Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-12-04
0J1 HE COUNT
N\IEA ANEsI.es:TggEEsSse" i
WEDDING GUEST
BY o. HENRY.

Mrs. Scott introduced him tc
new boarder. young lady. Miss
Conway. Miss Conway was small and
unObtrusive. She wore a plain. snuffy
brown dress and bestowed her inter
est, which seemed ianguid upon her
plate. She lifted her diffident eyeIids
and shot one perspjcuous. judicial
glance at Mr.. Donovan. politely muir
INJURED his name and returned to her
mutton. Mr. Donovan bowed with the
grace and beaming smile that we're
rapidly winning for him social, bust
ness and political advancement and
erased the snuffy brown one from the
tablets Of his consideration.
Two weeks later Andy was sitting on
the front steps. enjoying his cigar
There was soft rustic behind and
above him. and Andy turned his head
and had his head turned.
Just coming out the door was Miss
Conway. She wore night black dress
Of crepe -de-crepe de-oh. this thin
black goods. Her hat was black. and
from it dropped and huttered an ebOn
veil, ilmy as a spiders web. She stood
on the top step and drew on black silk
gloves. Not speck of white or a spot
of color about her dress anywhere
Her rich golden hair was drawn. with
scarcely ripple. into a shining. smooth
knot low on her neck. Her face was
plain rather than pretty. but it was
now Illuminated and made almost
beautiful by her large gray eyes that
gazed above the houses across the
street into the sky with an expression
Of the most appealing sadness and mel
ancholy.
Gather the idea. girls-all black, you
know. with the preference for crepe de
oh, crepe de chine-that's it-all
black. and that sad, PARKWAY look and
the hair shining under the black veil
you have to be a blond, of course.
and try to look as if. although your
young life had been blighted just as It
was about to give Il hop skip and
jump over the threshold of life walk
IN the park might do you good and be
sure to happen out the door at the
right moment. and-oh. it'll fetch 'em
every time. But it's fierce. now. how
cynical | am. amt it. to talk about
mourning costumes this way?
Mr.. Donovan suddenly reinscribed
Miss Conway upon the tablets of his
consideration. He threw away the re-
naming inch and quarter of his cigar
that would have been good for eight 4
minutes yet and quickly shifted his
center of gravity to his low cut patent
feathers.
It's a fine. clear evening, Miss Con I
way" he said. and if the weather bu-
reau could have heard the confident
emphasis of his tones it would have
hoisted the square white signal and
nailed it to the mast.
ITO them that has the heart TO en-
joy it, it is. Mr. Donovan" said Miss
Conway, with sigh
Mr. Donovan in his heart cursed fair
weather. Heartless weather, 1t should
hail and blow and snow to be conso-
nant with the mood of Miss Conway
Il hope none of your relatives-I hope
you haven't sustained loss:" ven
tured Mr. Donovan.
Death has claimed" said Miss Con-
way, hesitating. mot a relative. but one
who But l will not intrude my grief
upon you, Mr. Donovan"
Intruder" protested Mr.. Donovan.
why. say. Miss Conway. I'd be de-
ighted-that is, Id be sorry mean
I'm sure nobody could sympathize with
Tou truer than l would"
Miss Conway smiled a little smile. I
And, oh. it was sadder than her ex- t
preston in respose. |
Laugh, and the world laughs with C
-ou; weep. and they give you the t
augh,' she quoted. .
Il have learned that. Mr.. Donovan. '
have no friends or acquaintances in \
his city. But you have been kind TO
ne. l appreciate it highly e
He had passed her the pepper twice d
t the table.
IT'S tough to be alone in New York L
that's a cinch," said Mr.. Donovan. e
But. say. whenever this little old town
oes loosen up and get friendly il goes Il
be limit Say you took a little stroll Il
D the park. Miss Conway. Don't you
hink it might chase away some of y
our mulligrubs? And if you'd allow u
le"- y
Thanks. Mr.. Donovan. I'd be pleased u
, accept Of your escort if you think
lie company of one whose heart is =
He'd with gloom could be anyways -
sreeable to you" u
Through the open gates of the iron
lied, old, downtown park, where the :,
ect once took the air. they strolled -
nd found quiet bench. -
There is this difference between the ~,
.ief Of youth and that of old age: =;
outh's burden is lightened by as -
UGH of il as another shares. Old age -
ay give and give. but the sorrow re- =,
aims the same.
HE was my f.nce." eonfded Miss so
,nway at the end of an hour I'VE
ere going TO be married next spring.
don't want you, 10 think that ! am ne
ringing YOU. Mr.. Donovan, but he e,
rs a real count He had an estate
d castle in Italy Count Fernando
lzzini was his name. | never saw no
e beat of him for elegance. Papa in,
iacfa1 of courSq and once we -