Morris tribune., 1884-04-16
(which is provided for in the willr

and her eyes looked away from his as she
spoke the next words-"on this one condition,
that marry again"
He looked at her in amazament.
surely l have mistaken you," he said.
"You mean on this one condition, that you
do not marry again"
"No, Mr. Lsmore; l mean exactly what L
have said. You now know that the recov-
cry of your credit and your peace of mind
rests entirely with yourself"
After a moment of rejection he took her
hand, and raised it respectfully to his lips.
'You are noble woman" he said,
She made no reply. With dropping head
and downcast eye she waited for his decis-
ion. He accepted his responsibility.
II must not, and dare not, think Of the
hardship Of my own position" he said; q"
owe it to you to speak without reference to
the future that may be in store for me. No
man can be worthy of the sacrifice which
your generous forgetfulness of self is willing
to make. I respect you, admire you; /
thank you with my whole heart. Leave me
to my fate, Mrs. Calender, and let me CO."
He rose She stopped him with gesture.
"a young woman" she answered, "would
shrink from saying-what l, as an old woman,
mean to say now. refuse to leave you to
your fate. 1 ask you to prove that you
respect me, admire me, and thank me with
your whole heart Take one day to think
and let me hear the result. You promise me
thisw
He promised.
snow CO." she said.
The next morning Ernest received letter
from Mrs. Calender. She wrote to him as
| follows
There are some considerations which l
ought to have mentioned yesterday evening,
before you left my house.
II ought to have reminded you-if you con-
sent to reconsider your decision-that the
circumstances do not require you to pledge
Yourself to me absolutely
| cat my age can with perfect proprlety
assure YOU that regard our marriage simply
and solely a formality which we must fulfill,
if am to carry out my Intention OF standing
between you and ruin.
"Therefore-if the missing ship appears in
time, the only reason for the marriage is at
an end. We shall be as good friends as ever,
without the incumbrance of formal tie to
bind u.s.
in the other event, should ask you to
submit to certain restrictions which, remen-
boring my position, you will understand and
excuse.
ave are to live together, it is unnecessary
to say, as mother and son. The marriage
ceremony is to be strictly private; and you
are to so arrange your affairs that, immedl-
ately afterward, we leave England for any
foreign place which you prefer. Some
of my fliends, and, perhaps some of your
friends, will certainly misinterpret our mo-
tives-if we stay in our own country-ln a
manner which would be uncomfortable to
woman like me.
"As to our future lives, 1 have the most
perfect confidence in you, and should leave
YOU in the same position of independence
which you occupy now. When you wish for
NV company you will always be welcome.
At other times you are your own master l
live on my side of the house, and you live on
yours-and am to be allowed my hours OF
Solitude every day, in the pursuit of musical
occupations, which have been happily asso-
ciated with allmy past life, and which trust
confidently to your indulgence
"a last word, to remind you OF what you
may be too kind to think OF yourself
AT my age you cannot, in the course OF
nature, be troubled by the society of CRATE
full old woman for many years. You are
Young enough to look forward to another
marriage, which shall be something more
than a mere form. Even if you meet with
the happy woman in my lifetime honestly
tell me Of it-and I promise to tell her that
; she has only to wait.
an the meantime, don't think, because
write composedly, that l write heartlessly
You pleased and interested me when first
saw You at the public meeting. don't think
| L cOulQ QaFS pOpOSSL " uSo yOo JUL otA4S
sacrifice of myself to man who personally
repealed me-though might haye felt my
debt of gratitude as sincerely as ever.
Whether your ship is saved, or whether your
ship is lost, old Mary Calender likes you
and owns it without false shame.
"Iet me have your answer this evening,
either personally or by Observation-Disclosures you
like best"
Mrs. Calender received written answer
, long before the evening, It said much in few
words
"a man impenetrable to kindness might be
able to resist your letter. am not that man.
Your great heart has conquered me-"
The weeks passed ,iand no news was received
, of the missing ship. With the marriage
license in Ernest's possession, they waited
, until the day before the ship-owner's habili-
> ties became due, Mrs. Callender's lawyer
, and Mrs. Calendars maid were the only per
sons trusted with their secret. Leaving the
chief clerk in charge of the business with
every pecuniary demand on his employer
satisfied in full, the strangely married paiI
quilted England.
They arranged to wait a few days in Pari:
to receive any letters of Importance which
: might have been addressed to Ernest in ths
interval. On the evening Of their arrival &
. telegram from London was waiting at theil
y hotel. 1t announced that the missing ship hat
passed up the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in &
fog. until she reached the Downs-on the day
y before Ernest's liabilities fell due.
"Do you regret it~ Mrs. Lismore said to
. her husband.
,, "Not for momentp he answered.
They decided on pursuing their journey
far as Munich.
j. Mrs. Lismore's taste for music was matched
| e.. tn Ii 1aic11
10 hours he cultivated the art, and delighted
Il in it.
- Ernests days were passed in the galleries
Mrs. Lsmore remaining at home, devoted t.
her music, until it was time to 60 out wit
u her husband for drive. Living together il
|" amity and concord, they were nevertheless
not living happily. without any visibl
reason for the change, Mrs. Lismore's spirit
, were depressed On the occasion whel
Ernest noticed it she made an effort to be
cheerful, which it distressed him to see.
But when two people are living together il
9 state of artificial tranquility, it seems to b
? law of nature that the elements of disturb
ance are unseen, and that the outburst come
inevitably with the lapse Of time.
In ten days from the date Of their arriva
at Munich the crisis came Ernest returne
! later than usual from the picture gallery
u and-for the first time in his wife's expert
ence-shut himself up in his own room.
Q He appeared at the dinner-hour with
futile excuse Mrs. Lismore waited unit
:. the servant had withdrawn. "Now, Ell
" nest" she said dts time to tell me th
o truth"
!, Her manner when she said those fey
= = words, took him by surprise. She was III
y questionably confused; and instead of lool
y ing at him, she trifed with the fruit on he
10 plate Embarrassed on his side, he coul
% only answer, u have nothing to tell"
!. "Were there many visitors to the gallery
70 she asked.
"About the same as usual"
- "Any that you particularly noticed" 81
went on. II mean among the ladies'"
II He laughed uneasily. "You forget how il
terested am in the pictures" he said
n There was apause. She looked up at hil
10 and suddenly looked away again. But
le saw it plainly; there were tears in her eyes.
re sDo you mind turning down the gas" sh
10 boxr hoo oil Haxr ~