The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-06
MY PYSCHE.


,-vsts-r has prevented the unfortunate
urteh from falling into the imbroglio Of
matum0ny.
rbsv call you an unfortunate wretch
with crocodile tears Of sympathy. From
INV point of view I maintain that their
s,fejti4de solely arises from the fact that
they know you are aware of their own
domestic storms, trials and felicities, and
tbsv do not see why you should be free
nom your own share.
II is all very wen when a little blue or
1-avn-eyed siren puts her arms around
-our neck and tells you prettiIy that you
~. the frst-the very frst-and all the
rsst Of it. one believes it at the time.
more or less, since, as Mrs. Poyser sen
fsnttously observes, we are fools along
with her own sex.
That IS ali very well at the time. And
what would this dull old world be like
without the charm and fascination of its
teninlty? The prospect is too CHASTITY to
dwell upon.
But among all my acquaintances-and
their name is legion-I know none whose
matrimonial hearth seems enviable 10
mo when / think seriously. There is al
,g8ys a something" some where that re-
moves the gliding and reveals very
damaged substance beneath the surface.
still / am not going 10 deny that there
is q reason why l remain nomad, and,
somehow 1 feel inclined 10 write it down
to-day ! have never told a living soul,
for / neither make condolences nor care
10 receive them. 1t will not be betraying
har for she is not likely to see this ever;
even il she did, would stake my life that
sba has been as reticent as myself.
Women are generally angry with them
selves for having been In love with you
wien the fire is burnt out; while we are
Indifferent, or satitical, or frightened, if
our one-time inamorata be as beautiful
and fascinating as ever. In any case, it is
WISE to let things slide. But sometimes,
subject to circumstances or the particu-
lar mood at the time, there is a curious
longing to recall the feeling of former
DAYS, a regret that we have outliyed it,
that the fates were unpropitous. We
would at that moment call into exist
ence the passion that once ruled our
lives.
was a barrister with chambers in
Pump court. Literally speaking, L had one
small room on the second floor, with a
little cupboard for my clerk. Luckily for
me, the two men VINO rented the big
rooms on either side had so little to do
that / was frequently enabled to delude
my clients with the belief that the whole
suit was mine. l had migrated to the law
from the army in which / had started
with a decent income to back up good
lame When the former had nearly van
ished / settled down as a barrister,
meaning to work hard; in spare time l
wrote for reviews, then l went on to
plays ana society novels. But although
they together with my practice, We're
fairly successful I was always hard up
for money; ii is not easy to do with hun
arads where you have spent thousands.
One day 1 advertised in the Times for
a shorthand secretary. Out of the an
swers ] selected one whose writing
pleased me; it was clear and unique-a
rare combination.
made an appointment for the next day
and was surprised when, at the time ar
ranged my cle4 k announced that a lady
wanted to see me.
"a lady? Ask her to some in said.
And a tall girl entered, with lovely gray
eyes shining with excitement, and
slight air of embarrassment that APP
I5aled to my heart at once
Miss Desmond?" 1 asked as Johnson
put chair for her and withdrew. Il had
10 idea that this writing was a lady's.'
She colored hotly, and looked little
distressed.
Most people think it is a masculine
hand. So many row employ lady secreta-
res that I thought perhaps you meant-a
lady"
After some further conversation, I clio
lied that her father was dead, and strange
70 say, he had been the doctor of my reg
i ment the lancerS. Her mother had re-
married, there was a family of young
step-brothers and sisters, and she wished
10 make some money for herself. She
knew d little shorthand, and had been
always fond of writing. A few of her sto-
res had been published in one of the minor
Weekly papers.
How about your people," I asked.
fou will be quite capable enough for
me- but viii they object to your coming
10 the temple?"
! think not; in fact, they will be glad
70 know that I am able to pay my own
i expenses, Tiff it viii not be-
told her that many men, especially
literary men, employed lady secretaries,
aug 1t was arranged that she was to
come from to o'clock every day. l
promised to help her with her own work,
sAu she thanked me so sweetly that it was
l..Q 70 keep from showing her out my
seIl. But rang for Johnson.
enc suited me admirably. If a client or
Hlehd came she would catch up her hat
I-u take herself quietly out of the way
u room that was always empty AFTER
e's middle of the day; if l were uneX-
p5+eqly detained she would leave with
ny further explanation. In little more
nan a week I felt as If I had known her
,eF Years. Never before had I met a girl
nuo was so sympathetic, so intuitive so
q s-epuVe; she adapted herself to my every
t9odi caught the very vein of thought
'al held me for the time, and would
.ea suggest-but only when ! encour-
e5e3 her-a word or quotation that was
9.&ays apropos.
mere was so much ideality in her, so
petn soul in her face, that called her
s<che to myself. She was spirituelle,
e not ethereal; delightfully."- moulded,
E.gg movement in perfect harmony and
H 81 unstudied grace. 1t was entrance
H. " get her enthusiastic upon asubject,
-" az the ridiculous so-called woman
,es1oh' which she abhorred, to watch
H. Asnt sparkling in the clear brilliant
~ the curves Of the delicate lips
Ign the smoke of my cigar, and then
- q0lck, sudden flush that came when
was aware of my quiet scrutiny
- - hot July day I was looking over
80 s- fegarding an important divorce case,
~ heard her knock. My clerk was
~ SO l opened the door myself
- U 4lq not receive my telegram
~ nave been out to luncheon"