Telegram-herald., 1891-08-08

nance. tragedy II you ike. or. IL you
prefer. genteei comedy that set me
thinking upon the question that heads
this paper.
IL was at a great reception. and among
the guests noticed q peculiarly sweet
and gentle young woman, elegantly
dressed. richly Jeweled. and bearing tho
unInistakable mark OF worldly prps-
per.ty. bat with il tho equally anmis-
taxable mark OF . crushed and hopeless
hfa She leaned upon the arm OF a mah
whose broad. red face. sleepy eyes and
stupid mouth made me long TO yawn be-
hind my fan. or to put it in one word,
made me tired" although he also looked
well to do. and very well contented with
himself and all his belongings. including
his lily Of tho valley wife. They passed
on and 80 did I. but presently found my
self. In company with man VINO knows
everything about every body. near the
pretty lily as she stood all alone looking
ssdder than ever.
'Who IS she:" asked L
She? Poor little sonll She Is ono Of
the great army OF martyrs vho 60
through the world whispering TO them
selves. 1T might have beenr"
What, or rather who, Is her might
have been? asked !. and my companion
murmured:
Look and seey"
looked just in time to catch a glance
from those mournful eyes that told their
whole story. 1t was sent straight into
the eyes Of man known 10 all the world
as poet, a romancist. an idealist of the
first water and purest brilliancy.
And he in turn looked at her, looked
as souls may look hereafter across the
imrassable gulf dividing those forever
lost 10 each other, and in whose loss all
Is goae that might make life worth the
living
Yes, see." nurmured TO my COM
panion- What Is the story
Only that she was an heiress and be
could hardly find butter for his bread
before the world found him out. He
loved her. but was too proud and sensi-
tive n declare himself, and in trying to
appear Indifferent so far overdid tho
matter as TO seem careless. She fancied
herself rejected, and all in hurry ac-
cepted and married that buttertub whose
name she bears Probably some acci-
dent, some unguarded moment. tore
away tho veil from between them, but
too late. too late. They arc both Of
them persons who would die rather than
sin against their moral code. aud dare
say that little look we just surprised viii
suffice them for months"
What . pity!" said l. - We moved
away
What . stnpidityr retorted my
friend. why didn't she SPEAK out when
abe found he wouldn't or couldn'ty
What. offer herself to the man. ex-
claimed in horror.
Yes Say in effect, why don't you
speak for yourself, Johny Why shouldn't
shey
Because she knew better than to put
herself at any mans mercy"
''When ycu resort to sarcasm IL Is q
confession that you have no sound argu
ments to offer. but think 1t over and SEQ
~ I am not right
have thought 1t over ever since, but
cannot yet say with conviction either
that he WAS right or altogether wrong.
As general rule suppose all Of Us feel
that Is = mans business to select his wife
and 10 o6er her his love. while she Is lim-
tied to the privilege Of saying Yes or No,
~ thee case may be. The man oorva0ofes
Amo IN the acfire roies. and sroman in the
pdssire, and the tradition that he pursues.
eRtreats. urges, while she at last yields