Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-05-24
A Government
Pen
00
BY AGNES L. A


From my position on n desk by the
window l can look out over the green
sward, just mt present with beds OF
Haunting tulips and Its great fountain.
whose Jeweled drops sclntilate In the
sunny air.
The grass II like n square OF emerald
velvet, bordered along Its sides with
gray, chlseled granite; and the lac
quered iron seats scattered here and
there, look inviting.
/, myself. am old and battered, hnv-
Ing been busy for months recording the
emotions OF the human souls that
stream In at the revolving doors yon-
der, and out ngaln, at the one near
me. l can see for myself that the
building wherein l have an abiding
place Is magnificent. I behold the mas
sive front OF red brick, with costly
trimmings OF brown stone. Two Inn
mense electric lanterns throw floods
OF light, nightly, through the lace-like
iron nlagree that protects them. On the
massos of humanity that beat with
ryth p.s tread the wide sidewalk be-
MEATH the window.
In my short life, for the existence OF
n pen In the service OF this great gov
eminent must OF necessity be abbrevi-
ated by the democratic handling It re-
ceives, l have recorded more than one
pitiful life story.
II Is not long ago the noble elms sur
rounding the green were bare n
gaunt against n grayer sky, that a
young men with hopeful eyes leaned
yer the desk where l was lying, idle
for n wonder, and reaching out, grasp
ed ms tightly. AS / flew. with lmpa-
tlent strokes over the white sheet. l
found that l was writing thus:
Dear Mabelle-I may write-may l
notf-what I cannot say, for when | am
with you my lips are ever silent. l
followed you to the city, dear, l sought
and found observation-disclosures
wanted TO be nea you. And row | find
that / want to be ear you always, so
much so that / am willing to brave
your disapproval, which l have often
seen growing In your clear, brown eyes
and ask you to marry me, dear
now, tomorrow-next week-any time.
only that you will have 1t some time.
II Inn In an awful hurry, or / would
say more. But I have an appointment
at the quarry and all this means money
and perhaps you-to me. I have
stopped here, In the post office, to pen
these few lines, with a horribly poor
pen, by the way.
"Please answer at once, and say yes
-to-Jack."
l hoped she would say yes as / rolled
~complacently over on my side, when he
laid me down, and amused myself
watching the gardener raking here and
there among the stubbly brown grass
that clothed the green.
Dipped thousands Of times In ink, as
/ was daily. the foregoing episode had
nearly faded from my mind, when
presently II was abruptly recalled. A
young girl In n jnunty gray jacket, with
an aureole of vlolets shading her sunny
brown hair. came hastily to the desk
picked me up, looked at me with dis,
approving eyes, laid me down, tried
another pen, and then returned to hei
old lover, meaning myself. A strng
Cling sunbeam kissed her shining eyes
till they gllnted IN old-fashloned gold
stone and lovingly caressed, with rud
dy fingers, the chestnutty ringlets OF
hair beneath the violet %nureole.
II was n prosaic elimination OF my
ardent and romantic desires, but | hnt
only TO wait Il few moments wheT
something followed. Without hesltn
ton, though each stroke OF my rustet
tip was cutting through two quIverinl
hearts, she lndited the following
"Denr Jack-I know what you vii
say when you read thls-you Will say
l ann hnrd-hearted, that do not cure
that | ought 10 leave all and cling 4
you. II I love you-but | cannot d,
what you wish me to. And Jack. dear
l do love you. too. But they, m,
parents, need me-need my help.
have left them up there, IN the coun
try home, while / go battling with thu
cruel world, so that | may be OF us
TO them. who did for me as long a
they were able, You know the Who'll,
pitiful story. Jack.
"a breath just now from the newl!
springlng grass on the green brought |
back TO me, and | have half-closed m,
eyes so the tears should not fall OF
my letter. Father blind, mother hi
only attendant, and feeble herself
with only my arm-Jnck, my woman
arm-between them and want. Yol
would say, II you were here and / wa