The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-13
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NlISNIATED.
Am.n Of ccniu. and nj. wifs.


"Tho lady who was lcft?"
Isaid this inquiringly and doubt.
fully.
30. no." replied my friend, II said
the lady OH his left. She is his wife,"
1t WIS ut q theatre. We had been
discussing afamons man ofgenius who
occupied q conspicuous seat and ! hnd
asked about his wife. When the lady
was pointed out to mo suddenly lost
oil interest in the husband.
"lta! hal" laughed my companion.
"Iour mistake was O good one,"
"What mistake?"
"Why your Characterization OF
Mrs. rs the lady who was left.
l don't think she wal1lA like!it much. /"
I said notltA and glanced
again ut the sEsx E.iaced tc Wo.
man who looked 70 lonely in
the midst OF that lisht-heasted crowd.
The husband was rot lon a Hehai
everything he wanted except amirror.
Not having one, he passed with u due
regard for spectacular effect, and was
happy. The expression on his face
seemed to say: II know it is irving
to the complexion, this fierce whito
light that beats upon the throne, but
I've got to stand it. It is ono OF the
penalties Of greatness. .'A~SsIe never
looked at the woman with the tender,
luminous eyes by his side. He did
not sec that like some fair and fragile
flower she seemed to wilt under tho
fierce white light. Perhaps he did not
care.
"Yes," l said to myself, "she is tho
lady who was left"
The play went on, and whenever
there was q telling hit tho spectators
looked at the strangely brilliant man
who was among them but
not OF them. Watching the lights
and the shadows of that mobile, mac.
netic face they applaudcd or relapscd
INTO stolia Indifference. running the
entire gamut OF expression. But no.
body looked at the quiet lady who
shuddercd under every shock or sound,
and seemed to shrink from every fresh
impulse of glare.
After that night at the theatre Isaw
my lady who Was ,cit many times and
in many places. 1t would not he said
that her husband condemned her to
scclusion. On the contrary lie took
her everywhere. Ii lie was lavish in
tho matter OF his own personal adorn.
mcnt, lie urged his wife to deny herself
nothing. Ii it delighted him 10 pose
as tho central figure in u field OF cloth
OF gold, sti'i witheorgcousc embroidery.
To was determined that his wife should
not lack for Tyrian purple, so to
speak, and diamonds that would have
graced n coronct. Why shouldn't she
be a. happy woman? Her costumes
were cxtravagantly compared to sym.
phonics and poems.
But she was not happy. In the
midst OF nll the excitement accom-
lanyine the spectacular paycantry OF
her husbands life she knew that she
was left. Why indulge in any non-
sense about her failure to grow with
her husband and keep pace with him
intellectually? 1t would bc stupidity,
br'lta!ly false to say such athing. She
was born to be the queen OF nn ideal
homo and to hold solely sovereign
sway over ono heart. But her hus.
'''i'A Atut wv NlGu llIS uncCGlOnS Ds-
tween her and tllc many-hcadcd
monster thing called the public, and
their home life had been turned into q
glldcd tumult.
l still see these two OH public occa.
sions. A shadow is beginning to dark.
en- the husbands face. lie feels that
life is growing stale and flat. Just
why, he cannot tell. lie knows that
1t is not the fault Of his loyal wife, but
there is something wrong somewhere.
Perhaps there is Just the suspicion OF
n sh;ldow on the fair face OF the lady
who was left. 1t suggests sorrow in
which self plays no part: The ilcctinu
years carry her in the direction of u
nobler, higher life, and she feels that
she is travelling the road alone. I
have ceased to study these two faces.
The lady who was left is getting be.
yond me. ! cannot say as much for
her husband. lie is still in sight, and
likely to remain thcrc.-Atlanta Con.
Etitution.