Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-12
THE TURN Of THE BALANCE.

"A HE had always loved him. eager
~ ly, passlOnatey, as few sisters.
~ perhaps. love even an only broth
or. They had been comrades. playfel-
lows, companions, from the time he
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 were not nearly as nice
as jim, and she could not bring herself
to like any one who fell below that In
variable standard Of comparison.
When at last she did say yes, 1t was
to a man in every way Jim's opposite.
except in that Of being a thoroughly
good fellOw-a man grave. plain. piac-
teal and quiet. very much In love with
her, and ready for her sake, to adopt
her delightful brother. Jiu's business
required him to travel q good deal. but
when he came back it was to her
She was very happy with her hus-
band and with the little daughter who
came to them after a year or two but
her happiness was more and moro of
the staid and quiet kind. She grew
like her husband, as women will. Ms
the years passed. falling into his Sc
date and prosaic attitude of mind. and
losing some Of the briIiancy and ami
nation which had been her chief
charm.
jim. however, was the link that
bound her to her youth. He was un-
changed. With his coming, the sound
Of his elastic step his ringing voice,
rame 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
companiOnsiiip Il delight to them both.
10 the husband in his quiet way. it
was scarcely less. The three We're at
their best aud happiest when they
were together.
1t was no wonder. then. that ,Iim's
sudden marriage. after fifteen such
years, nearly broke Helen's heart. She
knew it meant practically the dosing
OF him out of her life. He would still
be the affectlOuate and faithful broth
or, but the core OF his fidelity and
affection would be elsewhere. The new
wife WAS II stranger. Her surround
Jugs would be his. her interests. her
friends, her associates. her life The
old days were over. and Helen knew it.
She was too wise and deep hearted
woman to cherish any petty jealousy.
She made the bride heartily welcome,
rejoiced honestly and openly In her
brothers. happiness. and shed her in
evitablc tears In secret
During the three perfect years of his
married life, Helen continued to miss
him keenly and constantly. How keen
ly, how constantly. she acknowledged
to herself now for the first time, as she
sat looking out of the carriage window,
aS she WAS borne steadily westward
toward the bereayed and grief-stricken
home. The news of her sister-n- laws
sudden death had come to her as n be-
wildrring shock.
81 cannot believe it," she cried to her
husband Il cannot. 1t was all so
beautiful so right, so perfect in every
way-their Iife-Jm was so happy
and now to have it broken off short
like this-ended forever. in moment!
1t seems Just like dreadful mistake
somebody giving the wrong order.
and throwing a whole lovely design
into woful wreck and ruin"
Intense sympathy with her brothers
grief had filed her mind during her
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 met! came again
and again, throwing curious bright
ness over all the haze of pain and
grief that filled her heart.