The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-26


She nodded rs briefly related what !
had happened with Will and May.
And Of course Sarah feels pretty |,
badly" concluded.
Poor child" she murmured- II won |
dered what was the matter with her i
these days She will feel differently |
later. But your brother. that - an |
other question:
HE and his wife will never feel diff
ferentiy."
She tossed aside the pen she held
and rose to her feet.
Never mind, know you don't mind
really. only II IL too had to have this
annoyance just now. when you have
SO much on your shoulder. I wish
could do something. A woman's hands
are always tied-'
She could say no more. and We sat
for some time without further talk. I
was thinking what would happen when
Mr.. Grounds stock was dumped on the
market. to be snapped up BY my enc
mics. Our company was very near
the point Of paying dividends. and with
friendly line Of railroad giving Us an
outlet into the southwest the strug-
Cling venture would be I'm q powerful
position.
If he would wait but six months
more!" broke out at last.
She shook her head.
where u question Of principle Is
involved"-
ner lips curved Ironically.
What would you do. tell me. II Q
parcel Of scamps were holding you up
for the benefit Of your enemies? Sup
pose you had a perfect right to do the
business you had in hand. Would you
put tail between legs and get out and
leave your bone to the other dogY''
III wanted to starve. yes. should
deserve to-
You and I think surprisingly alike
very often"
Il always liked despots." she replied.
And. al a matter Of fact. despots-the
strong ones-have always really done
things. They do today-only we make
fuss about it and get peachy. No
my friend. don't hesitate. The scrupu-
lous ones will bow to you in time"
"You would have made something Ct
q man."
She bowed her head mockingiy.
THAT is mans best compliment to
poor, weak woman. But I am con-
tent when I touch the driving hand
now and them
After q time she added:
You will find the way. It IL not
the last ditch-far from Il. A man
like you cannot be killed with one
blow"
She had given the warning. done
what she could. and now she trusted
me to do the rest Her will, her sym.
patty, were strong behind me. So
when this Domen. was over. when she
went her way and mine out into the
world Of cares and struggle. I might
carry with me this bit Of her courage
her sureness. I felt that, and I want
it was more herself than her good will
or her help that ] valued. But 1t was
an awkward thing to say.
Her hands lay upon the desk be.
tween W. They were not beautiful
hands. merely strong. close knit-hands
| to hold with q grip OF death. looked
at them. thinking that In her hands
was the sign Of her character. She
raised her eyes and gazed at me steadi.
~ for several moments.
| you know how I feelr'
nodded.
you don't need a woman's sympa
thy. But I want you to know how
feel-for my own sake."f
| Thank you for 1t. In this Efe Z
man must stand pretty much alone
win or lose. I have always found 1,
so-except when you and have talked
things over. That hasn't been often
This = a tight place I ind myself In
now. But there's q way out, or II
there isn't-weli. I have played the
game better than most"
| Even that thought doesn't give hap
piness," she unused. 81 know. because
my friend. I. too. have stood alone al
my life."
She gave mo this confidence simply
- q man might
IT suppose q woman counts On hap
plness," I said awkwardly In response
But I have never counted much on
that There have always bsen many
things to do. and I have done them
well Or Ill. I can't say. But I have
| done them somehow"
It was q clumsy answer. but could
ind NO proper words for what felt
Such things are not 70 b said Their
followed smother Of these full silences
which counted with this woman for &c
much more than words. Again It wal
she who broke 1t:
For once. only once. want to speah
out plainly. You are younger than l
my frieni-not 50 much In years - II
other thi1gs- Enough % that car
look at you asa friend You under
stand!'
She spoke gently. with q little smile
n II. after all, all this must b takeI
between u for Q joke.
From the beginning. when you and
Sarah flrst came into our lives, I saw
the kind Of man you were, and ! ad
mired you. I wanted - help you-yes
to help you"
"And that you did"
mot really. Perhaps no one could
really help you. No one helps or hin
ders- You work out your fate from thu
inside. like all the powerful ones. Yor
do what is in you to do and nevea
o.. ~