Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1912-01-05
liiga lopes

Derby and so often OF her son John
that Miss French feIt that she,s the.
fattered recipient of these precious
confdenc es, might even. be willing to-
accept the name of Smithers in exss
change for hers, for such perfection:
and virtue would come with IT. 3;s5s
Miss French was passing a few
weeks at health resort. There she
had fallen into the company :of Mrs.
Smithers so much that she felt it was
no coincidence when she found Mrs.
Smithers seated In her; ;favorite cor
ner sewing or when she went for
walk to the springs and found Mrs:
Smithers slowly moving thitherward;
to be easily overtaken. .s.,::
On all such occasions Mrs. Smith.
ers reveled in blissful ,recollections of
beauties in her sons character ors:in
golden dreams of his future.
/. Miss French listened with q futter-
ing bosom. 1t was not surprising that
her previously untouched heart
throbbed deliciously when Mrs: Smith
ers told Of the chivairy in her John's
nature. Did an act Of bravery or
heroism reach her ears, never was
she at loss to recall something in
Johns brief but brilliant career that
put the heroism Of others completely
In the shade. John was aiIover OF ali
things noble, of all good and true and
upright things, and he abhorreds 4ail
mean, weak, contemplate natures as
thoroughly as he hated deceit and
sin. .~& n
If child crossed their paths Mrs.
Smithers saw in 1t, not her own pleas
ure and love in perfect childhood, but
Johns. John couldn't see a child on
the street without stopping to speak
to 1t. And generous! And kind! And
brave! And handsome! Oh. thoughts
Of John brought tears to his mothers
eyes! -,. ~ a. #
49, n
So when Mrs Smithers pressed
Miss French's hand tenderlya and
whispered in voice trembling with
emotion that John was coming to see
his dear mother the following week,
and that Mrs. Smithers looked for
ward to the joy of letting Miss
| French share the delights of his pres.
ence, Miss French pressed Mrs.
Smithers' hand in return. AS she did
SO she felt thrill OF warmth and
| happiness cross her heart l..
1t was most exciting and romantic
to think that she was soon to meet q
man who was almost, IL not quite, per
feet % " 81 SESE f$s
She listened with something of the
mothers own excited intensity for the
carriage wheels on the day Of johns
arrival. The thought even crossed
her mind that she ought to express
her appreciation to Mrs. Smithers for
giving her this great pleasure. She
pictured herself as she might be in
the future, as a blooming Mrs. Smith
ers, sheltered and protected by John,
the envy of all her friends, the pos.
SCISSOR of absolute happiness. ~ ~
Why did she feel so hopeful? Well,
John was so attached to his mother
that he wouldn't dream of falling in
love without his mothers sanction? -.
And hadn't Mrs. Smithers looked
the world. over in vain for a wife
worthy of John-looked until she was
almost tempted to admit that there
wasn't girl in the world capable O:
filling that exalted position? But
now Then Mrs. Smithers had smiled
meaningly at Miss French and had
patted her head. Wasn't that reason
enough for Miss French to anticipate
a perfect FUTURE
I When the carriage finally arrived
Miss French watched with an inten.
sity that hurt, as each passenger
stepped out of It, But when it waa
finally emptied she sighed q deep
deep sigh Of regret. IS Y n =
He hadn't come! -:s:##3.@
4 . She reached for Mrs. Smithers' hand
+ to comfort the poor mother--but II
was gone, and so was Mrs Smithers
I With outstretched arms Mrs. Smith
ers was racing down the walk toward
wiZened little man with q fast in
creasfng bald spot and a propensity
4 for loud talk who was pickering with
the driver over the fare and demand
Ing his rights In a high pitched voice
that reminded Miss French Of Punch
and Judy show. His mother reached
John before his transaction was com
4 pieted and she threw herself into tlfl
arms before he was aware OF hel
\ presence. s5s
oh, hello. NAL" he said. casually
4 but In penetrating voice. 1T was
sort of hard to get away-my books
didn't balance last night, and though,
I'd have to stay over another day
4 but ! fixed them. Here, ma, you carry
I this satchei. will you? I'll carry the
other one" /. vi ,:.,9
I. Miss French fed precipitateiy from
their path that she might escape the
promised introd ion She required
A time to clear away the debris Of hel
ruined air castles. \, ;5.ss
ideal. RI s: & V h
How very few statues there are 81