Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-24

4 bertda, persuaded that t0-m0rrOWe COMEDY
could effect no real change in her relation to
her husband. went to her room with the feel
ings of one who spends . night In hotel.
| Strickland, similarly regarding the past as ir.
remediable, read in bed for half an hour, and
| then fell asleep.
To get married they had both committed .
thousand follies. After meeting her at a table,
| dhote. Strickland had pursued her. half over
Europe, vanquished the difficulties OF an APP
proach to her father in his secluded country
house, and ultimately, assisted oy the ladys
| prayers and tears. gained the old mans reluc-
tsnt consent to surrender his idolized daugh-
| ter. The young married people, passionately
attached to each other. enjoyed fifteen months
Of remarkable happiness, and then came the
| end.
Bertha became jealous Devoted 10 her hus-
band, proud, hasty, immoderate in all her
! thoughts and emotions, she resented, with all
| the intensity of her nature, meeting between
Strickland and a former flame. dance, note,
| haitian hours conversation. The husband I'M
fortunately met her passionate expostulations
| with the disdainful insouciance Of an easy tenn
permanent. The inevitable consequence en-
sued, bitter Misunderstanding. An imprud-
ent servant, a malicious acquaintance, half-a-
| dozen venomous tongues, lashed the wife's
| jealousy into madness. An explanation
demanded from her husband was refused with
| a sneer. He had begun to think her q proud,
unloving woman, and. under the circum-
| stances, judged self justification ridiculous
.
and with marvellous calmness. without quaver-
| ing over o single word, announced to him their
| immediate separation-for ever. Taken by
surprise, Strickland tried to temporize, ac-
knowledged he had been thoushtless, did all in
a mans power to avoid the rupture. Bertha
only replied so proudly, and with 20 much
| severity. that self-respect forbade him further
self-defense.
They separated. Strickland externally bore
his misfortune with quietness, and. in counsel
lxrith Id
life broken and ruined by his own want OF tact.
The husband and wife met two or three times,
as people who barely know each other. He
devoted himself to professional duties resumed
some OF his bachelor habits, and amused him
self as he could. She led o quiet, almost soli-
tory life, restricting her pleasures to such sim
pie enjoyments as she could provide herself at
home, and seldom appearing in public. On
one point both agreed. to write regularly to
Bertha's father, repeating such stereotyred
phrases a. Bertha Is well. and sends her love-
l believe she wrote to you few days ago."
Gerard Is well, and at present very busy. He
the seaside"
1t will be easily believed that to 20 to her
husbands house and to ask favor Of him had
cost Berthas pride a struggle. 'For papa's
sake; for papa's sake@ she repeated to herself,
to steel her nerves to the humiliation, which,
however, Strickland's cold courtesy had con-
siderably lessened. If he would be equally
IT,, q
little self-command, and some clever pretend
ing might enable them safely to conduct her
father through the few hours to be spent in
town, to see him of from Victoria, and, with
polite bow, to separate and return to their sew
eral existences.
Dinner was ended, Mr.. Gregory smiled con-
tentment and happiness and the two actors at
the opposite ends of the table of necessity
smiled too.
Their parts had proved difficult From the
moment of the old gentlemans arrival they
had had to call each other by their Christian
names. and to use the little endearments of two
married people still in love. More than once
word. an information, that sounded like an
echo of the dead past. made Strickland pale
and Bertha tren5le. Their embarrassment
momentarily increased. The more perfect
their discrimination. the bitterer was the secret
remorse that wrIng the hearts of both of them
whilst they exchanged for meaningless things
words. looks and smiles. once the most sacred
signs of affection. With the fear of betraying
themselves by an indiscretion was intermixed
another, misgiving lest, while they acted af-
lection, they should be guilty of real feeling
warmer than the courteous indifference with
which they desired to regard each other
A. On the stairs, when Mr. Gregory, preceding
turned back and bestowed on her husband @
grim look of fatigue that meant, How are We
to continue this?'
lis only till tomorrow. Bertha" he re-
piled in an undertone wishing to help her. But
the Christian name (Which, because he had in
the last two hours used it SO frequently, I'M
Willingly slipped from his lips), caused her to
turn her face away with an angry rown.
BY the fire in the back drawing-room Mr.
Gregory appeared actuated by desire to ask
all the most awkward questions, and to breach
all the topics of conversation most difficult for
his host and hostess.
Letters are welcome, Bertha" he said
"when people cannot meet, but have enioved
my little visit more than all the pages you have
sent me. There is very little in letters. Don't
you think your wife grows handsomer, Strick-
land?"
Il tell her so every day."
Sand SO he tells me, Bertha. His letters are
all about you. You have a model husband, my
dear"
Il have, papa"
Strickland hung his head and regarded the
pattern of the carpet
Il should like to see your house, Bertha"
said Mr.: Gregory, after moment.
The little party set out on tour Of the man.
sion. After an inspection of several rooms as
Strickland preceded them into the breakfast
room, the father stopped his daughter and
said:
bertha. where is your mothers portrait?"
The frame had got shabby and we have
promptly.
Where does it generally hang?"
There"
She assigned to the picture which she had
taken with her, the first empty space on the
wall that met her eye.
Il don't think that very good placer said
the old man. "Ah, what q woman she wasI
What wonderful woman You should have
known her. Strickland. You owe her your
wife. When she was leaving me- Door deari
she made me promise never to hesitate to make
any sacrifice that should be for Bertha's hap
piness; and so, when my little girl came to me
and said. Papa, can never be happy without
Gerard, thought of my dear wife, and let her
go. feared. when sent her abroad, should
lose her. Well, you were made for each other.
Do you remember your first meeting in PARISH
They remembered it.
The tour OF the house was completed, and
they returned to the drawing-room, Gerard
and his wife congratulatipg themselves, not
without reason. that the good papa was not
very observant, for many a token of something
abnormal had been plain enough.
With common sigh of relief the two actors
sank into their respective corners of their car
riage. after seeing Mr.. Gregory OF the next
morning from Victoria. Not a word vas
spoken. Bertha watched the drops OF rain
that trickled down the windows. Gerard stnd-
led the back of the coachman. Thew had
again become strangers
Presently, moving accidentally, Strickland
touched his wife's arm
Il beg your pardon" he said.
Pray do not mention it."
Perfect strangers! Yet both in the silence
were anxiouslv rnodit.x;p.x 80.