The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-01-03

happiness that I won't ever have tt
pretend any more. 1t will be so mag
nificent a happiness that unhappincss
will be impossible. It's sure waitin:
just around the corner"
Another day we sat on the hillside
Idly watching birds and butterflies
and creeping things at u feet.
Are you going to stay here, rs your
aunt wishes?" l asked her.
"Oh, no." The answer came quickly
"In a few days l am going to work. ]
am to teach in the school for deaf and
dumb at Salem."'
Life would be pleasanter here fol
you and safer" l objected.
what is life," she spelled quantity
"but what l am thinking Of all day.
l had best be thinking Of helping other
people to be happy and useful, not to
be just day dreaming. You are going
into the world presently yourself"
"That is different. am Il man, and
a mans place is in the busy world.
You are only a dear little loving child,
Margie, and you should be protected,
Let me take care Of you, Margie. and
let me begin now. Will you be my
wife, sweetheart? You know how I
love you."
Margie shook her head regretfully.
but with no show of yielding.
''If l were like other women, Frank,
l would put my arms around YOU
neck and say yes SO happily-oh. so
happily-Mt l should be a drawback
to you always, boy. In after years
you will thank me for hurting you
now"
l pleaded, but pleading was no use
with Margie. Back of the g%entleness
was a firmness of will which admitted
no weakening. SO in a few days Mar
gle went to her work in Salem and l
to mine in Los Angeles. She would
write to me-she would grant me that
consolation.
There came a day long months after
Ell Rosa was only a memory when n
northbound train was taking me With
maddening slowness to Margie. l was
not going as | had always planned that
sometimes | should go-with happy
thoughts and joyful anticipation. l
was going to Margie seriously hurt;
will die"
"That's what the cold print of the
morning paper had said, and, oh, the
precious hours wasted when, l did not
know! She had been taking her week
~ walk from the school to the city
when, rs she was passing the rock
quarry. an explosion had occurred.
seriously hurt; will die" How the
into my aching eyes as the train crawl
ed on.
After an eternity of misery l found
myself at Margic's bed. but before
had reached her had found the news
paper story was false in that she
would lot die-she would live! Some
thing else was in the nurses face to
tell me, but l couldn't wait to hear it.
l bent ovcr my darling, and my
heart jumped as l saw the joy in her
face at sight of me. Even as | noted
that, IL voice sweet as the gentle spirit
Of her came to my wondering ears:
"Frank-I am-like"-
The halting tongue was too slow, and
the weak, eager fingers took up the
sentence.
Il am as other women now, Frank.
The explosion hurt me but see what it
did a hear you speak, and l a
talk, though my hands are still. l told
YOU that On day | should turn a
corner
The little hands were forced to rest.
My overpowering joy and the lump l
was trying to swallow made m fool
ish.
"Tve been standing around the cor
ner all the time" reproached my silly
tongue, "but you wouldn't open your
eyes and see me-"
She laughed, and her mouth formed
a word, ''Frank!" Oh. the sweetness
of it! Then the little futtering fingers
again.
you are very conceited. and some
day am going to rumple your hair
dreadfully, but just now l want to so
to sleep. When l wake up
Tho dear eyes closed, and the sMil-
ing nurse bcclioned me away till she
should wake up.