The National tribune., 1890-04-10
"No, thanks; I'll go home now and return

strange TO il. Lights were burning in the
drawing room and little alteration in the ar
rangement of the furniture had restored to the
room forgotten grace. Bouquets of flowers
filled the vases. and faint sweetness of vio-
lets fioated about the hall aud staircase. The
piano was open, and some music stood on tho
bookstand. On the boudoir table was work
basket. BY the hearth his visitor was sitting
in a low chair, her little feet half buried in the
bear-skin rug. and her head rcposed on her
hand, while she Gazed wstfuIly into the fire.
Was it dresm Berthas flowers; Bcrtha's
music. Bertha herself in his home again
Two years misery cancelled in an evening!
In a moment rushed across his memory gold
en- wooing, proud wedding, happy months.
and the bitter day of separation. lie turned
away, and passed to his room, saying, Good
night"
Good night" replied his wife without
moving.
The strange event that had taken place in
Gerard Strickland's house prevented mono of
its inmates enjoying a wholesome nights rest.
Bertha, persuaded that to-morrow's comedy
could effect no real change in her relation TO
her husband, went 10 her room with the feel
ing of one who spends n night in a hotel.
Strickland, similarly regarding the past rs ir-
remediabe, read in bed for half an hour and
then fell asleep.
To get married they had both committed
thousand lolies. After meeting her at a table
d'hote, Strickland had pursued her half over
Europe, vanquishcd the difficulties OF an ap.
preach to her father in his secluded country
house, and ultimately, assisted by the ladys
prayers and tears, gained the old mans reluct-
ant consent to surrender his idoized daughter
The young married people, passonately at
tschcd TO each other, enjoyed fifteen months of
remarkable happiness. aud then came the end.
fhu hoo a.sa1, TO hor hf1G
band, proud, hasty, immoderate in all her
thoughts and emotions. she resented, with all
the intensity OF her nature, n meeting between
Strickland and former flame, dance, note,
half an hours conversation. The husband Un-
fortunately met her passionate cxpOstulatious
with the disdainlul insoUciaBce of an easy tenn
permanent The inevitable consequence en-
sued. a bitter misunderstanding. An impudent
servant. malicious acquaintance, half dozen
yenomous tongues, lashod the wife's jealousy
into madness. An explanation demanded from
her husband was refused with sheer lie
had begun TO think her a proud, unoving
woman, and under the circumstances judged
selfiustihcaton ridiculous. The following
morning she entered his library and with mar
velous calmness. without quavcring over
single word, announced To him their imme-
date scparation-foreyer Taken by surprise,
Strickland tried 20 temporize, acknowledged
he had been thouEhtless, did all in a mans
power 10 avoid the rupture Bertha only re-
piled so proudly and with so much severity
that selfTespect forbade him further selfde-
tense.
They separated. Strickland externally bore
his misfortune with quetness, and. in counsel
with has 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 meet who barely know each other.
He devoted himself 10 professional duties, re-
sumed some Of his bachelor habits, aud amused
himself rs he could She led a quiet, almost
solitary life, restricting her pleasures to such
simple eHJoyments as she could provide herself
at home, and seldom appearing in public On
one point both agreed-tO write regularly to
BcrtIas father, repeating such stereotyped
phrases as Bertha is well aud sends her love.
believe she wrote 10 you a few days ago"
Gerard - well and very busy. He will not
this year be able 10 accompany me TO the sea-
side"
1t will be easily believed that to 20 to her
husbands house aud 10 ask favor of him had
cost Bcrtha's pride a struggle. For papas
sake; for papa's sakel" she repeated 10 her
self, to steel her norves 10 the humiliation,
which, however. Strickland's cold courtesy bad
considerably lessened. IL he would be equally
cOnsidorate on the morrow, little spirit, lit
tic sellcOmmand, aud some clever pretending
II ight enable them safely 10 conduct her father
through the few hours 20 be spent In town. 20
sec him OF from Victoria. aud. with polite
bow, 10 separate aud return to their. several
existenccs.
Dinner was ended. Mr.. Gregory smiled con.
tentment aud happiness, aud 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 geHtleman's arrival they
had had 10 call each other by their Christian
names, and 20 use the little endearments of
two married people still IN love. More than
once, word, an intOnation, that sounded like
an echo Of the dead past, made Strickland pale
and Bertha trembie Their embarrassment
mOmentarlly increased. The more perfect
their DISSEMINATION the bitterer was the secret
remorse that WTung the hearts of both Of them
while they exchanged for meaningless things
words, looks, and smiles. once the most sacred
signs Of affection. With the fear Of bctraying
themselves by an indiscretion was ntermixed
another, a misgiying lest, while they acted az
fiction, they should be guilty Of real feelings
warmer than the courteous indifference with
which they desired 10 regard each other.
On the stairs. when Mr. Gregory preceding
them, was for an instant out Of sight Bertha
turned back and bestowed on her husband a
grim look Of fatigue that meant, How are We
70 continue thisH"
- Ou2g III lD-HiBiIbWs Bertha, he re-
piled in an undertone, wishing 10 help her
But the Christian name (which. because he had
in the last two hours used il so frequently, un-
Willingly slipped from his lips) caused her 10
turn her face away with an angry frown.
BY the fire in the back drawing-room Mr.
Gregory appeared actuated by desire 10 ask
all the most awkward questions, and TO breach
ell the topics Of conversation most difficult for
his host and hostess.
" Letters are welcome, Bertha" he said,
when people cannot meet, but / have en-
iOyed my little visit more than all the pages
you have sent me. There Is very little in let
ters. Don't you think your wife grows hand
sOmer, Strickland z"
" j tell her 90 every day"
"hnd 50 he tells me- Bertha. His letters ara
all about you. You have a model husband, my
dear"
" / have, papa"
Strickland hung his head and regarded the
pattern on the carpet
81 should like 20 see your house. Bertha. -
said Mr.. Gregory, after "A moment.
The little party set out on q tour Of the man.
sion. Alter an inspection Of several rooms, az
| Strickland preceded them into the break fast
room, the father stopped his daughter and
said
Bertha, where is yOnr mothers portrait u
"The frame had got shabby and we have
sent it 10 be Tegilt," replied the daughter
| promptly.
Where does il generally hang2"
| "There"
/ .uuf0r.d IN tbo ,rf.t,,..