Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-09-10


81 was coming down anyway" she
said, "and besides, it is easier for one
to come down than for two to come up.
But [ want to rest moment, for I've
been to Shark Rock, and then [ have
story to tell and an opinion to ask
They ensconced themselves in a
shaded and MINDLESS corner, and Miss
Warde was about to begin when she
spied a new made friend of theirs,
somewhat a lion in the little place,
standing uncertainty short way off, his
hat in his hand
He was young Russian, wealthy,
noble, and famous in his own country,
but now lifelong exile, making tool
of what had been weapon befOre-his
pen.
won't you join us, Count Stefan?"
asked Hilda. 81 want an audience to-
day."
So the three gentlemen, after mo-
rment's talk, settled themselves at her
feet and she began her story.
"It is only little one," she said, "but
true story; | want your honest opin-
ion on the merits of the case. Honest,
mind you!
There was young man, good and
clever and all that, but little queer
and opinionated. He had great notions
of the work he was going to do, and
really showed some promise, though no.
or his ability either, he was SO indefi-
mite. Well, he met young woman"
"Of course" remarked Saunders.
"Fate ~ said Clarke.
"He was Fortunate" murmured the
Count.
"Now, you must not interrupt"
frowned Hilda. "This is test case,
and | want your calmest judgment
This young woman fell in love with him
and-I won't say made up her mind, for
that was not her method-bUtshew want
ed to marry him. She was fine GIRL
handsome and clever, genius in her
line. She was musical, and they might
have been great friends but for that.
But he was a rabid reformer, and she
cared for nothing but love and music;
so he didn't want to marry her, though
he could not but love her in a way, she
was SO good and beautiful and-well,
strongly feminine nature.
''They were intimate friends. and
talked with all the freedom of the phil
osopher on one side and the artist on
the other. He found out how things
we're going, and told her freely his
plans and hopes; how he was resolved
never to marry, that she was to him but
dear friend-everything as clear as
daylight.
"But our young woman had her own
plans and hopes. To do her justice,
and felt sure she could make him both
powerful and happy by marrying him;
so she went to work Her methods
were simple. She just took advantage
of the freedom of their friendship to
play upon his masculine nature. She
had no scruples of any kind in such
case. She loved him, and him alone,
and meant to marry him-that was all.
''Of course, it was only matter of
time. He struggled manfully, made
engagements and broke them, left her
and returned again; she always man.
aged, by appealing to sympathy or
silence, to get him to come and see her
once more. After while he felt his
honor was engaged, and then he stuck
to it and married her. He loved her
somewhat, you understand, through it
all; only he knew"
"Knew what ?' from the Count.
whose quiet eyes never left her face.
KNEW how it would end"
How did it END ?" asked Saunders,
rather bitterly.
"Just as be feared It upset his work
and health and everything. He wasn't
earning much anyway, and that
bothered him as it always does. There
was child, of course; and between the
extra care and unusual demands, and
the miserable state of mind he was in, it
quite ruined him. He just went insane
and killed himself-one of those excit-
able, nervous temperaments, you know.
That's all the story. What | want of
you gentleman is an opinion on the rel
alive guilt of the two parties"
Guilt of the one party, you mean"
said Saunders, harshly. "He was
weak, no doubt-most men are in
similar case-but she was the one to
blame ~
''She didn't force him to marry her."
objected Hilda, mildly. "He might
have escaped or refused"
"And where could he have gone,
pray, to escape hunter like that-even
if he had the means, which [ under
stand he hadn't? And as to refusing
she led him on till he couldn't refuse
in honor! No, indeed. Geta man into
the hands of woman like that, and he
can neither escape nor refuse"
81 agree with George" said Howard
Clarke. "The girl was altogether to
blame'
''Do I understand" inquired the
Count, with perfect accent, that she
made the proposal of marriage ?"
"She did, said Hilda. o
"And that he explained to her that
he did not love her in that way, and
that he was unfit and unwilling to
marry?"
"Cfearly and repeatedly" said Hilda.
"And that, after being led into one
engagement, he broke it and left her,
only to be pulled back again?''
Gle did"
81 am forced to agree with these gen.
tlemen against the lady. She was most
cruelty to blame"
Hilda's eyes dwelt on him a moment
admiringly, as he uttered the quiet but.
impressive syllables. Then she
studied the other speakers.
cit makes no difference in case like
that" Saunders broke out, whether it's
a man or woman. To play on per-
son like that, and win him against his
will through his worst and weakest ma
ture! She was criminal ~
''But she loved him. said Hilda.
Glove Do YOU call that love? To |