Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-12-29
Three Meetings
BysF.fA. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.

lnree times l saw Qef. t0tee times
eaged upon her. each time being drawn
nearer to her before knew her sor
row.
was riding on railroad train to my
home In the suburbs Of great city
when looking up I saw girl who faced
me gazing at me with q pair Of large
brown eyes. There was In her face
something like sadness. but not sad
ness. rather the appearance Of one borr
under different conditions from other
mortals-a resignation. yet content
ment In resignation. |. have tried by
these words TO describe 1t, but am con
scious Of having failed.
Though her eyes were 6xed upon me
there was no boldness In them. Rather
she seemed unconscious Of meeting my
gaze. Perhaps. I thought. she Is think
ing Of something 30 absorbing that
though she IL looking straight at me
che does not see me. or 1t may be
that she Is looking ut something be-
yond me. have often returned a
salute from a person who meant II
for one behind me. So continued to
gaze at the girl and she ut me till she
turned her face in another direction.
She was sitting by lady double her
age, and the likeness between them in
dicated that they were mother and
daughter. Presently the train stopped
at station. and the two left the car
together. had noticed by the affec-
tionate glances the mother gave the
daughter that she ido!ized her. and
when they passed out it was hand in
aand.
| did not forget the face. and a year
later l saw it again. This time it
was in Il church. She was. as before,
accompanied By her mother. was
sitting in Il transept: the girl was fac
ing the pulpit. There was the same
look. indescribable in words. that had
Impressed me twelve months ago. Her
gaze was fixed on the clergyman.
though occasionally she would drop it
rs though looking into her lap. There
was in me vague feeling-something
like a hope-that when had seen her
on the train she had been. at least a
part Of the time. looking ut me. cogni-
cant of my presence: that she had re.
membered me AZ l remembered her.
watched to see ii, she would not look
In my direction. just before the close
Of the services was rewarded by see
ing her turn. and her eyes rested upon
me. l looked for something to indi-
cate that she was conscious of my
presence and that she had seen me
before. But there was only that
strange look of resignation had seen
before. After the benedlction she and
her mother left the church in the same
manner as they had left the train.
The third meeting. Having Il law
case was waiting in the courtroom
for it to be tried. A criminal case was
called-that of Evelyn Bryce. Who
should come into court to answer to
the charge of forgery hut the girl |
had seen twice before. She came hand
and hand with her mother
Naturally was wrapped in the
trial. The prisoners attorney was evil
IDENTIFY trying to prove Il conspiracy on
the part of certain persons against his
client. When he made a point in her
favor or her case appeared to be going
against her | looked to see what effect
lit had upon her. could see very
little. was not sure that | could
see any. noticed that the jury-in
deed. all those In the courtroom were
looking at her: that they seemed as
much impressed with that look Of
mingled resignation and content as |.
The defendants counsel exhibited the
document that the girl was accused of
forging and showed that the name had
heen written OH the line intended for
1t without the raising or depression
of a single letter and without incline
either up or down.
you see. gentlemen of the jury" be
said. that whoever wrote that name
must have written It in 4 bright light.
must have written with pair Of eyes
that worked thoroughly in concert. fol-
there are defects Of eyesight that
cause persons so affected to write
slanting the lines downward or up.
ward"
Il presume" interrupted the pros
ecuting attorney. THAT defendants
counsel proposes to prove that his
client has the defect he mentions.
would call your hon0r's attention to tho
fact that the prisoner has very beau
/ tiful pair Of eyes. Indeed. greatly
fear that She Is using them upon the
! jury with view to securing her ac
quittal."
lence for few moments this attempt
to prejudice the court and the jur.
against his client. Then he said:
1.-THE prosecuting attorney is mistak
en-. your honor. am not Intending tt
prove that my client has this especla
defect. ! would for her sake that Il
had pleased her Creator to give her thi,
defect instead Of the one with which
she is afflicted. Gentlemen of tht
Jury. my client is unable to cast upo,
you glances calculated to excite you,
sympathy any more than she coult
have seen to write~her name exactl!
on the line In that document. for sht
ia stone blind"
The effect produced on the court by
this announcement rendered any fur
Their process Of law unnecessary. Tit
jury without leaving their seats acquit
ted the accused. and now knew VIII,
when she and her mother left tn,
courtroom they went hand in hand.
/ This IL but the beginning of 81 stnr,