Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-09-21
THE IRON
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ner Dlack garments. The October sun
shone through riffs in the trees. Il
single broad sheaf of rays striking full
upon her 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 q
broad black band; his apparel, his
scarf, his Sloyes-indeed all his adorn.
ments were black. Just as he came in
sight of the widow she knelt in the
sunlight, ciasped her hands and bowed
nef mead i'll prayer. The man stood
stlll, 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 Il similar
experience to that he saw before him.
lie had placed a wreath on the mound,
knelt for a 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
mlration. She lowered her eyes and
passed down the venue Of graves,
while the man, coming as it were out
of a dream, for fear Of appearing to
intrude, turned and walked in the op-
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 up
on 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 I'M
conscious intention that caused each Of
these mourners to visit the cemetery
IAoC NoS WYNN az LIZ Sd11C uOul .
While the widow would have scorned
a suggestion of intention she wished to
feel once more that those sympathetic
eyes were upon her and the heart that
had beat for her in her bereavement
was beating for her still. This day the
sun did not shine. 1t had poured forth
Elusive rays in the morning, but in
the afternoon the clouds had thickened.
When the widow left her husbands
grave there was a sudden soughing Of
wind and a few great drops spattered
on the stone step leading into the lot.
A a was coming down the avenue
putting up an umbrella. The widow
looked at the sky, then, gathering her
skirts, tripped away. There were hur-
rying 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, where the man called a carriage
n put her in. Then be looked at her
inquiringly, 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 vii
lage the mar would not have permit
ted her to go thus alone, but in arti-
fetal city life it would not be expected
Of him to attend her without an in
PRODUCTION. Nevertheless the widower
knew her address, and that was all he
needed. Within a fortnight a friend
who was Also a friend of the widow
asked her permission to introduce him.
Consent was given, and Il formal intro
duction took place. The ice was bro
ken. They could nov 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
with his own departed mate. He told
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 Il 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 wifc's grave. and
she left ONE 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 purchas-
ing an iron bench with a comfortable
back to it and had it shipped to the
cemetery. Then he called on the wild
ow. and they appointed an afternoon
to visit the cemetery together.
Meanwhile October had drifted into
November, and the leaves. excepting
the willows and certain ha"dy vines.
had fallen. When the appointed after
noon came round a cold wind was
driving the snow. 1t was not in the