Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-05-16


81 have been reading over your letter
of Thursday last, dear Steven" wrote
Miss Travcrs, land there is much that /
feel | ought to answer. You and Kate
are very much of mind about the
temptations with which | am surround
ed; but you are far more imaginative
than she is, and far more courteous.
There is SO much about your letter that
touches me deeply that want to be frank
ing all this evening, was out at dinner
before that, and have made many calls
this afternoon; but, tired as | am, my
letter must be written, for tomorrow
will he but the repetition of today. Is it
that | am cold and utterly heartess that
| can sit and write SO calmly in reply to
your fervent and appealing letter;
All, Steven, it is what may be said Of
me; but, if cold and heartless to you, |
have certainly given no man at tnis gar
rison the faintest reason to think that he
has inspired any greater interest in him.
They are all kind, all very attentive. I
have told YOU how well Mr.. Royce dances
and Mr.. Merton rides and Mr.. Foster
reads and talks. They entertain me
vastly, and do like it, More than this,
Steven, I am pleased with their evident
admiration-not alone pleased and proud
that they should admire me who am
pledged to vou-nOt that alone, | frankly
confess, but because i. il Itself j, pleas
ant. 1t ploasos me. Very possibly it is
because am vain.
And yet, though my hours are con-
stantly occupied, though they are here
from morning till night, no one Of them
is more attentive than another. There
are five or six who come daily. There
are some who DO not come at all. Am l
wretch, Steven? There are two or
three that do not call who | wish would
call. | would like to know them.
Yet they luow-they could not help
it. with Kate here, and l never forget
that l am your promised wife, Steven,
do you not sometimes forget the Condi-
lions of that promise? Even now again
and again. do not repeat TO you that
you ought to release me and free your
self? OF course your impulse will be to
say my heart is changinS-th have
seen CyLcrs whom l iiLc better. No;
have seen no one Ike rs well. But is
like what you deserve, what YOU SIX?
aud is il not ali | have ever been able -
promise you? Steven, bear me witness,
for ka;o is bitterly unjust 70 me at
times, told you again and again las
summer and fail that did nok love you
and hit not TO think q being your
wifi. Yet, poor, homeless, dependent
as / am how strong " as the temptation
20 sly yes 10 your plea
You know that l did not and would
rot unlu time and again your sweet mo-
Tier, whom 1 DO love, and Kate, who
had been a mother ~ me, both declared
that that SHOULD make no difference tho
love would come, the happiezt marriages
the world over were thIHe IL which Lhs,
girl respected the mall 81 ne choice;
love would come. and come speedily,
when once shs was his wife. Gou your
sals declared Won could wut Ii patience
you would WOO and win BY anG by.
Only promise 20 DO your wifo before 20
turning To tho frontier and yea would be
content. Stevtu, aru you contsnS Ho1
know You are not; you know You arc
unhappy hi4i ie 10 all A-cb Ac'ANHsS 49,
growing 10 love some ore else, but he
cause l sm not growing to love you
Heaven knows l want to love you: for
80 long as you hold lno 10 it my promise
is sacred and shall be kept
More than that, if you say that 1t is
your will that l seclnde myself from
these attentions, give up dancing, give
up rides, drives, walks, and even reeeiv
mg VISITS, nero, 30 To- II 1 VIII oDsy;
but write this 70 mo Steven-rut TO
Kate. ! am too proud 70 ask her TO show
me the letters ! know she has received
from you-and there are some she has
not shown me--but cannot understand
a mans complaining to other persons Of
the conduct of the woman who is, or Is
to be, his wife. Forgive me if l pain
you; sometimes even TO myself | seem
old and strange. l have lived 80 u.;trr
alone, nave had to think anal do Ter my
self so many years while Kate has Uecn
away, THAT peGhspS I'm not TkS other