The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-25
A Late Learned Secret

phlfa or stairs, opened the door OK D'B
rented room and as he entered hcaved
a deep sigh II was heard by Lydia
Nutter, tho laDdlady's daughter. aged
twenty, who wondered what caused
II. Had she. too, been forty Instead
Of twenty, without having followed the
course dictated by nature mating and
rearing children she would have un'
derstood tbat II translated into words
tho Sigh would say:
"Oh, this lonely room!''
Ell MulholIand had In his youth chos-
en- athletic sports vita which to beguIle
his leisure hours. lie was mars
man rather than girls man. lie re-
membercd pair Of bright eyes beam
Ing upon hin when he had won the
champion cup for single sculls. They
and the smlla that accompanied them
were then no more TO him than
passing whit OF yioiets. Now, as he
entered bis ! nelly room, he remembered
that the cir he had failed to claim
was the wifi and mother Of children.
OF the man I had beaten In the race.
lie had won the cup, which he had 30
dearly prizes, leaving for bis antag'
onist tho girl whom hc had considered
merely ono o. q million. Now the cup
was In vatlt with other trinkets; the
girl was the light OF household.
He remembered another whom he
had played With In double game OF
tennis, an OK 'crable player, but SOFT
voiced beauty; how he had saved the
game by his skill and activity; how
she had received the prize--a silver
mounted rnc'.et--from his hands, with
bushes that told him she would have
gladly taken .iim Instead.
These and others with whom he had
feared TO be ONE entangled contribut'
cd their part In that deep drawn sigh.
so unintellIgtole TO Lydia Nutter. He
was no longer the companion OF young
people He had passed the mating
period and had not mated.
"what troubled you last night, MIR.
Mulholland. as you went Into your
room?" aske,. Lydia the next morning
as the bachelor went out to get his
lonely breakfast.
II troubled: What do you mean|
"You drew such sad sigh"
As Ell looked into her sympathetic
eyes something Of two decades before
came back to him. Was II too late
to save what remained OF his life from
a loneliness intensified with each pass
Ing year? As quickly as the thought
came II was banished Had he stood
still for twenty years while others had
grown oldf He turned to pass oul
without reply, How could he tel
this girl. who when he was hei
age was scarcely born, that he had
wasted his opportunities. and, though
he had gained the world, It was worth
less; that which he had selfishly
thought he wished for himself when
attained had shriveled In his hands
since he had no wife or children to be-
stow II upon;
"when you feel that way again
come down and we'll try to comfort
you" said Lydia.
There was wistful look In his eyes
as he closed the door.
That night he sat In the reading
room of his club pretending to read
the newspapers, while he was watch
ing the clock He wished to go to the
house where he roomed, but he would
20 neither too late nor too early-no
after Lydia had gone to bed, not So
early that he would seem to have come
| to be with her. for that was his In
tentlon. He chose half past 0 as thu
hour most likely to conceal 1t and, aft
er two hours watching the clock, lef
the club, Lydia was In the sitting
room with her mother, the mothel
reading, Lydia at some fancy work.
I'm In rather early tonight" h'
said to Lydia. 'There was nothing do
Ing at the club. I've brought som'
playing cards. Would you mind |
gamer
Again the smile that greeted him re
minded him OF the face that had beam
ed upon him when he had been al
athletic victor. Then 1t had been &C
companled by the tlush Of victory, tn
plaudlts of thousands. Now 1t wa
bestowed upon lonely soul hungerinl
for sympathy.
4 They sat down to game ostensibl.
Of cards, really to one Of love. Lydii
had admired the stalwart middle age'
man whose hair was beginning to turn
but had not dreamed of being the wifi
4 Of one she regarded so great. III
clutched at what he regarded stray
to save him from a desolate old age
Neither believed 1t possible to win tn
game, and yet both had already wo
1t. Ell insisted on a stake, sweet
meats, and always contrived to lose.
might oil have been arranged at onct
but ELL fearing to spoil his game b
haste, thinking that great skill at al
Cling was essential, did not dare d.
clare himself till the winter had pas!
ed and the time Of the singing bird