The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-12-25

tu lhis hlrascd day. when We had
had hopes 20 being IN Omaha that
%. { had hoped 90 be- in Omaha my
friend here had visions Of Michi
gan. but
Michigan. What magic was there
Ia that name 90 cause our hostess
20 So quickly tuu her black oyea
upon Bob Aud he 90 look so
stFa0geiy az herr And our h.al GO
turu away and mr stand there STAN
mering IA The middle VI a perfectly
simple aud ordinary speech
But here We are. friends 1
went ON. perplexed hut trying NOT
TO look inquisitivc. and We will
gladly accept your Hospitality
You urp welcome. gentlemen
said the woman Ia au uneven voice
Ny husband and ! are more than
glad to see you Your horses viii
find feed behind the house and wc
will havv dinner Ia an hour
n I were merely 90 repeat what
this man and woman said 10 as on
this day J would not toll you their
story hut lf you wcra % aee them
for a few minutes as ! did. YOU
would know an that ! know
Tie must have been a handaum
fellow. 20 years back His eyes
flashed midnight blackneas he was
tail and white skinnsa and squarely
framed Deep wrinkles we're la hts
forehead now hls cheeks wore
sunker aud be stuoped heavily when
b. coughcd
She vas glorious woman even
nov after an uncertain number OF
years ~ hardship Ia this lifechok
ms desert which spruad out
around az Tie a casquo ~ scorch.
ins steel The flght had not erased
the beauty uf BIER face. bul her
hands we're rouEh and red. and the
. lines 81 her stout body were full
aud unbeautiful
Theya ga not need 90 tell US whY
they we're here nor that they had
been here long lie asa not need
10 say that the most terrible 81 the
microscopic foes ~ mankind was
tbs enemy that bad driven him TO
thls last breAstWoFk. and that evsn
here he vas fighting a losing fight
And she did nos have 90 sag that
she had sacrificed much Tor her love.
that she had done o. willingly. and
that she would DO it all over again
for him that Il waH she who had
stood the cruel bruni ~ the an.
gushing years ~ solitude. alive in
her husband q grave. aud had given
friends. home. comfort all that
woman has 90 give knees all this
from things. not words
After our dinner aud as we
talked 81 the blessed day. Z saw her
fold her hand Ia hia and heard hnr
whisper a soft promise. one that be-
must never have duuhted from such
a one az she.
We talked % the desert. % COW
men. % sand storms. ~ minlma. of
sheep raising. but never OF Michi
gan Ouce she said No doubt IL
does seem dreary 90 strangers. but
10 me Il is ever beautiful here I
never grow tired ~ the sky. 81 Is
my world and nowhere ia NJ more
beautiful than la this desert cnun
trY NJ husband and } spend whole
DAYS watching The driUinR clouds
which float in ragged spiend1r hY
and form the most wonderful ulr.
lures. pictures much more beautiful
than ans scenes laid on earth And
we wiBh thar o. all never change
newer end
Early in The afternoon she led us
up che ragged hillside 90 sh0W na
her mirage See. fhe white bot
sun waa painting falgiaud scenes
pn The aIkaH fiata city on q
green haF atih church spires reach
Ing high and acres ~ cluitored roofs
all laden with the SHOWS 0f winter
And Tits is mY park" she er
claimed pointing fuu 81 pine
trees today and see the happg chill.
dreu epastlnE' Would you waaf tn
live ir the suburbs OF q more beau.
ufBl cify. gentlemen F-
We we're riding over The desert
that evening, Sob who had been
strangely silent that day. having do.
clinod fpr us both au Invitation to
remain with our friend until the
NANt hiHh.
: found much 90 say to Bob of our
adventure and odd discovery Of that
couple in lhc little oasis. and ! was
out of patience Wlfn him for his np.
parent lack uf interest But he con.
tiuued strangely quiet Only once
dI1 be- break Die silence Then be-
said The love of good woman
passes Che understanding OF ans
man on earth womauH love la
greatest when She Re- making her
sacrifice And ! suppose the greater
the sacrifice the greater the love"
BHt not until we were iu our
blankets that night ana . realize the
cause OF Boba retlcence OF that day.
aud then he was muttcrlng 90
himself not confiding his secret 10
One
"Tho most beautiful woman ln the
world. : heard him say. and (
treated her ike he'll ~ ! hadn't
Nrefl Hfrh Ia damned fudfau"