The Meeker herald., 1906-03-03


on his luck; even little gray woman
you see / know my name-he can't
pass them. He came and talked to me
Just because he thought wanted some
one to talk to. made up my mind
that next time he should come because
he wanted to talk to me- Do you
know l almost screamed with my anx-
iety to attract him. And when he was
going he gripped my hand and nearly
broke it-y0u know how he does with
people he likes-and said. What lot
people miss by not talking to you.
And began to cry. I've been lonely
lonely - lonely! told him. and
every one thinks I'm stupid and dull
And he said, You needn't be lonely II
you'll let me talk to you. No! Talk to
me. you bright little thing" 1t was
the first compliment l ever had-the
very first! Well. that is over now. I'm
not n bit spiteful to the world. even
like few people. like you. But you
see I'd got into the habit of studying
the defects in people, and I'd grown
curious about them. Women always
are. 1 knew others would be curious.
SO wrote the books. They succeed
ed. l knew they would. or shouldn't
have used Charles name
And he was willing to borrow your
success:" / said nuskily. 1t hurt me
to lose my good idea of him.
NO. He wasn't. 1 made him do it.
don't think you realize that am
clever enough to manage Charlie quite
easily. l told him that didn't want
success for myself don't very much
and that my greatest desire In life
was success for him. That was GER
tainIy true. declared that hadn't
the courage to publish the books un-
der my own name. ThSt wasn't true
Mt all. / pointed out that should find
1t difficult to study people IL they knew
wrote. persuaded him that the
books would do good, because truth
always does good. That, of course. is
false. don't think he was quite per-
suaded Mt the bottom of his mind, but
he thought the bottom of his mind was
wrong, because he believed in ME.
believed In myself. Well, you've shown
me was wrong"
She snatched up the work and sewed
again for few minutes. Her eyelids
fiickered and l supposed she was
going to cry, but she did not. So let
her fight out her battle alone. /
thought she was using heavier artillery
than could bring to bear.
Il suppose she said. presently.
''you expect me to say that I'll own up
to the books and clear him? III so.
you're mistaken. / shall not. I Won
der'-she laid down the work again
IF you'd believe me If / told you
why?"
Yes" promised. II shall believe
you"
IF I owned the books the blame
would fall on me. shouldn't care, but
Charlie would. You see"-her face lit
up, and I saw Mt last that she had at
tractions-"Charlie IL very much in
love with me. He would rather peo-
pie attacked him than attacked me.
shalt get my punishment In kn6wing
that he is hurt. You need not fear
that / am going scot free. l don't
think you want me tobe hurt. though? p
picked up my hat and rose.
NO" said, ~ don't. You are n
good woman, in spite of the book. God
bless you! You'll come out all right,
my dear"
held ont my hand and she put both
hers over 1t and smiled up at me.
YES" she said. 1T is the belief of
you good men that makes women bet
ter. shall come out all right. You
will see"
saw, when the next book appeared
under his name. 1t was great, good
story. and it took the world by storm.
The hero was man who sacrificed
himself to shield woman-and knew
she meant him. The heroine was a
woman who learned the lesson of life
from her loves sccrifice-and l knew
she meant herself. Her father-confes-
sor was a kindly old gentleman who
tried to spread the butter of benevo-
lence over the bread of the world. She
thought she had portrayed me. but
she had only succeeded in picturing the
man ought to have been! The clever
est of women subordinate reason to
feeling, and "the little gray woman"
whose charm society is beginning to
find out, has an affection for my un-
worthy self If the blessing of IN old
sinner can benefit her. She has it
Black and White.
Cured.
A story is told Of the wonderful cure