The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-02-28
TWO SCENES
IN TWO LIVES
By MARGARET BARR

WIZ kdhlllk TUG Nl WANING 0OVoS $40
place. 1t was not spacious, and the
mouse was not palatial. They indi-
Gated an owner Of moderate means.
but there was something about the
premises that denoted he was refined.
There was a whirring of wheels up the
road and an automobile appeared. Be-
side the chauffeur there was only II
person aboard. a middle aged lady
well wrapped in fur robes. The We.
hicle had reached a point perhaps q
hundred yards from the place describ-
ed when there was an explosion like
a pistol shot. The auto swerved and
In doing SO went over.
The chauffeur was unhurt. Not so
the lady. The gentleman who saw
the catastrophe went to her assistance.
She was lying with closed eyes, but
she soon opened them and looked at
the man bending over her.
"Tell ME, madam" he said. how
badly hurt you are that I may decide
what to do"
II don't know" she said in Il faint
voice. but | doubt IL my injuries are
serious"
The chauffeur joined them, and the
two carried the lady to the house.
Two young ladies, the daughters of
the host. took her In charge. while the
gentleman t%elephoaed for n surgeon.
When the medical man arrived he pro.
nounced the lady unhurt, with the ex-
ception Of sprained ankle. which
prevented her walking. He said she
might be driven to her home at any
time. Left alone with her host. the
lady said:
'This is a singular meeting, Mr.. Can
ming"
The gentleman started. I'VE have
met before?" he asked.
Yes. You were once we'll known to
me. But that was twenty years ago.
and my age is just double what it q
then. 1t is not remarkable that you
should not recognize me-"
"But you have recognized me-"
"There is a reason for that"
Twill you give itY'
"Yes. but not directly. l will tell
you a little story. The scene is the
veranda Of Il house on an eminence
overlooking Il river. The season is
spring. The hour was that when the
twilight fades into night. A new moon
is standing over the western horizon.
1.-TWO young persons were sitting on
the veranda, a man and q woman.
The man took her hand In one Of his;
the other be stole around her waist.
4 love you,' he said. and l wish you
to be my wife The words We're SIM
pie but more winning from their SIM
plicity. 1t was the happiest moment
Of her life.
But not relishing being won too cas-
lily she asked for time, promising an
answer within a few days. He assent
ed, but reluctantly. When a few days
had passed she looked for him to come
to her for her answer He did not
come. A month passed and she recciv-
ed q letter from him from a distant
city. telling her that he had suddenly
been called away; that a new field had
opened to him. but that it would be a
long while before be could expect any
great success. Had she loved him
deeply she would not have asked for
time. This was probably fortunate.
since lie could not be near her. q long
while must pass before they could be
married. and he would only stand in
her way Of being settled for life. II
she agreed with him in this an answer
to the question he had asked was not
necessary. II that answer was to have
been Yes and she preferred to stand
by 1t she might write him, and he
would do his best to make good his
offer.
This chilled her first and only love.
She wrote him that doubtless he was
right about the matter, and since his
view was hers. she considered his offer
annulled."
The lady had reached this point
which vas the end Of her story. when
one Of the young ladies in the house
brought in a dainty luncheon on a SAL
ver. She would have fingered. but her
father told her that the stranger was
not equal to seeing more than ore
person ut a time. The girl Withdrew.
Then he spoke.
There is a period in a mans life
between, say, eighteen and twenty-five.
when what he is to be IL forming. He
is clay ready to thrust into the fur
nace. This person you speak Of was
then in that condition. He was at an
important point Of his life when the
two elements. caution and daring, are
struggling for the mastery. In his
case caution prevailed. And yet for q
time the chances between the two were
equal.
This person who at a critical NO
ment looked behind him never again
came to a point where he could CON
adently. fearlessly look before him.
He has lived a negative life. He has
been q failure"
There was a deep sadness in his last
words. The lady took his hand In hers
and pressed 1t sympathetically.
1.-The carriage that was ordered has
arrived" said one Of the young girls,
throwing open the door.
The injured woman was helped to the
l..--s-.- - -A.- -..A kA.-t~AM