Iron County register., 1922-08-24
HIS LESSON
BY MoLLIE MATHER

Inc young woman drew her pony
up suddenly and sat in the saddle look
ing down on a huddled form in the
roadway. Mercy" she exclaimed,
and jumped to the ground.
The huddled form was that of a girl
younger than herself, a girl with grief
stricken face buried in her out
stretched arms Delphine raised the
face to gaze into it, and shook the
girl lightly.
MY DEAR" she chided, ''what a
reckless thing to do; lying here where
an automobile might crush you at any
moment. What ever are you think
ing Oft"
Il don't care if one does crush me-"
the girl cried wildly. Il wish it
would. I don't want to live. I can't
bear this any longer"
"Well," said Delphine impatiently-
"welII'
She fastened her pony to a tree;
then she came back to the girl. 4Be
sensible" ordered Delphine, "come
over here and tell me all about it."
When the girl came obediently, Del
phine pillowed the tear-stained face
against her own soft shoulder.
"Of course" matter-of-factly, "the
cause of your sorrow is a man. 1t
usually is, am told, when they want
to die. And what is your name, dear
silly child, and where do you live?"
Il am Rosy" the girl answered Sob
bingly, everyone knows me as Rosy.
My father is farmer and I bring
milk mornings to the big white house
where you are boarding. He used to
board there, too, before he went to
what he calls his lodge in the
woods. / first met him when | car
rted milk there one evening, and Mr..
King walked home with me because it
was growing dark and he thought I'd
be timid. AS we walked told him
about my school in the winter, and
how love to teach, and he told me
about the great city where he came
from, and how wonderful and beauti-
tiful life is there, and of the studio
where he makes his drawings. And by
and by, after grew to know him very
much better, he told how lonely he
was in the big empty rooms, with no
wife to encourage, or greet him and"
Rosy paused breathlessly, her words
had rushed on, torrent of relief in
the telling.
Delphine sighed and patted the
Graded head.
Il know" she finished the story,
'then he told you how he would love
to take you there as his wife,"
Rosy's eyes were wondering.
"Why-how did you knowy she
asked.
''He said he would teach me to love
him." she went on, "and he did. I
still love him, that's the trouble;
there never will be any happiness in
the world for me any more; you see"
the words were hard to say. 'It was
all mistake. He does not care, after
all. He confessed this to me when I |
hunted him out at his lodge, and asked
him; he had stayed away so long"
Rosy's tears burst out afresh.
"He smiled" she sobbed. Smiled in
such mocking hurting way, when
he told me to forget him"
Delphine held the girl close.
'gThat," she remarked emphatically, |
sis exactly what I would do"
And when she left Rosy later in
the afternoon at the farmhouse door
the girl smiled back at her, vaguely |
comforted. The charming winsome
lady had promised to see her again
and often.
Barris King was fishing in stream
near his own cozy camp when, on
sunshiny morning, a veritable nymph
Of maid greeted him between parted
foliage.
Please" asked Delphine, "may 1
share your retreat. / am not at all |
abashed by the fact that we have not
met, nor even that you may think me
forward creature"
If man stared in surprise, he cor
rected that rudeness at once by
welcoming smile.
II am more than delighted by the
invasion" he said calmly, fortune
does not often, SO favor me-"
Delphine laughed; her soft involun-
tary laughter was as pleasing as her
face.
Perhaps you were feeling as bored
with the silence of nature as l." she
said.
The days following passed swiftly,
delightfully."-, for Barris King. 1t was
joy to hear Delphine's ingenious
praise Of his drawings.
So, at last, in all earnestness and |
loving longing, Barris King asked Del
phine Bonnie to be his wife. And Del
phine, resting her head against the
very tree where not long ago, she had
comforted Rosy-looked up at her
wooer through long curling lashes.
Then she smiled, hurting mocking
smile; it was such as he might have
given to the poor girl who loved him.
why silly!" laughed Delphine. Il
have only been Willing away lonely
hour, as you may have done per-
vtn%w a - ah