The Washington herald., 1907-06-26
FOURTH HAND AT WHIST.
Lonely Old Lady who Frightened
IN a. She Took Hand.

III a She Took Hand.
The following paper was read by
Mrs. Rufus saxton before the Washing
ton Whist Club and was published in
Whist, a monthly journal devoted TO
the game.
Whist. tbs a name to Conjure with.
and at the wave Of the magician's wand
appears this little picture; hotel In
the mountains; the season, summer.
the time. maybe next year. or fifty or
a thousand years hence: for all times
and seasons are alike to the glorious
game.
1t is evening and in a brightlv-light,
cd room. fun OF life and movement. an
old lady sits apart and alone. The fur
rows wrought by time and sorrow are
So deeply craven that gazing at her
own reflection in the mirror that after
noon. she had smiled grimly. while she
soliioquized: Ny face Is Ike n fossil
ferrous rock, on which prehistoric birds
have left their tracks. like Bauquo's
ghost there is no speculation i'm nv
eyes. no marTpw in my bones" And
this evening. Is she sat solitary. mem
DRY brought 90 her only somber ex-
perience; or. haunting her brain. were
fragments from poets who sang the
song Of the wounded the beaten. the
broken i'm heart: Emerson's Terminus. "
with it's sad. submissive lines
Il is time N he old;
tn take IN sail.
Cuutrt0r thy armament
To compass Of a tent.
or. from remote antiquity. she
heard the admonitiOns Of a patient but
weary soul. eye who pursue with eager
ness the phautoms of Hope; who believe
that the future viii fulfu the promises
Of the present, as one by one thy dreams
depart be resolute and calm"
Should religion console her? She had
bowed a reverent head that afternoon
as she watched the sun set in solemn
grandeur behind the mountains; and an
aspiring heart had been lifted in praise
as the moon and stars trailed out in
glory should philosophy sustain her?
She had passed the long summer morn
| ing with that loved pagan of her youth.
Marcus Aurelius.
None Of these filled an aching void.
What the old heart craved was hui
man companionship.
In one corner Of the large room three
young people sat round a table 4
wonder" said one, If it could be pos
| sihle that that venerable dear, sitting
alone. could make the fourth hand?"
Try" said the other. A blithe young
voice IN respectful tones fell on the old
lady's ear.
Madame do you play whist?"
What a changei How the luster re-
turned to the eye. how the weary lines
faded from the brow. and how the
tremulous old lips smiled as she an
swered
Yes. I play whist" And, she ad-
ded modestly, but vainly, L play
rather a good game, for ] was member
| of q whist club for twenty years"
With head erect and-a new alertness
/ in every movement, she crossed the
room, and as she readjusted the deli
/ cate lace on her silyery hair, she whis-
pered softly to herself: If ! could
show these dear young people some OF
my top score pins they might well be-
lieve that | play whist
When she reached the others at the
table how cordial her reception, The
| easiest chair was found for her; the
| softest cushions were gently padded
around her frail form, while the man
ner Of almost tender consideration
shown her. brought the unacCustOmet
moisture beneath the wrinkled lids.
The fourth hand at whist, Wha
welcome to he compared to It? Like
the first green leaf of ne'y-come spring
Ike oceans freshening breeze sweeping
in to heated brows; like the clasp of Z
friendly hand on foreign shores; like n
good and unexpected blessings.
The summer waned The long days
came and went and the solemn nights
passed in their orderly succession.
Bat the lonely old lady was lonely nc
longer.