The Washington times., 1894-11-25
Olar0nG0.
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyright. 1894. by Bret Harte. J

II Of the rich widow OF John Beyton, ol
the Robles ranch, mingled with the
outgoing audience OF the Cosmopolitan Thea
tor at san Francisco he ELECTED the usual
smiling mods and recognition due TO his good
looks and good fortune. But as he hurriedly
slipped through the still lingering winter IS
rain into the smart coupe that was awaiting
him and gave the order ''home" the word
struck him with peculiarly ironical signih-
eance.
His home was handsome one and lacked
nothing in appointment and comfort, but he
had gone to the theater 10 evade its hollow
loneliness. Nor was il because his wife was
not there, for be had a miserable conscious
ness that the temporary absence had nothing
10 do with his homelessness.
The distraction OF the theater over that
dull. vague. but aching sense of loneliness
daily growing upon him, returned with greater
vigor.
He leaned back in the coupe and gloomily
reflected.
He had been married scarcely a year, vet
even in the illusions OF the honeymoon, the
woman. older than himself an the widow OF
his old patron. had half unconsciously re-
asserted herself, and slipped back into the
domination of her old position.
Ii was at first pleasant enOugh-this half
maternal protectorate, which is apt 10 mingle
with the affections of even younger women
aud Clarence. IN his easy hall-feminine intuI-
do of the sex, yielded, as the strong are apt
10 viI through the very consciousness Of
his own superiority. But this is a quality the
weaker Is not apt 10 recognize, and the
woman who has once tasted equal power with
her husband not only does not easily relegate
i. but even makes its continuance test Of
the affections.
The usual triumphant feminine conclusion:
'Then you no longer love mel" had in Clar-
snce's brieI experience gone even further and
reached its lnscruitable climaX-''then
no longer love YOU although shown only
in a mOmentarg hardening of the eye aud
voice. And added 10 this was his sudden but
confused remem brance that be had seen that
eve and heard that voice in marital alterca-
tion during Judge PeylOn's life, and that he
himself, her boy partisan, had sympathized
with her.
Yet. strange TO say. this had given him
more pain than her occasional other reyers-
ions TO the past-to her old suspicious of him
when he was q youthful protege Of her hus-
band S, and presumed suitor Of her adopted
daughter Susy.
High natures are more apt TO forgive wrong
done TO themselves than any abstract Injustice
And her capricicus tyranny over her depend
ents and servants, or an unreaSoning enmlty
tOaneighbor or friend, outraged his finer sense
more than her own miscOnce ton OF himself.
Nor did he dream that this was a thing most
women seldom understand, or understanding
ever forgive.
The coupe ratified over the stones or
swirled through the muddy pools of the main
thoroughiares. Newspaper and teiegraphic
Offices We're still brilliantly lit. and crowds
were gathered around the bulletin boards
He knew that news had arrived from Wash
ington that evening of the first active out
break Of secession, and that the city was
breathless with excitement.
Had be not Just come from the theater
where certain insignificant illusions IN the
play had been suddenly caught up and
cheered or hissed by hitherto unknown parti-
sans to the dumb astonishment Of majority
Of the audience comfortably settled TO money
getting and their own affairs! Had be not
applauded albeit half scornlully. the pretty
actress-his old playmate, Susy-whO had au-
daciously and all anonymously waved the
American flag in their facesy
Yes. he had known 1t: had lived for the last
few weeks IN an atmosphere electrically sur
charged with it-and yet II had chiefly al
fected him in his personal bomelessLess. For
his wife was a Southerner, a born slave
holder, whose noted pre- udices to the North
had even outrun her late husbands politics.
Al first the piquancy and recklessness Of
her OpluiOuHtITe speech amused him as part
OF her characteristic flavor. or as a lingering
yOHthlu ness which the maturer intellect al-
ways pardons.
He had never taken her politics seriously
why should hey
But when he was compelled to listen to her
words echoed and repeated by he- friends and
family; when he found that with the clan
nishness Of her race she had drawn closer TO
them in this con rOversy-that she depended
upon them for her intelligence and informa-
tiOn rather than upon him-he had awakened
TO the reality OF his situation. He had borne
the alUsions OF her lrother. whose old seorn
for his dependent childhood had been embit-
tered by his sisters marriage, and was now
scarcely concealed.
Yet, while had never altered his own Do
lifica faith and social creed in this antago-
nistic atmosphere. he had often wondered,
with ms old consciousness and characters ic
Beit-aunegation. whether his own political
eOnvctiOus were not merely a revulsion from
nis domestic tyranny and alien surroundings.
In the midst Of this gloomy retrospect the
coupe stopped with jerk before his own
house. The door was quickly opened by a
Servant, who appeared to be awaiting him
Some one 10 see you in the library. sir, >
said the man, and" he hesitated and
looked toward the coupe.
"Nell. said Clarence. impatiently.
he said, sir. as how you were not to send
away the carriage
Indeed. and who is it?" demanded Clar-
ence. sharply.
"Mr. Hooker He said I was to say jim
Hooker
The momentary annoyance il Clarence's
face changed TO a look Of reflective curiosity.
'He said be knew you Werg at the theater
and he would wait until you came home -
continued tie man. obviously watching his
master face. He don't EnOW you've come
in. sir-and-and can easily get rid OF
him.
Nomatter. I'll see him-and-." added
Clarence with faint smile, let the carriage
wat"
Yet as he turned toward the library he was
by no means certain that an interview with
the old associa e Of his boyhood under Judge
Peyton's guardianship would divert his mind.
Yet he Jet no trace of his doubts nor of his
past gloom show in his lace as he entered the
room.
Mr.. Hooker was apparently examining the
elegant furniture and luxurious accommoda-
tiou with his usual resentful enviousness.
Clarence bad got ''sOit thing. That it was
mole or less the result OF his "artfulness. -
and that be was Unduly "pUned up by il,
was IN HOOEer's characteristic reasoning
equally clear
As his hos1 smilincly advanced with out
stretched hand. Mr.. Hooker efforts TO assume
q proper abstraction OF manner and con-
temptu0us indifference to Clarence's sur
roundings, which should wound his vanity.
ended in bis lollinC back a, full length IN the
chair with his eyes on the ceiling But re-
membering suddenly that he was really the
bearer OF a message 10 Clarence, il struck
him that his supine position was, from a
theatrical view point. infelicitous.
In his experience Of the stage he had never
delivered a message in that way. He rose
awkward y to his feet.
1t was 50 good OF you TO wait said Clar-
ence. courteousiy.
''Saw you in the theater, said Hooker,
brusquely. Third row in parquet Susy
said il was you and had suthin' TO say to you
FTT frff rT1-TrA l.
with slight return of his old mystery Of
manner, which Clarence so well remembered.