The Cairo bulletin., 1907-12-16
The might
Have Been
By MATTE w. BAKER

To each other, gushing Young girls
We're prone TO wonder that Sarah
Irving had never married
And with her Madonna face!
She's just lovely. II she Is an old
maid
For more than ten years Sarah
Irving had made her home In her mar.
ried brothers family, TO the happi'
ness OF the whole household. What
better proof Of her goodness could
Won ask? For everybody knows this
cannot be said Of all maiden ladies Of
40 who are domiciled under a mar
ried brothers roof.
1t goes without saying that the
young ladies of Cloverdale were quite
wild over Dr. Bryant, and a greater
number Of gentle invalids suddenly
developed in the place than anyone
had ever known there before.
Il declare" one belle would say
to another, half in jest half in earn
est. isn't it too aggravatng when
Dr. Bryant is out at any evening gath.
erlng with the lryings. always to see
him cooly tuck Sarahs arm within
his and walk off home with her as a
matter of course"
II should think SO, when at her age
she can't care anything about 1t, and
any Of the rest 81 rs would be so de.
lighted with the honor, Much as
admire her, | fear shall come to
fairly hate her, II II goes on so, I'm so
green with envy
AT home, III his leisure hours, he
proved himself most delightful com
panion. He had travelled widely had
read almost everything worth read
ing, and was withal an enthusiast in
his profession.
He found in Sagah refined, intel
ligent woman who could talk well
and listen Well both rare accom-
plishments, SO they got on famously
together And so naturally did II all
come about, that months passed be
fore she mstrRsted that the esteem
In Which she held the young doctor
was any warmer than that she had
felt for many.
And Dr. Bryant?
He considered her one of the finest
women he had ever met, trusted her
and confided in her as he might
have done in sister. had he ever had
one. and did not realize his true feel
ings toward her till 1t was all at once
revealed 10 him when he accidentally
learned Of her tender nursing OF a
poor neighbours sick children.
Then ii dawned upon him that this
was just the help-meet he needed,
that Sarah Irving was a woman
among Il thousand. and In short, that
he loved her and had for a long time,
though he had not realized it.
One night they We're ont riding In
the soft summer starlight. No word
was spoken until DR. Bryant turned
TO his companion and said, impress
sively.
Miss Irving have always admired
and respected you have found that
you are my other SELF, the very wons
an / need for q wife. | say to you
now what ! never said to any woman
before--l love you with all my heart
and soul. Dafline,"
And before she could recover from
the surprise OF this announcement he
had drawn her to him and pressed a
kiss upon her lips, the first and last
lovers kiss she ever received.
Oh sweetest moment Of all her ex-.
istence No starving mortal ever
tasted food. no parehed lips ever
quaffed wafer so delicious as were
those words to Sarah's soul, spoken
in the fondest. tenderest accents. The
music OF that last word OF endear.
ment. the very tone in which it was
spoken. rang in her ears TO the last
day OF her life Who shall blame her
II for one moment she yielded to the
preferred caress? The next instant
her strong. pure love for him had
triumphed. and drawing herself erect,
she replied:
Or Bryant. you must know | am
astonished beyond measure at what
you have said. as had no reason to
expect such words from you. | esteem
you very highly. and appreciate the
honor you do me In asking me 10
be your wife. bur it can never be"
And why not?' he asked.
Look at the unsuitableness OF the
thing. she replied, with a calmness
thar astonished herself. while her
heart was heating as If # would
hurst It's way out and speak In it's
own behalf Il am Is years older
than you. Such a marriage would be
absurd"
Not II you loved me as love you"
he replied earnestly
How little he dreams it," thought
poor Sarah.
Sarah shook her head sadly.
1t would nor be wise nor kind
Think for one moment; look for
ward % wears You would be
man in the prime Of life. ! gray
haired old woman You will live TO
see the time when you will thanh
me for my decision tonight. although
II mas seem cruel TO you now
Eut Dr. Bryant ~oald not listen 20
reason. Manlike. b. chung TO the
idea that he must have heR ard an