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

Bertha, persuaded that tomorrow comedy
| could effect no real change in her relation TO
her husband, went TO her room with the feel
ings Of one who spends a night in hotel.
Strickland, similarly regarding the past as ir.
remediable. read in bed for half an hour, and
To get married they had both committed
thousand follies. After meeting her at o table,
d'hote, Strickland had pursued her half over
Europe, vanquished the difficulties OF an ap-
proach TO her father in his secluded country
house, and ultimately, assisted by the iadys
prayers and tears, gained the old mans reiuc-
tant 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 TO 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 q former fame. q 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
8 sneer. He had begun to think her Q proud,
unloving woman, and. under the circum-
Tho following morning she entered his library,
and with marvellous calmness, without quaver-
ing over q single word, announced to him their
immediate separation-for ever. Taken by
surprise. Strickland tried to temporize, ac-
knowiedged he had been thoughsless, did all in
a mans power to avoid the rupture. Bertha
only replied so proudly, and with 30 much
severity, that self-respect forbade him further
self-defense.
They separated. Strickland externally bore
ia rfaisf rxith mil nd tn 81
with his own conscience, concluded his
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
some of his bachelor habits, and amused him
self as he could She led quiet, almost soli-
tory life, restricting her pleasures to such SIM
pie eDjoyments 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 stereotyped
phrases as Bertha is well. and sends her love.
i believe she wrote to you few days ago"
Gerard Is well, and at present very busy. He
will not thi: year be able to accompany me to
It will be easily believed that to 70 to her
husbands house and to ask favor Of him had
cost Bertha's pride a struggle. ''For papas
sake; for papa's saken' she repeated to herself,
to steel her nerves to the humiliation, which,
however, Strickland's cold courtesy had con-
considerate on the morrow, little spirit, 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 gentleman's 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,
a word. an information, that sounded like an
echo OF the dead past, made Strickland pale
and Bertha tremble. Their embarrassment
momentarily increased The more perfect
their discrimination, the bitterer was the secret
remorse that wrung 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 injiscretion was intermixed
another, q misgiving lest, while they acted az
lection, they should be guilty Of real feeling
warmer than the courteous indifference with
which they desired to regard each other.
On the stairs, when Mr.. Gregory, preceding
them, was for an instant out Of sight, Bertha
turned back and bestowed on hor husband
grim look Of fatigue that meant, How are we
to continue this?'
otis 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 frown.
Gregory appeared actuated by q 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 epioyed
my little visit more than ali the pages You have
sent me. There Is very little in letters. Don't
you think your wife grows handsomer, Strick-
land?"
II tell her so every day."
"And 90 he tells me, Bertha. His letters are
all about you. You have . model husband, my
DEAR"
Il have, papa"
Strickland hung bis head and regarded the
pattern of the carpet.
81 should like to see your house. Bertha"
said Mr.. Gregory, after q 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
sent it to be regilt," replied the daughter,
promptly.
Where does it generally hans9"
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 placel" said
the old man. "Ab, what Q woman she was!
What wonderful woman! You should have
known her, Strickland. You owe her your
wife. When she was leaving me- poor dear!
she made me promise never to hesitate to make
any sacrifice that should be for Bertha's hap
piness; and 80, 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 congrstulating 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 q word was
ar,,l op orth IL