The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-18

care, the embodiment of misfortune, a
spectacle of death with which your
young and vigorous life could have no
sympathy. What can come of 1t? Only
unhappiness. l tell you that when
nature has determined to sever a tie, it
snaps; and those who cling the long
est when she bids them part, suffer the
most"
Her lips quivered, and tear rolled
from each of her eyes. She only half
understood him; but, misled by con-
science. she thought he was reproving
her. 1t was true that she had found it
very hard to give up so much of the gay
life to which she had always been ac-
customed. yet she had done ii for his
sake. Why should he speak in this
way? She took high ground with him.
1T Is Il wife's duty" she began.
He smiled bitterly.
1T is u dead mans duty" he said
"to withdraw himself from the con
Germs Of living persons. | have failed
in that particular. Let us think less of
your duty and more of mine | am an
utterly helpless creature. | cannot
move either OF my legs, and my right
hand is just strong enough to hold my
left upon my breast as | lie here hour
after hour
II love YOU" she sobbed.
You pity me at this moment. but
love me you cannot. Hereafter, when
both of us are freed from the limita-
tions of the flesh, it may be possible.
But in this world, cncumbered by these
mortal bodies, love means life and
health. 1T is reciprocal. 1t is senti-
ment inspired by nature for her own
purposes, and terminablc at her pleas
ure. No human will can summon it o.
hold it, Am | the same to you as l
was? Does your heart leap at the sound
of my voice and tremble at a caress? I
would not have it so. 1t would be un-
natural, mOnsrous."
She tried very hard to turn him from
his gloomy and desperate trend of
thought.
Il am waiting" she said, Till you
are well again"
Dear little girl" he said gently. Il
shall never be well. And now let's see
what's to be done about it. u have
spoken too bitterly, and have fright
ened you. And yet it is my wish to
make you happy. Listen! l want you
to go out into the world, and live your
life"
What. Go away from you?"
Now don't be frightened. OF course
you'll live here, and run into this cage
of mine whenever you wish to have
look at me. I'll always be glad to see
you. But don't ever think that you
must come. Go out into society, and
have people come here if they can stand
it, knowing that my body's in the
house Get your old friends back again,
and make new ones, both men and wo-
men. Dance. and play tennic, and ride
in the park as you used to do. Spend a
lot of money. There's plenty of it, |
only wish | could help you do all these
things. but. as / can't, you must do
them twice as hard. And every time
gloomy thought of me comes over you,
say to yourself: I'm doing what he
wants me to do. I'm doing what will
make him the happiest. And If you
fall in love"
Arthur
Now, little girl, let's be reasonable.
I've proven to you that you can't love
me. And love comes when you least
expect 1t. Suppose, just for the sake of
the contract were to make, that you
really do find some handsome and
agreeable fellow who very naturally
has forgotten that I am alive, and pro-
caeds on the theory that I am not; and
suppose, further, that you find yourself
thinking OF him oftener than Is really
necessary. will you promise to come to
me and tell me all about it? That's the