The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-08

A train OF three coaches. drawn By
two engines, toiled up the steep Rocky
mountain pass. Below, a shining track
showed whence II had come; above, an
other-far up the mountain-foretold
where IL would go. How it was TO get
there no man could tell.
y Mrs. Etheridge sat drinking in the
glory Of IL all. Her unstinted enthusi-
ssm touched the pride OF the local pas
sengers.
The train glided over a trestle. and a
Vista opened on the other side. Mrs
Etheridge was on her feet instantly
The Colorado woman opposite leaned
toward her.
Your first trip over the pass?"
Yes. Isn't it magnificent
The woman took her traps and moved
back of the other.
'Tl give you my seat. too" she
said. in the kindly western fashion
The views on both sides" 1t was
easy afterwaFd to fall into conversa-
ton.
Going far?'' asked the Colorado wo-
man. ''Oh. into the mining district"
Yes, to visit my SON."
Aha! Is he married.
mo. / sometimes wish he were"
II don't know" said the woman
thoughtfully "It Will be an awful trial
to you when you have TO give him up
I know. My eldest son was married
last year. It nearly killed me. And
I've got my husband and two children
left, too
And I should have nothing" said
Mrs. Etheridge. softly. My husband is
dead"
The woman shook her head. Il hope
he won't marry. He'll never be the
same 10 you" Her eyes were full. Il
i feel as if I've lost mine"
1t is strange how we sometimes drop
into heart talks with strangers. Posi-
bly, the very fact that they are stran-
gers makes US freer to lay bare our
inner life. They know nothing about
us. not even our names, perhaps; ouI
paths will not cross again; for once we
may say just what we think.
You ought not to feel that way,
said Mrs. Etheridge. TRY to feel in
stead. that you have gained a daugh-
ter" 1t was one of those sweet plati-
tudes with which people who have new
er had a scar try to mollify gaping
wounds.
I haven't gained a daughter. I've
lost SON" The emollient had proved
an irritant. You'll feel just as l dc
some day.
Il hope not" Mrs. Ftheridge spoke
earnestly. I've been schooling myself
all these years to meet this thing.
want my son to marry-when the right
woman comes"
THE right woman. yes! But suppose
your son should marry a woman that
you didn't like and couldn't"
My son would never love anybody
that would not take to my heart as a
-
she confidently believed 1t.
Her companion looked at her with
kindling eyes.
You're a good woman" she said.
You deserve a good daughter-in-law.
But / hope he won't marry, just the
same"
The climb through the mountains was
a glorious one. Mrs. Etheridge felt
lifted up spiritually. with Robert
and these mountains" she thought, Il
can give up the rest"
She had not seen him for four years.
After he graduated in mining engineer
ing he had an offer in Silver Crag. The
separation wrung her heart. but she
made no sign. II wiz never be an OBJ
stacle in the way Of Roberts success. -
she had said. She did not know il, but
Roberts success" was dearer to her
almost than her hope of heaven. II
had become the ruling thought of her
life.
He had said to her at parting, TIL
send for you, mother, when / get a
start. Wen have a home together yet. a.
She had lived on that thought for four
years. But the message had not come.
A month ago, the high school in
which she taught was burned. Mrs.
Etheridge did some figuring that night.
She had been teaching twenty-three
years. 1t was a long tinaei She could
see now the blackrobed figure going TO
school that first morning, holding tight
ly by the hand the little 5-year-old who
locked up TO her as such a tower of
strength-she who was in reality so
faint-hearted. He never knew. He
always thought she was strong
Her thoughts sped on through the
grammar school days, when she was
still the leader; to the high school when
she began TO study to keep I'D with
him. They were companions through
1t all.
And then-why. then he went away
from her-went as far as the great
ocean on the east. Only that? Nav.
She might have followed him there.
sBut he went sailing into the unknown
waters of higher mathematics and ply
sical science, and her little bark must
further with him. Well, if only Rob
should make a success, an abundant
success Of life. she would be content.
Those years had been so long. so
long, Somehow, the student of tech
nology seemed further away from her
than the little lad VINO filled her stock
ing. She closed the book at last.
I'm going 10 Robert. I'll give N.Y.
self one year Of rest" In her heart she
was saying. Il win never leave him
again. will make a home for him"