The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-03-22
Three (: Meetings
By FLA mitchell
~
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

nearer to her before I knew her sor
row.
was riding on q railroad train to my
home in the suburbs Of a great city
when looking up l sa W a girl who faced
me gazing at me with a 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 othel
mortals-a resignation. yet a content
ment In resignation. have tried by
these words to describe It, but am con.
scious Of having failed.
Though her eyes were fixed upon me
there was no boldness in them Rather
she seemed unconscious Of meeting my
gaze. Perhaps, ! thought, she is think
ing of something SO absorbing that
though she is looking straight at me
she does not see me, or It may be
that she il looking at something be-
yoDd me. l have often returned a
salute from q person who meant 1t
Tor one behind me. So continued to
gaze at the girl and she at 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 a station, and the two left the car
together. had noticed by the affec.
tlonate glances the mother gave the
daughter that she idolized her. and
when they passed out 1t was hand in
hand.
did not forget the face. and year
later saw It again. This time It
was In church. She was, as before.
accompanied by her mother. was
sitting in 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,
:hough occasionally she would drop it
Is though looking into her lap. There
vas In me a vague feeling-something
Ike hope-that when l had seen her
IN. the train she had been. at least a
part OF the time. looking at me, cogni-
.ant OF my presence; that she had re.
nembered me as l remembered her.
watched to see IL she would not look
my direction. Just before the close
I the services I was rewarded by see
ng her turn. and her eyes rested upon
ne. ! looked for something to indi-
ate that she was conscious Of nv
resence and that she had seen me
efore. But there was only that /
range look of resignation I had seen
efore. After the benediction she and |
er mother left the church in the same
tanner as they had left the train.
The third meeting. Having a law
lse ! was waiting in the courtroom
n 1t to be tried. A criminal case was
'lied--that of Evelyn Bryce. Who
lould come into court to answer to Il
e charge of forgery but the girl l
Id seen twice before She came hand
I'd hand with her mother.
Naturally was wrapped in the
laL The prisoners attorney was evil
'ntly trying to prove a conspiracy on
9 part of certain persons against his
lent When he made a point in her
vor or her case appeared to be going
ainst her I looked to see what effect
had upon her. i could see very
tie. was not sure that l could
e any. l noticed that the jury-in.
ed. all those in the courtroom-were
oking at her; that they seemed as
lch impressed with that look. Of
ngled resignation and content as l.
The defendants counsel exhibited the
cument that the girl was accused of q
'ging and showed that the name had I (
en- written on the line Intended for Z
without the raising or depression
single letter and without incline
her up or down. t.
You see. gentlemen of the jury" he o
q. that whoever wrote that name h
lst have written It in bright light. :,
st have written with a pair Of eyes
It worked thoroughly in concert. for
re are defects of eyesight that ri
Use persons SO affected to write la
nting the lines downward or up. "
3D." /"
l presume" interrupted the pros %
ting attorney, that DEFENDANTS ST
nsel proposes to prove that his pl
mt has the defect he mentions. W
lid call your honor's attention to the -,
that the prisoner has a very beau. :"
u pair OF eyes. Indeed. greatly SC
that she Is using them upon the
with view to securing her &C.
ttal."
he accused's counsel received in si. =
. for few moments this attempt
prejudice the court and the jury =
Inst bis client. Then he said: :,
The prosecuting attorney is mistak.
your honor. l am not intending to
70 that my client has this especial 2
ct. l would for her sake that It =
pleased her Creator to give her this
ct instead Of the one with which :,
is afflicted. Gentlemen of the :,
. my client is unable to cast upon r,
glances calculated to excite your O
pathy any more than she could h
seen to write her name exactly d
ne line In that document, for she IS
one blind" Al
9 erect produced on the court nv >.
announcement rendered any fur. ee
OrOcnco ~ In - ,,n.... M