The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-17
My Sympathetic
Friend
By SUSAN YOUNG PALMER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


when was so young that l have NJ
remembrance of them. and I was sen
to an orphan asylum. When l wa
eighteen the matron one morning call
ed me into her room and said to me:
"You have been very useful to u:
here since you passed out Of child
hood. but am expected by tn,
managers to get on without help
You are now old enough to be sell
supporting and must either work fol
yourself alone or in home I oc
casionally receive a letter from some
man desiring one Of our grown girl:
for wife. 1 had one Of these let
tiers this morning from a young mar
in the west. who says that he has
good farm on which he lives alone
and he wishes me to send him some
one for a helpmeet whom l can rec
ommend, and he has forwarded let
tiers recommending him. Let me know
If you wish the position"
The matron was used to condensinc
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 l left her to so to my
room to think.
The result Of my fearful delibera-
tons was that l was a 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. l had 10 money with
which to return or go anywhere else
in case he should prove disagreeable.
Indeed. l felt as though I had been
pitched over a precipice.
The train had left Chicago and we
were bowling along toward the Missis-
sippi. I noticed a young man sitting
near me who was looking at me, l
thought. sympathetically. I must have
shown my dependency in my face,
for his own reflected 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 can do or say to make you feel
happier"
There was that in his honest face
and eyes that invited confidence. l
told him my story. He listened to it
attentively and respectfully and when
I had finished said:
HAS it occurred to you that the
man who is 70 marry you is in the
same position with regard to you that
you are with regard to him?"
II never thought Of that"
"And do you know that many so
called love matches turn out very un.
happily?
II 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. I think you
have 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 BIASED by love. The
chances are largely in your favor"
What you say" replied. sounds
encouraging. but it seems to me
that would rather begin with love
even If I must end with disappoint-
ment."
Spoken like a woman" he rejoined.
"And I would rather begin without
love and end with love-"
What a treasure are these people
who have the faculty of lifting the
cloud that hangs over us and showing
us the sun shining behind. This young
man seemed to have only an ordinary
education. but any deficiency was
made up by common sense. Then. too
1t was easy to see that he had kind
heart He was constantly looking at
me out of those sympathetic eyes of
his. which said. Poor child. how !
pity you" He was with me most Of
the morning and all the afternoon.
He soon ceased to talk about my trou-
BILE, leading me into other paths,
though he told me many instances of