Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-12-21
Spending so frankly. Tor sayIn.

2 oPNhh'ht w ~ ohhiys wi coyiHS
What | ought not to have said, yet
now can never unsay IT,;
For there are moments In life, wheI
the heart is so full OF emotion,
That II by chance 1t be shaken, oil
into its depths like a pebble
Drops some careless word, IT overnows
and it's secret,
Split on the ground like water, car
never be gathered together.
Yesterday was shocked, when
heard you speak of Miles Stand
ish.
Praising his virtues, Transforming his
very defects into virtues,
Praising his courage and strength
and even his fighting In Flanders
AS II by fighting alone you could win
the heart OF q woman,
Quite overlooking yourself and the
rest. in exalting your hero.
Therefore spake as did by an ir-
resistible impulse.
You will forgive me. hope. for the
sake OF the friendship between us,
Which 10 too true and too sacred 70
be SO easily broksnl"
Thereupon answered John. Alden. the
scholar, the friend Of Miles stand
Il was not angry with you. with my
self alone was angry,
Seeing how badly I managed the mat
ter ! had In my keeping.
MOI" interrupted the maiden. with
answer prompt and decisive;
No; you were angry with me for
speaking so frankly and freely
II was wrong. ! acknowledge: for II
h ths fate Of . woman
Long to Be patient and silent, to wait
like a ghost that 10 speechless,
Till some questioning voice dissoaves
the spell Of It's silence.
Hence 10 the inner life OF 90 many
suffering women
Sunless and silent and deep, like sub
terranean rivers
Running through caverns OF darkness.
unheard. unseen, and unfruitful,
Chatting their channels OF stone. with
endless and profitless murmurs.
Thereupon answered John Alden, the
young man, the lover OF women :
Heaven forbid 1t, Priscilla; and truly
they seem TO me always
More like the beautiful rivers that
watered the Garden of Eden.
More like the river Euphrates. through
deserts OF Havilah flowing,
Filling the land with delight, and
memories sweet of the garden!"
"Ah, by these words. can see" again
interrupted the maiden,
How very little you prize me, or care
for what | am saying.
When from the depths OF my heart,
in pain and with secret misgiving,
Frankly | speak 10 you, asking for
sympathy only and kindness,
Straightway you take up my words,
that are plain and direct and In
earnest,
Turn them away from their meaning
and answer with nattering
phrases.
This is not right is not just Ia not
true TO the best that IL in you;
For I know and esteem you, and feel
that your nature is noble,
Lifting mine up to higher, more
ethereal level.
Therefore value your friendship and
feel il perhaps the more keenly
II you say aught that implies | am
only as one among many,
II you mako use of those common and
complimentary phrases
Most men think 80 fine, In dealing and
speaking with women.
But which women reject as insipid, II
not 90 insulting"
Mute and amazed was Alden; and
listened and looked at Priscilla,
Thinking he never had seen her more
fair, more divine In her beauty.
He who but yesterday pleaded so glib
ly the cause of another,
Stood there embarrassed and silent,
and seeking in vain for an answer.
So the maiden went on, and little d.
vined or imagined
What was at work In his heart, that
made him so awkward and
speechless
Let us, then, be what we are, and
speak what We think, and In all
things
Keep ourselves loyal to truth, and the
sacred professions Of friendship.
1t is no secret | tell you, nor am |
ashamed TO declare 1t:
I have liked to be with you. to see
you. to speak with you always.
SO ! was hurt at your words, and a
little affronted to hear you
Urge me TO marry your friend, though
he were the Captain Miles Stand
ish
For | must tell You the truth: much
more to me is your friendship
Than all the love he could give, were
he twice the hero you think him. "
Then she extended her hand. and AL
den, who eagerly grasped II,
Felt all the wounds in his heart, that
were aching and bleeding SO
sorely,
Healed by the touch OF that hand, and
he said with voice full of feel