Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-02-24
IN s,>s Xxx <<<<<<<<<<<x< II
The Wall Flower
By TEMPLE BAILEY
copyright. 1911. By Associated Literary prsss

/ love life better than I did when I
was younger. Tonight I've been out
in the wind, walking up the beach.
and felt strong enough to conquer the
world. Even in my most sanguine
boyhood DAYS l never knew the same
sense of absolute belief In my ability
to make things come my way"
"But you're a man." b said. "A
woman when she loses her flrst youth
and beauty must be content to b .
wall flower"
Come out" he said. impulsively.
land walk with me up the beach. It
is glorious out; the wind Is blowing,
and you'll feel as II the world was
miles away, and hat the people In It
were Of little account in the sum OF
human happiness"
The moon shone between the rag.
ged clouds, as. wrapped in a red CLOAK.
she went with him or their wild walk.
TITS glorious" she confessed, and
I don't care tonight II l am poor and
a wall1ower, but in the morning thers
will be the awakening"
Il am poor, too" he said, but Tor
me there will be no awakening. be-
cause all my life I've had riches, and
all my life I've been bored. The week
before | came down here l learned
that had lost everything. Everybody
thought that the blow would be crush
ing, but l have been surprised TO N
that / do not care"
But you will care" she said, when
you have lived for a little while and
have learned Of how little account you
are to people"
What do care for people!" was
his question.
You will care Just as did tonight
she said. When you find that you
are of little account. 1t will hurt you.
He turned to her. d you think !
could aver be Of little account" ho
asked. II don't say this with conceit,
but I know that I have found myself
and that h%enceforth l shall make the
world listen.''
! "Oh!" she breathed, 'if one could
feel like that!"
zone must feel like that" he said,
ito live and conquer. Shall We test
It? Tomorrow night put on your pref
test gown and go into he ance ex-
pecting to be a belle, not a wall
and see the result"
That wouldn't make q bit OF d1f-
ference" she protested.
1T will make a difference" be said.
Try it."
The next night saw her in the midst
Of a group Of men. Her head was up
and her eyes were shining.
you see 1t worked" he said. - ne
came up to claim a dance.
1T was the funniest thing" h con-
fessed. Before I came downstairs
smiled at myself In the glass and
whispered over and over again that !
was young and happy, and gradually !
came to feel that I was happy. n !
came down to the dance tonight WITH
out fear. 1t seemed as II created q
different atmosphere. Do you believe
in such things? OF course you DO,
or you wouldn't have advised It last
night"
II knew you were Understanding
your own charms" he told 9 You
ran away upstairs to the balcony be
fore people had half a chance TO SEQ
you"
AFTER ALL" she said, quickly, what
is 1t worth. what do l really care what
they think Of met?
He looked down at her with q new
light in his eyes. What do we care
for anyone except ourselves? What
l think OF you, and what you think OF
me; that is the important question.
isn't IT." |
After a while he took her up to the
balcony where they could be alone.
IF l had my money" he said. I'd
ask you to marry me-"
TT you had your money" she said.
"I wouldn't let you ask me. I'm not
fitted to be the wife OF a rich man."
Below them the dancers whirled TO
the rhythm of the music. Outside the
wind sang a wild song, but they had
no ears for the music within or that
without. They were listening to the
song OF their own hearts, which old
Of the love that laughs at obstacles.