Bismarck tribune., 1881-10-07

to know where I am going, nor what the
country is, nor the day, nor the month, nor
the year. I wish had never learned these
things. What is the use of CHASING to-
morrows and yesterdays? Isn't it enough
that every day is to-day?"
AS she said this look of fatigue came
over her tace, her lashes fell and covered
and hid away her peculiar eyes, her bosom
heaved feverishly, and her breath came and
went hurriedly. Whatever she was, the
woman had feelings, and very sensitive
ones.
"But," I continued, emboldened by her
words, where are your parents? Who
takes care of you?:'
My strange friend laughed softly.
"What does it matter where my parents
are? My husband is in America"
''Your husband!' CALCULATED.
eyes" she said serenely, as if had said,
ayour bonnet" IT was married two years
ago. My husband-well, my husband has
gone to America; he left me long ago."
An hour went by. I listened and ques-
toned, and ali heard filed me with the
strangest suppositions. Then in turn she
questioned and listened.
learned some curious details of her life.
Her name was Sylvia, her husbands name
Whitworth. He was merchant, but he
failed and deserted her.
II don't think minded much, she said
with her wonderful smile. "He was never
true to me, and am sure never was true
to him."
Shocking sentiments certainly and very
impossible, unnatural story, no doubt; and
had been in my sane senses, as now am,
twelve years later, should have laughed
in my sleeve. AS it was, was not in my
sane senses, and fell in love with her.
She was travelling she didn't care where.
For the night. at least, she wss to stay al
the same hotel as myself at the Broken.
From me she gathered my slight history,
my nationality, my appointment at Berlin,
my family; my age.
II suppose" she said frankly, that some
people might wonder at my going about so
Independently; but don't care button
what people think. L suppose if had any
inclinations toward wickedness I should be
a very wicked person; but you see have
no inclinations. I don't look at it from a
moral point of view, because I don't be-
lieve in morality. nave no creeds, but
don't think it would. anuse me the least to
be wicked.
Presently we waded ashore. She dried
her feet, or rather dried them for her, in
a dainty lace handkerchief. They were
very lovely rosy feet. With delicious ia
miliarity she let me draw on her stock
ings, aud at the contact Of her warm white
flesh my fingers trembled. She saw they
trembled, and, gently pushing me away,
she finished herself, and then looked up
at me with smile, that meant something
or nothing, could not understand which.
She invited me to enter her carriage with
her, and did so. AS we got IN the couri-
er muttered something rather savagely, and
my charming friend bent her head down
and conversed with him eagerly in tone
which sounded conciliatory.
A little further on we met my carriage;
we stopped, and with pretty air of COM
mand Mrs. Whitworth signiied her inten-
ton Of changing carriages. We got in, and
I arranged my rugs about her feet, my
cushions at her back.
"She shut her eyes and went to sleep,
whilst sat watching her.
AS I watched her madness seemed to
come over me. I have never in my life ex-
perienced anything like iabefore or since; it
was like magnetism.
10rudp6 IL WdS uu0 W lu0 Su1UIy, Iu0 uO-
ter stiffness, the slow progress of the car
more likely still, the back thrown head, the
sensitive and fine profile, the parted GRIM
son lips, the regular breathing. the unde-
fined languor of pose, and the peculiar per-
fume that hung about my conn panion, that
fred my ardent spirit. At last, softly
took possession of the hand nearest me. It
was warm and pulsating; the very touch of
it seemed to bring into life all the feelings
that lay dormant in me. I bent forward
cautiously; in another moment I should
have kissed her parted crimson lips, when
suddenly, swiftly, the strange eyes opened
wide and full as if she had not been Sleep
ing at all.
SAh," she said softly, what were you
going TO do?"
I, flushing scarlet, was muttering some
excuses, when she interrupted me.
Never mind am not angry. wish, ]
do wish, could feel and look as you fell
and looked just now. What can it be? I was
told that to feel that is worth life and after
life. Perhaps I should be happier if
could feel as other people do"
''Are you not happy?" asked, glad tc
turn the subject.
"Happy!" she echoed. II do not know
what it means. I live, eat, I sleep,
laugh, feel we'll. like the sunshine,
like handsome people, and dislike to see
homely ones. I hate suffering and I love
enjoyment have more sympathies with
bad than good, and have no religion
Would you call me happy person?"
Iwas going to answer, when, in quite a
different mood, she inquired the use of az
strong black box that lay on the seat opposite
us. I replied that it was my despatch box
containing my papers, my passport, my
valuables in the way of money and pro-
nissory notes possessed at that moment
But before I had nearly got through my
list my friends interest had faded, and she
was leaning over the carriage looking at the
stream the Ilsenfels heard her name it.
By this time we had arrived at the door