The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-01-17
TWO SCENES
IN TWO LIVES
By MARGARET BARR

vas taking the air walking about his
place. 1t was not spacious, and the
house was not palatiaI. They indi-
Gated an owner of moderate means,
but there was something about the
premises that denoted lie was refined.
There vas 81 whiriins Of wheels up the
road and an automobile appeared. Be-
side the chauffeur there was only one
person aboard. u middle aged lady
well wrapped in fur r0hes. 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 n over.
The chauffeur was unhurt. Not 50
the lady. The gentleman who saw
the catastrophe to her assistance.
She was lying with closed eyes. but
she soon opened them and looked at
the ma bending ove her.
Tell me madam." he said. how
badly hurt you are that | may decide
what to do"
II don't KNOW" she said in a faint
voice. "'lnt l donbt If 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 %telephoned for a surgeon.
When the medical man arrived he pro-
nounced the lady unhurt. with the ex-
ception of Il 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:
'''rhis is a singular meeting, Mr.. Can
ming"
The gentleman started. I'VE have
met before:" he asked.
Yes. You were once well known to
ME. But that was twenty years ago,
and my age is just double what it was
then. 1t is not remarkable that sou
should not recognize me-"
But you have recognized me-"
"There is a reason for that"
Twill you give it?'
Yes. but not directly. l will tell
you a little story. The scene is the
veranda of a house on an eminence
overlooking Il river. The season is
spring. The hour was that when the
twilight fades into night. A new noon
is standing over the western horizon.
1.-Two young persons We're sitting on
the veranda. a man and a woman.
The man took her hand in u of his;
the other he stole around her waist.
I love you.' he said, 'and l wish you
to be my Wife The words were 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. out 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 receiv-
ed Il 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 he could expect any
great success. Had she loved him
deeply she would not have asked for
time. This vas probably fortunate.
| since he could not be lear her. a 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. If that answer was to have
been Yes and she preferred to stand
by it. 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
annulIed."
The lady had reached this point
which was the end of her story; when
one Of the young ladies' in the house
brought in u dainty luncheon on q sal
yer. She would have fingered, but her
father told her that the stranger was
not equal to seeing more than one
person mt a time. The girl withdrew.
Then he spoke.
There is u period in a mans life
bet ween. say, eighteen and twenty-five,
when what he is to be 10 forming. He
is clay ready to thrust into the fur
mace. This person you speak OF was
then in that condition. He was at an
important point Of his life when the
two elements. ca.tion and daring, are
struggling for the mastery. In his
case caution prevailed. And yet for 9
time the chances between the two were
equal. III
.sThis person who at a critical mo
.ment looked behind him never again
came to a point where he could CON
lhdently. f~earlessly look before him.
He has lived a negative life. He has
been a failure"
There was q deep sadness IN his last
words. The lady took his hand in hers
ana pressed It sympathetically.
.sThe carriage that was ordered has
tarrived." said one Of the young girls,