The Meeker herald., 1894-07-28

aroopeu ana could bear no more,
Enriqueta Roldan - Ia mimosa.
Laughing, he scrawled my name thus
on the sheet of paper that lay on the
table between us. | was making the
Spanish translation of his book for
my employers, and he had come to
give me hints. 1t was novel,
with heroine named Harriet,
which is the same as Enriqueta,
and which / translated Enri-
quota. In his story the lover of Har-
riet treated her most cruelty, but she
forgave him and so-died. He saw
my scornful smile at her weakness.
You think" he said, sit is not true
to life? You think that Enriqueta
should not forgive him?"
a only know what | would or
would not do in such Il case" L an
swered carelessly.
And you-what would You do?" he
cried with appearance of intense in
terest.
II think / should kill him" | said,
calmly and smiling. Il think would
stab him through the heart or shoot
him, first calling him to defend him
self"
But then you would be put in pris-
on" he laughed.
And what of that?"
He burst out laughing still harder.
But, finally, he grew grave and went
away. If he had known |, to talk
of killing. /, who used to brush the
green grub gently from my roses in
the great garden of my tropical home.
l., who shrink at even look of pain.
|, who weep with every heart in sor-
row, who would fain gather every
fearful child to my bosom and hush
away its grief!
Stupid, thrice accursed the stupid,
far-sighted Anglo Saxon race, these
dull beings who discern well things
and motives too distant to concern
them seriously, yet must have strong
lenses to read the open books of souls
like mine, throbbing SO close to them,
After that day he seemed to study
me, to note me closely. Then came
the night of all nights of my life for
me-ncver to be forgotten, never to
be forgiven, When he threw himself
into my arms and into my soul-cry-
ing out passionately, 81 love you'll
love you!'
From that night on he never came
to me again. And | made no com
plant. Amazed, stupcfed, tortured,
| suffered in proud silence. 1t did
not enter my head for long weeks
that his only thought had been to
gain new experience new passion
to be made use of in another novel
another vivisection of II soul! We
mct-casually-in the street. He
seemed to await something; fool that
he was. he awaited my attempt to
murder him-to avengc the injury to
my heart Fool that | was not to
know it! i only walked my way half
dcad-but cold and proud and appar-
emily utterly forgetful of the clasp Of
his arms, the pressure of his lips!
Doubtless he had forgotten the
mimosa, in which there is no deadli-
ness-only u power to shrink and
suffer.
Maria Santissima! How lonely one
can be in such a great city! How
tired one may grow of living! How
purposelcss may seem the struggle. |,
who only desire to love and be loved
i, whose dearest wish for life would
be to devote myself to Il fond and
faithful husband-to suffer in this
way! To reach out feverish hands for
the pure and dew moist rose of love
and only grasp the singing nettle of
deceit!
1t seems as if years had passed since
| wrote what comes before this. 1t
may be an hour or two. a tap came
at my door. i opened it and stood
face to face with him. lie came in
without invitation, smiling, blond
and with pretense Of superiority.
"Ah, busy?' he laughed lightly.
But is it not warm here? Why do you
not throw wide the windows?" He
flung one higher and sat down on the
sill, sat carelessly out in such a way
as one might sit and easily lose his
balance.
Have care" 1 said, sharply. But
he only laughed.
II have not seen you in so long" he
said, Il thought you might be dead or
married.
81 might say the same to you" l
answered slowly. l had not given
my hand. l stood by the table in the
middle of the room.
"I?" he echoed Struggling his shout
ders. .Pas 81 bette! No marriage for
mew
You can then live without love?" 1
asked composedly.
sob, no; snatch the blossoms as |
go-culling here and there rare
Hover at the waysidc to remember
pleasantly for n day or two-until u
faircr attracts!'
This from him to me! | made
quick step forward toward him.
swear before high heaven my only
thought was to spit upon him--to call
him dog-to command him to leave
my room and never dare to look at
me again. But ho-coward that he
was-mistook my purpose. A scared
look flashed over his face. He made
Il To, hi InI Il.