be.
wildering shock
Il cannot believe III" she cried to her
husband Il cannot, 1t was all SO
beautiful, so right, so perfect in every
way--their life-Jim was so happy
and now To have it broken off short
like this-ended forever In a momentl
1t seems Just like dreadful mistake
somebody giving the wrong order.
and throwing a whole lovely design
into woful wreck and ruinr'
Intense sympathy with her brothers
.s.,f
hasty preparations for leaving home.
But now that she had leisure TO think,
other considerations crowded into her
busy brain The thought. This gives
my brother back to mev' came again
and again. throwing a curious bright
ness over all the haze Of pain and
grief that filed her heart.