New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20

| to git breath of fresh air
Rowena hastened to equip herself. She was
becoming really alarmed. Was it true that
George had not come over for the purpose of talk
ing of little jim?
1 The two women went out Of the house and
began picking their way slowly along For a
good while Rowena waited for her friend to speak,
but at last she put this question:
Have you seen any blue birds yet?"
No, l amt. Jim said to-day that this
weathcr'd bring UNI
few mere rods were traversed in silence
Then George, turning her head directly away
| from her companion, asked:
| II s'pose you remember that Jewert GIRL dent
you ~
| WHAT Mary Jane Jewett? Yes. indeed
| Rowena looked anxousy at George 1t could
hardly be possible that Jim Townshend was having
a relapse into his old state of infatuation She
did not dare to make any inquiries. She remained
silent.
"You know she lives in Boston. Her husbands
in grocery store there"
yes"
| well she's vistin out to her mothers now.
jim hauled some wood 10 Mrs. Jewett yisterdy.
lie see Mary Jane"
At this stage of the narrative George appeared
| to find it impossible to proceed
Rowenas imagination went TO dreadful lengths
in regard 70 jim and his old love
Mary James husband sends her The Daily
| Blank from Boston real often" went on George.
IN she give jim this paper She said she thought
| it was a mean shame, and she hoped you or Mr..
Bradford could do something about it. She said
whuther il was true not, it was means it could
be- Jim said better give the paper to you"
Rowena extended cold hand for the closely
folded printed sheet. She could not imagine what
was in it.
Il guess better hurry right along now said
George. But before she hurried right along she
put hand on her friends shoulder and continued
earnestly You know what think of you, Row.
cny, m what anybody Z knows you thinks Now
don't you I've too much plagued. Though faint
in reason YOU shouldn't feel it some
Now George fastened on. Rowena went to the
roadside and leaned against the fence she opened
the paper. She Immediately saw two heavy ink
marks encircling the following paragraph
Beauty and talent, The possessor of them not
always happy in the marriage relation! VIII
there be divorce Has she another love? We
regret TO learn that the beautiful and well-known
young artist, Mrs. Keats Bradford. whose latest
picture, In Mid-August. have all 80 much
admired, is not happy wife. Her husband we
know upon good authority is at certain town
! in California while she resides in Boston. We
have not vet discovered the cause Of this separa
ton Doubtless it results from incompatibility of
temperament We should be loath to learn that
| there was any other attachment the part OF
either the husband the wife Mrs Bradford
was once country girl from way-back, but no
one who knows her would ever dream that
such was the fact"
Rowena read these lines twice before the poison
Of them really reached her mind.
t;oI,t md in fhefr
hold upon the paper. she said. in a whisper:
"Oh, Keats
Then she turned and leaned her arms the
fence and covered her face. The paper flew about
in the VIM, and finally rustled up between
stone and post.
Presently she lifted her head and looked about
her She was repeating over and over to herself
the words, " 1t my fault; at first; at FIRST
Then came a furious desire to suppress those
printed words and furious a feeling of help
lessness.
How they would wound Keats! She could
picture the fury In his face as he read. And he
would he sure TO see them. Somebody always
sent an acqu.intanc, anything like that. What
could she do? To battle with such a thing was
like battling with air; it eluded and flowed on
and on. All newspapers would not have published
that paragraph. but many dealt in just such kind
Of material.
Rowena had moment Of frantic mental search
far some kind Of weapon with which to deal re-
turn blow Then she gave up the search.
She stopped and gathered mp the paper, keeping
her eyes aloof from IL as she dld so. as II IL "er
something loathsome.
She tried 70 look over the country now with
mechanical attempt 70 see some hopeful token vi
snring II was really spring by the caehd"r.
Now and then would come day When uie "or"
felt that the winter was over. Inc s"il'' asro"H
wind from the southeast was still blowing lfl.
was a great roar among the pines. ana ""i'
,asbing among the bare boughs Of The other trees
All NJ once something flew by her iace' 80 cIoo7
| o. b.r that she could not tell what it was. I'M
modiatcIv from the top of one Of the cedar posts
near came q clear lovely call:
| "Dcarie Oh, dearie."
| VIM that has ever been a country girl docs noo
knoyy the thrill Of JOY and thankfulness winch ,nH
sopg Of the bluebird first heard after the Winter
| brings 10 the heart?
Rowena turned as might turn at 'he Call
| of a lover. IT,. :.
| There he was His back shore keen oiue III
| tbc sunlight His duslsy red bosom looked ScN
| and smooth He was far enough away 10 ~ a"e
IN paze calmly with shining eyes al ho"ena' WIZ
held herself motionless. He gave wh'sk anu
won't from the post to the rail lie made his h'tie
! ~ .ir H. was n promise Of cheer. II was
n,onbecy of happiness. curious. unreasonaor
| Glow difused itself through Rowt%a's CONSCIOUS
ncss She walked home as If she had seen soie
Glorious miracle which was to renew all Deau'i'ui
things for her. 81.
| In the kitchen she flung the paper into the
tove and SAW it curl up among the OAK "oou
| Goals
| She hurried into her mothers ROOM
| Didn't | hear George Townshends voice
asked Mis-. futile.
| Yes" 80,
| Did she come for anything in particular
"Sbe said little jim 50 well now that she
was frightened"
| he answered.