The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-22
ssNothlng. viii Won dino here 90

TO her DOW, conducted uer to the door With
out another word, and returned with sense
of relief to the library.
When lie returned home, shortly after mid
night, the house had resumed an aspect long
strange to it. Lights were burning in the
drawing-room, and little alteration in the
arrangement of the furniture had restored to
the room forgotten grace. Bouquets of
flowers filled the vases, and faint sweet
ness Of violets foated about the hall and
staircase. The piano stood open and some
music stood on the bookstand. On the bou-
doir table was workbasket. By the hearth
his visitor was sitting in low chair. her lit
tie feet half buried in the bear-skin rug, and
her head reposing on her hand, while she
gazed wistfully into the fire.
Was it dream? Bertha's flowers; Ber-
tha's music; Bertha herself in his home
again Two years misery cancelled in an
EVENING" In moment rushed across his
memory golden wooing, proud wedding,
happy months-and the bitter day of separa-
ton. He turned away and passed to his
room. saying, "Good nightP
"Good night" replied his wife, without
moving.
The strange event that had taken place in
Gerard Strickland's house, prevented none
OF Its inmates enjoying wholesome nights
rest. Bertha, persuaded that to-morrow's
comedy could effect no real change in her
relation to her husband, went to her room
with the feelings of one who spends night
in hotel. Strickland similarly regarding
the past as irremediable, read in bed for half
an hour and then fell asleep.
To get married they had both committed
thousand follies. After meeting her at
table dhote, Strickland had pursued her half
over Europe, vanquished the difficulties of an
approach to her father in his secluded coun-
try house, and ultimately, assisted by the
lady's prayers and tears, gained the old mans
reluctant consent to surrender his idolized
daughter. The young married people. pas
sionately attached to each other, enjoyed fif-
teen months of remarkable happiness, and
then came the end.
Bertha became jealous. Devoted to her
husband, proud, hasty immoderate In all her
thoughts and emotions, she resented, with
all the intensity OF her nature, meeting be-
tween Strickland and a former flame, a
dance, note, half an hours conversation.
The husband unfortunately met her expos
tulations with the disdainful insouciance Of
an easy temperament. The inevitable con-
sequence ensued, a bitter misunderstanding
An impudent servant. a malicious acquain-
lance, half dozen venemous tongues, dashed
the wlfe's Jealousy into madness. An expla-
nation demanded from her husband, was re-
fused with a sheer. He had begun to think
her proud unlovlng woman, and, under the
circumstances, judged self-justfcation ride
ulons. The following morning she entered
his library, and with marvellous calmness,
without quavering over a single word, an
nounce1 to him their immediate separation.
forever. Taken by surprise, Strickland
tried TO temporlZe, acknowledged he had been
thoughtless. did all in mans power to
avoid the rupture. Bertha only replied so
proudly, and with so much severity. that
self-respect forbade him further self-defence
They separated Strickland externally
bore his misfortune with quietness, and, in
counsel with his own conscience. concluded
his life broken and ruined by his 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 himself as he could. She led a
quiet, almost solitary life, restricting her
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 Der
tina is well, ana sends her love. believe
she wrote to you few days ago. Gerard
is well, and at present very busy. He will
not this veal. be able to accompany me to
the seaside"
1t will be easily believed that to go to her
husbands house and to ask favor of him
bad cost Bertha's pride struggle ''For
papa's sake; for papa's sakel" she repeated
to herself, to steel her nerves to the humilia-
ton, which, however, Strickland's cold cour-
tesy had considerably lessened. III he would
be equally considerate on the morrow, a
little self-eommand, and some clever pretend
IN hpr
father through the few hours to be spent in
town, to see him off from Victoria, and, with
polite bow, to separate and return to their
several existences.
Dinner was ended. Mr.. Gregory smiled
contentment 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
names, and to use the little endearmenrs of
two married people still in love. More than
once, word, an information, that sounded
like an echo of the dead past, made Strick-
land pale, and Bertha tremble. Their EN-
barrassment momentarily, increased. The
more perfect their assimilation, 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 indis-
erection was inter-mixed another, misgiving
lest, while they acted affection they should
be guilty of real feelings warmer than the
courteous indifference with which they de-
sired to regard each other.
On the stairs, when Mr.. Gregory, preceding
them, was Tor an instant out of sight, Bertha
turned back and bestowed on her husband a
grim look of fatigue that meant "How are
we to continue tbis?"
"'ris only till Tomorrow, Bertha, he re-
piled In an understone, wishing to help her.
But the Christian name (Which, because he
had in the last two hours used il SO fire.
quently, unwittingly slipped from his lips,
caused her to turn her face away with an
angry frown.
BY the fire in the back drawng-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 cannotmeet, but | have en-
joyed 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, Strickland"
Il tell her so every day."
And so he tells me- Bertha. His letters
are all about yon You have model hus-
band, my dear"
II have, papa"
Strickland hung his head and regarded the
pattern of the carpet.
II should like to see your house, Bertha.
said Mr. Gregory, after moment.
The futile party set out on tour of the
manson. After an inspection of several
rooms, as Strickland preceded them into the
breakfast room, TIE father stopped his
daughter and said:
Bertha, where is your mothers portrait2"
The frame had got shabby and we have
sent it to be re-gilt," replied the daughter,
promptly.
Where does it generally hang?"
"There"
She assigned to the picture, which she had
taken away with her, the first empty space
on the wall that met her eye.
II don't think that very good place
said the old man. 'Ah, what a woman She
was What wonderful womanl 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 happiness, and so, when NV
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 Paris ?"
They remembered it.
The tour OF the house was completed. and
they returned to the drawing-room, Gerard
and his wife congratulating themselves. not
without reason, that the good papa was not
inf f0r &ol-o Of