New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-04-18
or the man rather than the reflex OF
his personality.

:
endearing terms than ever; they were
longer and told more of his life; yet be-
Tween the lines shecould see that they
were by one whose heart was not at
rest, and that a sense of duty and not
OF pleasure prompted the ample
details. Their very regularity was
painful; it seemed as IL the write
was anxious to act up, to the letter
Of mis- understanding. She knew that
the letters were often written when he
was tired out. Why did he not put
OF writing. and taking advantage of
her love, let her exercise her trust in
him? Eagerly she scanned the pages
to find the name of her rival, and
having found it, would thoughtfully
weigh every word of description, OF
blame Or praise.
When thelovers met, she questioned
him more closely than she had ever
done before. He was seemingly as
fond as ever; no endearing name, no
accustomed caress was forgotten. He
spoke othimself and his friends Stree.
ly as usual, and all her questions were
answered without ashadoW OF reserve.
Yet the answers were slower, and his
manner absent and thoughtful. For
a time she put it down to the alb
sorbing nature of his pursuits; but
little by little, a belief that she was
no longer dearest crept into her heart
and would not be dislodged, try as
she might.
She thought she was Jealous, and
struggled night and day against fault
she dreaded above all others; then, in
a paroxysm of despair, she allowed
herself to be convinced of what she
feared, and loving him deeply, prepar-
ed to make the greatest sacrifice an
unselfish woman can offer. He no
longer loved her; it was best he should
be free.
When he had been with her last, he
had told her that his ensuing absence
must perforce be longer than usual,
and this, she thought would be the
best time for her purpose.
"Dear Frank" she wrote at the end
OF pitiful little letter. II am going
to ask you not to come here next week.
This will surprise you, for in all my
other letters have told you that
what I most look forward to in life is
your visits. But have been thinking,
dear, that it will be best for us to
part forever. [ often ask myself if we
love one another as much
as we did, and I am afraid
we do not. A loveless married life
would be too dreadful to live through,
and dare not risk it. It is better
that the parting should come through
me. Do not fancy that am reproach-
ing you; | cannot, for to me you are
above reproach, above blame. All
feel is that our affection is colder, so
we had better part. God bless you
Frank; | can never tell you how deep
ly [ have loved you. ELSIE"
Frank was almost stunned by the
receipt Of this letter. He read it and
re-read it until every word seemed
burned into his brain. That the girls
love for him was less, he did not be-
lieve he could read undiminished at
lection in the vague phraseology, il.
the studied carefulness to take equal
blame on herself That she should be
Jealous was out of the question; long
years of experience had taught him
that this was totally foreign to her
trustful nature. There was but one
conclusionto come to. She had given
him up because she thought his hap
piness involved. Yet she wished him
to be free; might it not be ungracious
to refuse to accept her gift?
Free! There was a terrible fascina-
ton In the sound. Be the bondage
ever SO pleasant, be it even preferable
to liberty itself, the idea Of freedom is
irresistably alluring. If the same
bondage will be chosen again, there is
a delight in the consciousness that it
will be your own untrammelled choice.
Frank was aware Of a wild exultation
when he realized the fact that he was
free agent. In the first flush of lib
erty, poor Elsie's image faded out of
sight, and that of the siren took it's
place. Now without wrong he might
follow his inclinations. He 'deterrnin-
ed to write to Elsie, but knew not
what to say, and put it off till the
morrow.
There could be no harm in going to
the house Of his fascinator; it was
pleasant to think that he might now
speak, think, look, without any men
tai reservation; there would beno long
erany need to watch his actions or to
force back the words that would tell
her that she exercised a deadly power
over him. The girl received him with
a winning smile, yet when he touched
her hand, he did not feel his brain
throb or his blood rush madly through
his veins as he had expected. He bore
his part through the evening quietly,
and owned that it was a pleasant one;
still, the flavor was not what he had
expected. He. called to mind that
when he was abroad for the first time,
ne had been served with a peculiar
dish, which he remembered and often
longed for when unattainable. After
several years, he had visited the same
cafe and ordered the same dish. The
same cook prepared it. and the same
waiter served 1t, but the taste WAS not
the same; expectation had heightened
the flavor, and the real was inferior
to the ideal.
SO it was with Frank. Before, when
the siren had seemed unattainable,
he had luxuriated in her beauty, ad-
mlred her grace and genius and rev
ollaH hon L. -