The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-14
THE EVENING STOR Y
The Iron Bench.

IN cemetery near a great city a
young widow was arranging flowers on
ners husbands grave. Her fair skin
ana na1r contrasted pleasingly with her
pIack garments The October sun shone
through riffs in the trees, a single
proad sheaf of rays striking full upon
ner and the flower covered grave.
Down a street of this silent city of
the dead toward which her back was
turned came a man. On his hat was a
broad black band; his apparel his
scarf, his gloves-indeed all his adorn-
ments were black. Just as he came in
sight of the widow she knelt in the
sunlight, clasped her hands and bowed
neT heal in prayer The man stood
still, resting on his cane, and gaZed
upon the beautiful picture. He had
just come from the grave of his wife,
where he had been through a similar
experience to that he saw before him.;
He had placed a wreath on the mound,
knelt for moment in prayer, then sor-
rowfully turned away to nurse his
grief for another week.
The widow rose and, turning, placed
her small gloved hand on the iron
gate and was stepping out of the in
closure when she saw the man stand
ing gazing at her with a look in which
were mingled sadness, respect and adj
miratfon. She lowered her eyes and
passed down the avenue of graves,
while the man, for fear of appearing to
posite direction.
There are intelligences which pass
between people the nature of which
cannot be defined. Something, she
knew not what, possibly the sadness in
the mans eyes, told her that they suf-
fered from a similar cause, and he had
OWNED the same. There is no such
sympathy as that between sufferers
whose griefs are kindred. The widow
went home, the handsome face, the
melancholy eyes indelibly stamped
upon her memory, while to the mans
mental vision the sunlight still shone
on the kneeling figure beside the flow
er covered grave.
Was it coincidence or was it, an un-
conscious intention that caused each
of these mOurnerS to visit the cemetery
that day week at the same hour :?
While the widow would have ScOrned
a suggestion of intention sheawished to
feel once more that those sympathetic
eyes were upon her and the heart that
had beat for her in her bereavem ent
was beating for her still. This day the
sun did not shine. It had poured
forth Elusive rays in the morning. but
in the afternoon the clouds had thick
ened. When the widow left her hus-
bands grave there was a sudden
sough1ng of wind and a few great
drops spattered on the stone step lead
ing into the lot. A man was coming
down the avenue putting up an UNI
brella. The widow looked at the sky,
0lCHs n0T I1lDDeQ
away. There were hurrying footsteps
behind her, and a deep, rich voice said
respectfully:
Pardon me, but you will be drench-
ed Permit me to see you to the gate
way and call a carriage for you"
She turned, saw the WidoWer thank
| ed him, and he held the umbrella over
her. They walked side by side, a few
words on commonplace topics passing
between them, till they reached an exit,
w a 0a1I rl
put her in. Then he looked at her in
quiringly, and she gave him her street
and number, which he repeated to the
coachman.
Had this occurred among the more
natural people of some country village
the man would not have permitted her
to go thus alone, but in artificial city
life it would not be expected of him
to attend her without an introduction
Nevertheless the widower knew her ad-
dress, and that was all he needed
Within a fortnight a friend who was
also friend of the widow asked her
permission to introduce him. Consent
was given, and a formal introduction
took place. The ice was broken. They
could now pour their griefs into each
others ears. ---
A week after their introduction they
visited the cemetery together. The
widower left her at her husbands
grave and went on to leave flowers
the widow that he would return in an
hour. When he returned-in twenty
minutes-she met him with a smile,
asked his opinion as to the planting of
vine in her lot and said that she
would put in an iron bench on which
they might sit and comfort each other.
He offered to attend to the matter for
her, and she accepted the offer. After
that they visited his wife's grave, and
she left some flowers there beside
those that had been deposited by the
bereaved husband. Then they walked
to the main gateway. This time they
returned in the same carriage.
The .widower lost no time in pur-
chasing an iron bench with a comfort
able back to it and had it shipped to
the cemetery. Then he called on the
widow, and they appointed an after
noon to visit the cemetery together.
Meanwhile October had drifted into
November, and the leaves, excepting
the willows and certain hardy vines
had fallen. When the appointed after
noon came round g. cold wind was
driving the snow. 1t was not in the
bleak cemetery that they passed the
time. A bright fire burned on the
hearth of the widows library, and in
stead of occupying a cold iron bench
the mourners occupied a sofa rolled
before the cheerful blaze. The warm
colors of October, the month in which
they first met, had replaced the wild
| ow's sable garments, and the man had
also dropped his mourning. On the
third finger of the Widows left hand a
diamond ring sparkled in the freight
while all the fingers of the mans left
hand were toying with her tresses.
They never sat together on the iron
bench.-Temple Morgan.
QUAKER REFLECTIONS.