The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-12
Love Affairs of a Lonely Woman
6y MARY HALF

No. 36
 ''The man whose love was most worth while to me-" went on lanes companion. went out of my life, and all through { my own fault. The years passed and tried to make r.yself happy particularly as my little one grew up to healthy boy hood. But this winter during the influ- enza epidemic the boy and his father both passed away. and I am left-so lone ly, oh, so lonely!'
 She looked out of the window drearily. Jane Browns face was wet with tears as she listened to this unbidden confess sional of a broken heart. The woman continued. apparently eager to pour out her sorrow to a sympathetic listener.
 T have had no one to tell it to in all these years My husband never guessed | it, and l dared not confess that 1 had | married him only for his money, his yachts his jewels and his everything else except that one thing which money will not buy. I tell it to you, because l have not the courage to tell it to any l one else. am too much alone among the hundreds who visit me and share my l outer life.'
 There was a silence as the taxicab l swung acnoss a marrow street to the ! avenue.
 | T learned, through chance gossip at dinner party last night, that the one man who meant happiness to me was to have been married today at Trinity church. l had hoped against hope that | hearts ease would yet be mine as reward for the pentence of the last 10 years. But IS not to be so.
 The gray eyes were looking. not at the fleeting scenes which passed the auto | xu;nd hut ia past.
 "Yes," and her voice was gray. as well, q hoped that we might meet once more and that the old feeling still survived I read of his entering the military ser vice. when the great war broke out, hght- ing first with the French and later in our own army He led a regiment or American boys to glory and victory in the bloodiest campaign of history
 soft light shone in her eyes, for an instant, as she went on
 q knew he would do it. knew he
 could do it. But l had not the courage of my faith to be unseflsh. Well, he came
 back, and today I saw the ending of
 the secret hopes of the years.
 | Her head sank low, and beneath her
 chin Jane saw the flashing diamonds of the magnificent laveliers-jewels which
 cost more than she could earn in 10 years
 of bitter drudgery.
 
 ence to the drudgery. at such price, was the girls thought. They seem to { laugh at her now, with their cruel, cold'
 sparkling eyes"
 The car was how passing the park , and Jane's companion looked out at the , green verdure with bitter eyes. , fAnd now, not even my baby left ,, what is there in life, but a greater loneli- ness still? I would have ended it all to-
 day, and I don't believe I forgive you
 for stopping my mad act" great light burst upon Jane's hear just then, and she eagerly, yet timidly touched the others hand. ; May I tell you something of my owr
 tfought?" she began. "I know so littl = of love and life I have only been in Nev T York city few days. I am just a work II ing girl from little country town il - the west, and yet, perhaps, my though
 may help you.
 Il The other looked up at her. with eye = yelled in an apathy from which it wa r hard to withdraw. She nodded. withou n reply, and Jane continued, feeling tha n Ter inspiration might give some comfort d You have suffered, but it is not too lat f to find joy. You are rich: it is not to' = late to make the others joyous, and t
 find happiness though service. I. too