Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-06
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE IRON BENCH.
(Origin2Ll

young WIQOW was aETdhSlAS hO"S OA
her husbands grave. Her fair skin
and hair contrasted pleasingly with
her black garments. The October sun
sbone through riffs in the trees, a
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
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
her head 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 similar
experience To that he saw before him.
He had placed a wreath on the mound.
knelt for a moment In prayer. then sor-
rowfulIy 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 look in which
were mingled sadness, respect and ad-
miration. She lowered her eyes and
passed down the avenue OF graves,
while the man, coming as it were out
of a dream, for fear of appearing to
intrude turned and walked IN the OPP
posite direction.
There are lntelligences 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 kneeIing figure beside the flow
er covered grave.
Was 1t coincidence or was it an IN
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
u
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 sudden soughing OF
wind and q few RreabSdrops spattered
on the stone step leading into the lot.
A man 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 q
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 Tidower, thank
ed him, and he held the umbrella over
/ her. They walked side by side, few
words on commonplace topics passing
| between them, till they reached an
| exit, where the man called n carriage
and put her In. Then ne looked at her
inquirlngly. and she gave him her
L
| to the cOachman.
| Had this occurred among the more
/ natural people OF some country vii
lage the man would not have permit
ted her 10 go thus alone, but in nrti-
| facial 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 q formal intro
duction took place. The Ice was bro
ken. 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
with his own departed mate. He told
the widow that he would return in an
| hour. WhR he returned-in twenty
minutes she met him with a smile,
asked his opinion as to the planting
| Of a 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 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 hardy vines,
had fallen. When the appointed after