New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-22
OUT OF STEP.
Kill.
WITH MRS. DARRAH.
,o,,. 1899. Bv the Tribune AssOeiation.

Ponce de Leon in st. Augustine. and was 10 wii'e
at this lady's dictation. There sat Mrs. Dailaii
on n couch among shawls two or threc piue anu
green bound notebooks were WITHIN REACH Du'
the windows were not open TO let III 'he 'oi'
fragrant air Of Florida; there were no palms
within sight; instead, there were the haheu
boughs of the trees in the narrow PARK opposi'e'
Nrs Darrah rose as Saome advanced ohe
held out her hand and pressed cordially the one
given In response she iooheo WIN"
kecnness at her visitor
"Do sit down." she said; sit down opposite me
IN that chair. so that may you without
twisting my head round.
ca,o,na oheved She asked herself when the
dictation would begin
Mrs Darrah leaned back. drawing a shawl
about her o,
~ suppose you have an idea you are happy?
she remarked
eyes I have that idea" was the answer
"No doubt. 7 saw Mr. Moore on the street
TODAY He also has an idea that he IS happy'
too odd isn't it? But then there are times IN
our lives when we all think we are happy. THIS
60 the time with you and that young man. Take
off vow hat and furs please; you nave an air
az II YOU were going directly. You will stay to
dinner, you know"
salome rose and Invested herself of her street
garments
..rbat &c RIGHT Now sit down again. Do you
Lro,v almost want to dictate to you? I've al
WAYS had a fancy that my ideas flowed better
when YOU were my amanuenss You Know
there is such thing as some subtle emahauoh
from a personality that stimulates ones nina
"yes 7 suppose So" answered Salome, as her
oo,nnanion paused She laughed as she ADDED
that If that were really true. exactly the right
kind of an amanuensis would be great thihg
for an author But Mrs. Darrah did not seem
disposed to follow this subject any further IN
just this way.
frank openness
You always were very suggestive she said
"I.rn en- tired of the ordinary, commonplace
human being How long do you expect to be SO
happy"
"Oh. don't ask me in such tone as that
exclaimed Salome.
Very well. Is your mother with You
"No: but go out to see her every week. She
prefers to live in the country
81 admire your mother"
The daughters face lighted and her eyes
sparkIed.
Mrs. Darrah changed the conversation again
with the abruptness which she seemed to con-
slider 1t her right to use.
perhaps Mr.. Moore mentioned to you that
accidentally spoke Of a subject on which sup
nosed that he was we'll informed? l see he did
mention 1t. I ought not to have been so care
LEGS That was your affair, and his. Interest
ing. though very I've made notes OF It, one
never knows what one may want to use. And
I wished to ask you IL anything-now do pardon
mo but I ask in the interest Of my work-if
ANYTHING YOU have ever done, any wrong thing.
VOL know, causes you to be less happy? Would
Won mind answeriEg?"
Sslome could not understand why this question
cid not make her angry. But there were GER
tain simplicity and sngleness of purpose in the
woman before her, and she had really been so
kind to her. that Salome felt no resentment.
But she felt some confusion. She did not quite
know how to answer.
eve have been instructed. you remember
went on Mrs Darrah, that our consciences
make II impossible for us to be happy,
under favorable circumstances. unless our con-
sciences are in that state which our orthodox
forefathers used to call scared You far
too young for that process to have been &C
complished But you happy, aren't you?
Any way, you have been happy since your mar
rage?'
yes yes" replied Salome
"And no moments Of agony because Of some
things you have done?"
mo"
Mrs Darrah reached for a notebook.
please forgive me, but 1 really must ask If
the thought of the fact that-that you have
allowed Mr. Moore to think as he has done of
the circumstances of his marriage-has not that
thought made you miserable?'
Salome's face was tense and 1t was palcr than
usual but she answered with that frankness
which was characteristic of her when speaking
of her inner self.
NO / have not been miserable at ALL except
in the rare moments when l would have fear
that my husband would find out the truth 1t
was better since he would be happier. and
also should be happier, if he never knew the
truth"
Mrs. Darrah's little, alert face became yet
more alert.
She began to write. saying as she did so:
This is really charmng-this is delightful.
The amount Of II Is that you don't care in the
least
"Oh." exclaimed Salome eagerly.
great deal If somebody comes to know it and is
made unhappy"
But If nobody knows. and nobody is made
unhappy because Of what you may do in that
way?"
Then 1 don't care anything at ALL" with an
accent If relief.
That's Just what want to come at. How
much would the best Of care for right, pure
and simple, If nobody would ever know and no
body would ever be unhappy?
salome feared forward She put out hand
as II in emphasis
"Oh. Mrs. Darrah." she said quickly. Il don't
understand why 1t IL. and I'm not so one bit.
but my mother is one Of those people who do
right because 1t is right. And since my mother
does so. have times when long to he able to
do So mean I used TO have such times before
I became we'll and happy. i wonder why it is,
Mrs. Darrah. but when We are happy we seem
&c be good-even IL we are not good. YOU know"
salome spoke thus as If she were the first per-
sen who had ever puzzled over that state Of
being.
.'Of course II hadn't known that Randolph
Mr. Moore-loved me-if had not known ii be-