Few came into her chamber upon whom she did not press a consideration of this great evil, the magnitude of which became greater as her mind dwelt upon it, and very few of these went away without being disturbed by questions not easily answered.
One day one of her attentive friends who had called on her said: "I heard a sorrowful story yesterday, and can't get it out of my mind." Before Mrs.Voss could reply a servant came in with a card.
"Oh, Mrs.Birtwell.Ask her to come up." The visitor saw a slight shadow creep over her face, and knew its meaning.

How could she ever hear the name or look into the face of Mrs.
Birtwell without thinking of that dreadful night when her boy passed, almost at a single step, from the light and warmth of her beautiful home into the dark and frozen river?
It had cost her a hard and painful struggle to so put down and hold in check her feelings as to be able to meet this friend, who had always been very near and dear to her.

For a time, and while her distress of mind was so great as almost to endanger reason, she had refused to see Mrs.Birtwell; but as that lady never failed to call at least once a week to ask after her, always sending up her card and waiting for a reply, Mrs.Voss at last yielded, and the friends met again.

Mrs.Birtwell would have thrown her arms about her and clasped her in a passion of tears to her heart, but something stronger than a visible barrier held her off, and she felt that she could never get as near to this beloved friend as of old.

The interview was tender though reserved, neither making any reference to the sad event that was never a moment absent from their thoughts.
After this Mrs.Birtwell came often, and a measure of the old feeling returned to Mrs.Voss.Still, the card of Mrs.Birtwell whenever it was placed in her hand by a servant never failed to bring a shadow and sometimes a chill to her heart.
In a few moments Mrs.Birtwell entered the room; and after the usual greetings and some passing remarks, Mrs.Voss said, speaking to the lady with whom she had been conversing: "What were you going to say--about some sorrowful story, I mean ?" The pleasant light which had come into the lady's face on meeting Mrs.
Birtwell, faded out.