Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-01-24
The Stained Glass Window
Woman Editor Devises Ruse to Convert Grasping
Husband Who Would Erect Memorial to De.
ceased Wife Who Had Been Enslaved
in Farm House in Hills
IN - nERR nleoERa

nigh with small town exchanges, and
stepping to the window Of the Eagle
amce. stood gazing out on Main
street. In the bright light Of the Au-
gust moon, Hfaplston looked idyllie;
ITS little brick business blocks ex-
uded q warm glow, as II they were
there TO give. rather than to receive;
It's white stone courthouse was sud
denly the abode Of q kindly Justice;
lts library harbored poets; the citi-
aens who walked its streets were
friends and brothers
The August moon. however, did not
deceive Miss Parkins. For thirty
years she had translated MapletOns
daily life into news items for her pa
per, and It was too late now for her
60 Sec the town as idyllic. She knew
chat, like the people who made II up,
1Eapleton was q mixture Of good and
had. Humanity Il strove to be virtu-
Gus; humanity Il often failed. She
could forgive Il, serve It. even love
Id intellectually. But she could not
be fooled BY the August moon.
A few OF those who passed In the
street looked in at the plump, cheer
eus-eyed spinster Ia the window, and
smiled. Advanced" Mapleton called
her, and said It with a sneer. It mat
tered little TO Mapleton that her vision
was the broadcast Il knew, her sympa-
thies the warmest-thst she was, in
truth, . great woman among little
mon. Il was enough for Mapleton
that, when her old father had died,
she had herself assumed control Of
the Eagle, nor felt It necessary to call
nen 70 her aid save IN Subordinate
nsitions Il was enough that, In her
paper, appeared strange talk Of new
and wonderful era dawning for wom-
en-an era at which Mapleton smiled.
But Miss Parkins smiled her calm,
uestful smile, and helped the people
1e Mapleton even while they smiled.
Many Of those who passed by her Of
nee now had come to her at some time
or other with stories she had no de-
sire to print, and gone away warmed
and cOmforted by her understanding.
She was Mapleton's guide, philoso-
pher, and friend. and, though the town
might deride her philosophy It &C
cepted her guidance and, deep down
an its civic heart, loved her as its
friend.
Down the street, q market basket
on his arm, his wife by his side, came
John WiIets Two years before, the
woman had sought out Miss Parkins,
"a tears. with the news that Willets
mad found the struggle in MapletOn
unbearable, and had run away. In
n dark corner at the station, where
he was waiting for q train, Miss Par
hins had discovered him, and sent
adm. shame-faeed and repentant, back
to his family. Out on the asphalt,
Ehe new automobile OF young Jack
Hemphili sped by. Once, in panic
times, his business had lowered on
the edge Of ruin. and it had been Miss
Parkins, with her own money and
her own courage, who had set him
back on the road to prosperity. Fan
ME Jaynes passed, a good-looking
young man at her side. Only a year
ago Fannie had tired Of the factory,
and had looked with willing eyes at
zhe primrose path. It had been Miss
Pardns. alone of all those in Maple
ton, who had seen and understood;
iit had been she who secured for Fan
ME another position, and drove the
Bitterness from the girls soul.
So they came and went. those who
had known this little spinster in the
crises OF their lives. And If Miss
PariKins' great heart had done much
for them, It had also done much for
Miss Parkins herself. for it had kept
her from getting angular and Queru-
ious and old as the years went by. and
e had preserved for her the curves
and the bloom OF youth. Her face was
wTinkled. but they were the wrinkles
OF long years Of smiling
Through the plateglass window she
caught a faint echo Of melody, and
remembered that il was band con-
cert night" She opened the door;
from the direction of the band-stand
ID the park the lilt OF a new tune drift
ed In. Il was the very latest thing in
eurkey-trots. but Miss Parkins did not
know this She only knew that she
liked Il for it's cheerful swing. Tap
ping one foot on the floor. she began
TO hum the tune beneath her breath.
Then she started suddenly. and the
giddy song died on her lips For II
seemed to her that crossing the street
toward her came Mary Underhill. the
friend Of her youth long. long ago
surely that was Mary UnderhiIl's step,
alive, eager: her face. fine, fun-loving;
her golden hair. cleaning in the
moonlight. The long years rolled
away. and Miss Parkins was young
Asain, waiting for her friend.
BY the time the girl got TO the
door however. Miss Parkins was back
81 the present, and It was Mary On.
slerhill's daughter thar she stepped
Forward 70 greet. She noted quick
e. that the girls eyes we're red with