The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-02-29
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High Hopes

Mrs. Smithers had spoken 30 ten
derby and so often OF her son John
that Miss French felt that she, the
fiattered recipient of these precious
condolences. might even be willing to
accept the name Of Smithers In ex-
change for hers for such perfection
and virtue would come With 1t.
Miss French was passing a few
weeks at health resort. There she
had fallen into the company of Mrs.
Smithers 80 much that she felt it was.
no coincidence when she found Mrs.
Smithers seated in her favorlte cor
ner sewing or when she went for q
walk to the springs and found Mrs.
Smithers slowly moving thitherward,
to be easily overtaken.
On all such occasions Mrs. Smith
ers reveled in blissful recollections OF
beauties In her sons character or In
golden dreams of his future.
Miss French listened with futter-
Ing bosom. 1t was not surprising that
her previously untouched heart
throbbed deliciously when Mrs. Smith
ers told of the chivalry in her Johns
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 lover Of al
things noble, Of all good and true and
upright things, and he abhorred all
mean, weak, contemplate natures as
thoroughly as he hated deceit and
sin.
If a 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 child on
the street without stopping to speak
to it. And generous! And kind And
brave! And handsome! Oh, thoughts
of John brought tears to his mothers
eyes!
So when Mrs. Smithers pressed;
Miss French's hand tenderly 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 a thrill Of warmth and
happiness cross her heart.
1t was most exciting and romantic
to think that she was soon to meet q
man who was almost, If not quite, per-
feet.
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 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,
hadn't Mrs. Smithers assured her that
| John was so attached to his mother
| that he wouldn't dream of falling in
love without his mothers sanction? i,
And hadn't Mrs. Smithers looked
the world over in vain for a wife
worthy of John-looked until she was!
wasn't girl In the world capable OF
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?
When the carriage finally arrived
Miss French watched with an inten-
sity that hurt, as each passenger
stepped out of it. But when 1t was
! finally emptied she sighed a deep,
deep sigh of regret.
He hadn't come!
She reached for Mrs. Sm1thers' hand
! was gone, and so was Mrs. Smithers.
With outstretched arms Mrs. Smith
ers was racing down the walk toward
a wizened little man with fast in
creasing bald spot and propensity
for loud talk who was pickering with
the driver over the fare and demand
ing his rights in high pitched voice
that reminded Miss French of q Punch
and Judy show. His mother reached
John before his transaction was CON-
pleted and she threw herself into his
arms before he was aware Of her
presence.
"Oh, hello, mai" he said, casually,
but In a penetrating voice. 1T was
sort of hard to get away-my books
didn't balance last night. and thought
I'd have to stay over another day
but fixed them. Here, ma, you carry