The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-12-15
My Sympathetic
Friend
BY SUSAN YOUNG PALMER
Copyright. 1914 BY American Press
Association.


you have been very useful to Us
here since you passed out Of child
hood but I am expected by the
managers to set on without help.
You are now old enough 10 be self
supporting and must either work for
yourself alone or in a home. oc-
casicnally receive a letter from some
man desiring one Of our grown girls
for a wife had one Of these let
tiers 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 a heIpmeet whom can rec
ommend. and be 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 had
spoken these words She was a good
woman. but was so intimately connect
ed with the worlds troubles that she
could not give much attention to those
OF any one person. She turned to 9TH
er duties. and / left her to go to my
room to think
The result Of my fearful delibera-
tons was that I was few days later
handed a ticket and what money I
would need on the journey and took
a train for the west. Ny leaving was
telegraphed TO my future husband.
who was to meet me az the station.
marry me and drive me twenty miles
TO his farm. l bad no money with
which TO return or go anywhere else
in case he should prove disagreeable.
Indeed. I felt as though I had been
pitched over a precipice.
The train had left Chicago and we
were bowling along toward the alissis-
sippl / noticed a young man sitting
near me who was looking at me.
thought. sympathetically. I must have
shown my dependency in my face
for his own reelected it or. rather. BE-
spoke commiseration. Presently he
came over to me and said. with an en-
couraging smile:
You look troubled. Is there any
thing I can do or say 70 make you feel
happier"
There was that 10 his honest face
and eyes that invited confidence. 1
told him my story He listened TO il
attentively and respectfully and when
had finished said:
Has it occurred to you that the
man who is TO marry you IS in the
same position with regard to you that
you are with regard to himy'
4 never thought Of that"
"And do you know that many 50
called love matches turn out very IN
happilyY
i supposed / replied. ''that It was
the forced marriages such as the one
am about to make that are failures"
There IS no truer saying than that
marriage is a lottery. / think you
have a better chance In yours than
those people who. blinded By love. see
no fault until a number OF them are
plainly visible after marriage. I'm
BIASED persons have recommended
this man to you and you to him. You
both trust to them instead OF your
own judgment biassed By love. The
chances are largely in your favor"
What you say" / replied. sounds
but It seems to me
that would rather begin with love
even II must end with disappoint-
ment"
Spoken Ike a woman" he rejoined.
And I would rather begin without
ove and end with love-
What a treasure are these people
who have the faculty OF lifting the
loud that hangs over US and showing
IS the sun shining behind. This young
nan seemed to have only an ordinary
.ducation. but any deficiency was
made up BY common sense. Then. too.
{ was easy to see that he had a kind
leart He was constantly looking at Z
ne out Of those sympathetic eyes OF !
ifs. which said. Poor child. how I
llty your He was with me most Of
he morning and all the afternoon.
Ie soon ceased to talk about my trou-
lie. leading me into other paths,
hough he told me many Instances Of
ersons who had made marriage a v
natter Of business and found it a
natter Of affection Z
Ny lOver-I was certainly thinking !,
be word. mockery that It was-had j.
'ritten that my train would land me =
] the night at the last principal town
D my route. and was to remain az
iere. taking another train the next II
Iorning. When parted with my
swiy made friend reiapsed into the Il
inc miserable condition as before ~
uf was tired. and that night. though n
went to sleep IN tears. ! got a fairly u
'od rest. This and a bright morning q.
'pf me up the next day tn ] ap- ~
oached the last station. where I was
meet my lover when II was ali
could do 10 resist temptation to
row myself from the train. / per- ca
TIED every one to 90 out before me DO
d wished there were more Of them RI
len when alone nerved myself for q,
E ordeal and left the car. ~
~ lover was there waiting for me. II
tending hig hand 70 assist me down ne
} steps lnf
sudden wonder mixed with q Wild str
tfering Of my heart caused me to ma
Iac Was 1 IN n dream or WA dos