El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-15

eyes Of one had faded to the dull shade
Of q late autumn leaf The gray eyes
of the other were the color of the sta
IN December twilight. The hair OF
each had grown white. The hands Of
both were large veined and fluttered
unsteadily among the folds OF Inelr
black gowns, as they sat and talked
in the freight, looking past each other
at the vanished years,
we chose different ways" said she
OF the gray eyes.
And you" pursued the gray eyed
girl, grown old in body, but with the
power and zest of analysis still strong
in her were you satisfied to be an
old fashioned woman, as you sa1dF
They looked at each other, a remln-
iscent smile on their wrinkled faces
Blasted Hopes.
AT first I did, but then"
But then?"
Il began to learn how insecure is the
happiness Of one who looks to any 9TH
er human being for it. 1 began. my
married life as a hero wCrshiper, and
when I found I was married to crea-
ture who had an uncertain temper and
who was fussy about his food and VINO
doled out his money for the household
expenses as though il hurt him, felt
as children do who have just discovered
that there IS no Santa Claus. Romance
passed and tolerance fingered OFTEN II
seemed that that would pass. toe Three
4
when I saw the collins lowered into the
grave I asked why they had been given
only to be taken The JOY OF mother-
hood was no compensation for the pain
OF loss. Our third child dsfied his par
ents and has gone out into the world 10
find success in his own way. Perhaps
he viii find it; perhaps he won't. II
may be that only shame and failure
wait for him at the end OF the road
Sometimes I lie awake all night Won
dering where he is and having terrible
visions Of that shame and failure and
The gray eyed girl grown old. nod
ded.
The Other Side.
Yes" she answered, that is hard.
But let me show you the other side OF
the shield. I set out to be self-sufficient.
While / was young, ambition to succeed
as a painter of portraits closed the
gates of my heart to any other guest
Because I was always busy there was
no lack in my life. The time came
when there were knockings, even
though faint, on the door OF my heart
Ambition remained the only guest. ]
worked tremendously, and my work
was successful When I heard the post
man ring I looked eagerly at my let
ters, but only 10 see which contained
checks. / had passed from the first age
of woman when she looks for love let
ters to the second when she looks only
for checks. I went on with my portrait
painting. and as painted faces ana
figures knew / was also painting the
hearts and souls of my sitters. 1t was
a fascinating pursuit. But one day as ]
sat alone after a long sitting and glanced
with weary eyes at portrait had
just finished / wished that there was
some heart I knew thoroughly and 10
which I possessed the absolute key.
was tired Of guessing the secrets Of the
hearts hidden behind the masks Of those
faces. I wanted one of my own, in
which there was no mystery, one which
/ could read as a printed page. As ]
realized this there was an ache in my
own heart. For the first time in life
I was lonely. 7 got up and walked to
woman it reflected. The awakening TO
the need Of loving companionship had
come, but too late"
But Two Roads.
But we can never be sure that it viii
] be loving companionship." The face OF
{ the brown eyed woman hardened. The
I gray eyes looked at her with steady in
] curry.
Then you are not satisfied that mar
riage is the only career for a wOman?
l she quoted. The other woman shook her
head.
And you?' she asked. Does the
/ thought of belonging to anyone still re-
/ volt yOu2 Are you glad that you have
I walked the path Of success without
! human hindranees2"
In these latter years my arms have
/ ached for them, confessed the woman
/ with the sea-in- December eyes.
They looked at each other across the
/ fire that was dying into ashes
And there are but two roads"
There is no other way"