Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-08-23

view like q bouquet as she smiled with
her sweet red lips. Tho wit of man; ha,
ha!' she laughed as she ran down stairs
Nearly every day Nine. de Canaples
comes to sit in my study. Her work bas-
kct and books are in "a corner; oven when
absent the atmosphere of hcr pcrvadCs the
r0,n like a spirit and soothCs me. We are
usually quite silent, nut when l do speak
she listens as she did when first read my
poems to her, and the fliekering gold i'll
her brown eyes seems to light my memory
and color my expression. The other day
she said, Il know exactl the position
which l occupy between your books and
cigarettes " Her tone was somewhat bit
ter. But l proved to her that she is my
most precious friend, for she never bores
me, following all my moods and indulging
them in a manner most surprising when
1 think of it. Really am 50 thankful
that for once l resisted the temptation of
flirting. Love would have spoiled our
friendship, as it does everything. Even
Nine. dc Canaples torments her lover,
for she is going to marry Jacques de Chan
dieu at least she tells me So But on this
subject she lavishes all the caprice and
ehildishness which friendship seems to
have drowned In her with me. Sometimes
who is Il dashing officer of chasseurs, some
what brainlcss, very handsome and quite
spoiled by Nine de Plot Chandler. At
other times Nine de Canaples says that she
hates him, and her sudden reversions of
feeling are really beginning to torment him
into man OF thought. He obeys her like
faithful dog; she snubs him as a woman
does a man who loves her, whereas with
me she is unfailing in her gentle consid-
Grafton, ceaseless in her delicate atten-
lions. And the moral of all this is, If you
love IA woman, don't make love to her; if
you love her, don't marry her. | told her
SO the other day. She blushed and laughed
until the tears rolled down her cheeks,
saying as usual, The wit of mani" as
she wiped her eyes and composed herself
back to the letter which l was debating
to my London tailor.
But do wish she would marry Jacques
and be done with 1t. Her capricious treat
ment of him and appeals to my sympathy
arc rather teasing She always wants to
know what l think. Now, that is just
what ! don't do when she is by me. |
then simply take repose in her society from
all mental cxertion. 1t has become u habit,
and these constant demands on my reason
ing faculties, though aattcring, bore me.
Can no woman ever leave well enough
alone?
When she came in this afternoon, l saw
by the way she lowered about my chair
before sitting down that something was
on her mind. She wore q red dress very
like that which she had on the day first
met her at Mime. de Retz's garden party.
She struck me as prettier than ever, and
her charming figure was u Joy to my eyes
as sho lay on the sofa or leaned over to
road my last poem. There is about her
something suavely womanly which acts
like a charm on man. She has that fra
GRANGE of body and soul which makes me
feel as though life is really worth living
when she is at my side.
II am decided to marry Jacques" She
said as she poured me out cup of tea.
AT last! Allow me to congratulate
you. l remarked, with q vast assumption
of interest.
No. l am very miserable, she sighed
as she passed me the cup.
'Why?"
Because l don't love him enough. "
"Why marry him them"
Bccausc-becausc l am lonely, Regi
nald,' and her expression was pitcous as
she repeated "Oh, so lonely''
did you love NJ. de Canaples='
'No, l was too young"
Have you ever loved any oncs' l i'll
quircd airily after a pause.
She jumped to her feet like a startled
deer and confronted me with burning eyes
Yes she said fiercely. Yes"
"Was he marred"'
She shook her head.
Dead"
''No."
why don't you take him them
She slowly answered, with downcast
eyes, ''He doesn't love me. y
Are you sure2'
She looked up at me- Yes" she said,
II am quite sure. y
"Well, then, try to make him.
Il have" she returted sharply.
"Without success? You astonish Inc.
was only just thinking how fascinating
you are" She blushcd. There is some
thing about you which particularly APP
peals to man We are all such vain crca-
lures that any woman, particularly you,
with a few smiles might reduce the most
indifferent of us to a desperate condition.
She shrugged her shoulders. Have you
tried everything with him?"
She turned on me curiously. "Now,
really, what do you suppose | have been
doing? Does woman ever give up any
thing but Il losing game She laughed
. little sardoncally and repeated YEARLY
Is she let herself fall back on the sofa,
Yes, l have tried everything, Reginald,
dear; everything.
You have even told him you love him?
''Ccrtainly not p"
Try that
But she answered turning round ON
me, Il have insinuated it. And If he
won't see it it's because he can't love me
and doesn't wish to tritle with my atfec-
tons by raising false hopes.
"A rare gentleman if such is the case. "
You approve of him them"
Don't we agree in everything"
Yes, she answered sadly. And then
she began to cry, like child, violent, hot
tears OF rage and grief. My whole soul
swelled to sympathy l took her hands
and softly kissed them. Perhaps l am a
little in love with her, at least thought SO
at the time, but then know women 5 sen
sitivencss too we'll to allow my love to