The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-11-10
My Sympathetic
Friend
BY SUSAN YOUNG Palmer
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association.

ed me into her room and said to me:
You have been very useful to us
here since you passed out of child
hood, but am expected by the
to get on without help.
You are now old enough to be self
supporting and must either work for
Yourself alone or in home, ! oc-
receive a letter from some
man desiring one Of our grown girls
for a wife. ! had one of these let
ters this morning from young man
in the west. who says that he has
a good farm on which he lives alone,
and he wishes me to send him some
one for helpmeet whom | can rec
ommend. and he has forwarded let
tiers recommending him. Let me know
II you wish the position"
The matron was used to condensing
everything she said just as she bad
spoken these words. She was good
woman. but was 50 intimately connect
ed with the worlds troubles that she
could not give much attention to those
of any one person. She turned to 9th
err duties. and / left her TO so to my
room TO think.
The result of my fearful delibera-
lions was that was few days later
handed a ticket and what money
would need on the journey and took
train for the west. My leaving was
telegraphed to my future husband,
who was to meet me at the station,
marry me and drive me twenty miles
to his farm had no money with
which to return or go anywhere else
in case he should prove disagreeable.
Indeed, felt as though ] had been
pitched over a precipice.
The train had left Chicago and we
were bowling along toward the Missis-
sippi. | noticed a young man sitting
near me who was looking at me. |
thought. alphabetically. l must have
shown my dependency in my face,
for his own reflected it or, rather. be-
smoke commiseration. Presently he
came over TO me and said with an en-
couraging smile:
"You look troubled. Is there any
thing can do or say to make you feel
happier"
! There was that in his honest face
and eyes that invited confidence.
told him my story He listened to II
attentively and respectfully and when
/ had finished said;
"Has 1t occurred TO you that the
man who is 10 marry you is in the
same position with regard to you that
You are with regard to himp
Il never thought Of that"
"And do you know that many Sc
called love matches turn out very I'M
happily
Il supposed" replied, "that 1t was
the forced marriages such as the ont
| am about to make that are failures
"There is no truer saying than thai
marriage is a lottery. l think yot
have a better chance in yours thar
those people who, blinded by love. se'
no fault until a number OF them arr
plainly visible after marriage. Tn
biassed persons have recommends
this man TO you and you tolhim. Yo'
both trust to them instead Of you
own Judgment biassed by love. Th'
chances are largely in your favor"
''what you say" replied. sound
encouraging. but It seems to M
, that ] would rather begin with low
even il l must end with disappoint
! ment."
spoken like woman" be rejoined
"And / would rather begin withou
, love and end with love"
What treasure ate these peopl
who have the faculty of lifting tn
cloud that hangs over us and shown
us the sun shining behind. This youn
, man seemed to have only an ordlnar
t education. but any deficiency wa
e made up by common sense. Then. TOO
| IT was easy to see that he had kin
, heart He was constantly looking
me out of those sympathetic eyes c
his. which said. Poor child, how
nifty yous He was with me most
the morning and all the afternoon
$ He soon ceased to talk about my trol
Bile. leading me into other pain
!. though he told me many instances
persons who had made marriage
matter of business and found It
..z.4o- of a Afaettpu
NV lover-I was certainly thinkir
G the word. mockefy that IT was-ha
G written that my train would land II
a in the night at the last principal tow
on nv route. and | was TO remai
d there. taking another train the ne
morning. When parted with n
. newly made friend relapsed into Il
same miserable condition as befor
= But I was tired. and that night. thous
\ I went to sleep in tears. I got a fair
i GOOD rest. This and bright morniI
d kent me up the next day till | a
e. proached the last station. where | WI
i to meet my lover" when It was
y could do to resist a temptation
!. throw myself from the train. pc
= mitted every one TO 20 out before \
3 and wished there were more Of thei
) Then when alone nerved myself I
l. the ordeal and left the car.
Is MY lover was there waiting for n
q extending his hand to assist me dow
= the steps.
= A sudden wonder mixed with a wi
\ futtering OF my heart caused me
N pause. Was ! in dream or was