The Lamar register., 1913-02-19
AS OTHERS HEAR US
BY IDA PATTERSON.

The dictagraph. you know, & ma
shine which records every word you
say. emitting nothing. excusing moth
/ Ing, softening nothing. 1t is the
worlds great repeater. q professional,
savesdropper, realizing in part Robert
Burns wish, except that instead OF,
seeing, It makes us hear ourselves
~ others hear US. was swinging
along on top of Fifth avenue stage
On a moonlight night. Wedged be-
tween the bus railing at the left and
Z stout man asleep on the right. moro
bus railing in front and an absorbed
in-themselves couple behind mo,
could not avaid playing the dicta-
graph.
A woman's sweet, rather plaintive
voice poured this into the ears Of the
man who sat beside the owner Of the
voice.
"Yes. I don't know what will b.
come of me, q weak woman all alone
In the world"
She'll get him." thought That
kind of talk always goes with men II
the woman's pretty"
II was not brought up to do any
thing. I've always had some one 70
lean on"
Crest" thought 1. "She's . widow.
I'll warrant he's bursting with Q pro-
posal this minute"
when I found myself alone and
with very little money didn't know
what to do" the stream Of stickily.
~vaof vofca want nm sal
He'll know" tried to send .
thought wave to her.
Il went to . hospital and was there
six months"
bad move" I started . warning
thought wave toward her. Men ara
economical for every ono but them
selves. Tack your conversational
ship"
The thought wave missed. for she
went ON. II had such . flne nurse.
q big, strong woman who used to In
me about a. though were . baby.
She used to say: You poor little
thing. You're Just barely alive. You!
might almost ~ we'll be dead"
tack, tack" I mentally shouted 10
her. Men hate invalids. you know.
While one man will turn nurse ninety.
nine will leave home when there's
sickness in II" VI
They made q mistake whom thsy
discharged me from the hospital y
wasn't out two weeks when had .
relapse and had to go back. This
time had to take . moro expensive
room and had to have two nurses In
stead of one. The doctor said would
never be strong again"
"Oh, woman, woman" thought
waved.
when left the hospital took Q
nurse home with me. I was 10 weak
me q year. When got little better
from the heart trouble I developed =
case of uric acid. The nurse used to
say to me: My dear. you have
enough uric acid in you to float
Ship 1 had to take Turkish baths
every day and massage with salt and
had to go south for two winters."
STOP" I wigwagged, but in vain.
Then my nerves gave way. They've
! not been right since"
stified q groan. Every one knows
that men are more afraid of nerves
in a woman than Of q grizzly bear in
polar shows.
Eyes. There was . time when
wasn't quite responsible for what
said or did"
You're not now" I tried another
despairing thought wave. It was lost
at sea.
II had frightful pains in my head
and was 30 irritable. I haven't gotten
over 1t yet. About that time my liver
got out Of order"
We're here" Tho mans voice.
hearty. vibrating with health and
vigor, interrupted. He offered her his
hand and guided her down the steps
winding from the top Of the stage.
The vehicle obligingly waited for
some painting, waving. halloing would.
be passengers hurrying toward Ms
from the side street. During that
pause the man guided his still talk
ing companion up the steps to an
apartment house around the corner.
lifted his hat and hurried away ~
though something were pursuing him.
She stood in the doorway looking
after him, but he did not look back.
At the next turning he was lost from
sight, forever. doubt not, to that
woman.
Pity is not akin to love II the pity