The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-28

| OF you. Let me tell you What OWNED
You may tell me that am wrong, but
do not believe that you will. thinl
that in the little time we We're together
absorbed you.
at seemed to me that your soul reached
always for something just above the at
tainable-restless in the moments which
would satisfy another; fretted with a
perverse desire for something different
when an ardent wish was granted; stepped
under all wanton determined enjoyment
OF life, with the bitter knowing of life's
sure impotence to satisfy. Could the dis
satisfied darting mind loiter long enough
TO give woman more than the promise
OF happinessy But never mind that.
with this knowledge of you my own
restive demand for variety left me; my
nature concentrated into one desire-to
be all things TO You. What / had felt
vaguely before and stihed-the nothing
ness of life, the inevitableness of safety
repudiated utterly now that they were
personified in you. / would not recog-
nize the fact Of their existence. could
make you happy. How could magma
ton shape such scenes, snch perfection
OF union, OF companionship, if reality
were not? Imagination is the child OF
inherited and living impressions. might
eXaggerate, but even stripped of its halo
the substance must be sweeter and more
fulfilling than anything else ON this earth
at least. And knew that you loved me.
Oh, had felt that. And the various
ness OF your nature and desires. al
though they might madden me at times.
would give an extraordinary zest TO
life
II was The Doomswoman no longer.
was supplementary being who could
meet you III every mood and complete il.
who would so understand that / could
be man and woman and friend to Won.
A delusion? But so long as shall never
know let me believe. An extraordinary
tumultuous desire that rose in me like a
wave and shook me often at first had in
those last sad weeks less part in my
Ii seemed TO me that that was |
the expression, the poignant essence of |
love, but there was SO much else! | do |
not understand that, however, and never |
shall. But / wanted to tell you all. / |
could not rest until you knew me as I
am and as you had made me. And l
will tell you this, too" she cried, break
ing suddenly. II wanted you so! Oh.
l needed you so! 1t was not only who |
could give. And it is so terrible for a
woman to stand alone!''
de made no reply for moment. But
he forgot every other interest and scheme !
and idea stored in his impatient brain.
He was thrilled to his soul and filled
with the exultant sense that he was
about to take to his heart the woman
compounded for him out of his own
elements.
Speak to me, she said.
MY love, l have so much to saw to
1ou that 1t will take all the years we
shall spend together to say it in"
mo, no! DO not speak of that. There
am firm. Although the misery of the
'ast months were to be multiplied ten
hundred times in the future, i would not
marry you"
1T seems absurd to argue the matter.
'ut tell me the reasons again, if you
moose, and we will dispose of them
nee for all. Do not think for a mo-
nent, my darling, that do not respect
our reasons, but l respect them only
ecause they are yours; in themselves
hey are not worthy of consideration.
Aye, but they are. 1t has been an
nwrltten law for four generations that
n Estenega and an Iturbi Moncada
lould not marry The emnity began. as
on should know, when a member Of
ich family was an officer in detach-
tent OF troops sent TO protect the mis-
ohs III their building. And my father.
told me lately, loved your fathers
ster for many years-that was the rea-
N he married so late in life-and would
't ask her because of her blood and of
uel wrongs her father had done his.
iall his daughter be weak where he !
as strong? You cast aside traditions {
II they Were the seeds of an apple, but U
that they are blood of my
ood. And The VOW / made-do YOU :
rget that? And the words of it? The
urch stands between us. L will tell
u all: the priest has forbidden me to
AIRY You; he forbade it every time /
not only because of my vow,
II because you had aroused in me a
We so terrible that l almost took the o
Q OF another woman. Could | bring .
u back to the church it might be DIFF. u
rent, but you rule others; no one could
mold you. You see it is hopeless. II {
no use to argue" p
Il have no intention of arguing. c
ords are too good TO waste on such an s.
surd proposition that. because our
thcrs hated, we, VINO are independent +
d intelligent beings, should not marry I
Zen every drop of hearts blood do I
inds its rights. AS for your VOW d
lat is vow? Hysterical egotism moth &
: more. Were it the promise of man
man the subject would be worth dis Y
ssing. But we will settle the matter d
our own way" He took her suddenly n
his arms and kissed her. She put her 81
MS about him and clung TO him, trem- ly
ng. her lips pressed TO his. In that N
preme moment he felt not happiness, Il
bitter desire 10 bear her out Of the -.
rid into some higher sphere where the u