Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-24
A FINAL QUESTION.

IT received your letter yesterday" 80
she had written, land 1t would be affecta-
ton of me to say was surprised at the
contents Lack of observation In this mat
ter has never, I believe, been charged
against our sex, and we women Of the stage
are probably quicker to perceive than the
rest 1t will be best, think, for you to
come and see me. There are one or two
things want to ask you. shall be at
home all tomorrow afternoon"
When tomorrow afternoon" came, she
had given orders that she was out to every
one else, and pulling up her chair to the
fire composed herself to await his coming.
Outside the wind whistled furiously
through the streets; the sky, heavy mass
of dull gray yellow, gave warning OF
possible snowstorm to come. But the In
terror Of the little drawing room was IN
contrast to the boisterous state of things
without If the one suggested tumult, the
other was tranquility personified. The fire
burned steadily in the tiled CRATE, on the
mat in front gray coated Persian cat doz-
ed peacefully, and the shrek Of the wind
that swept the streets SO furiously outside
soothing lullaby.
The woman's own face, as 1t peeped
forth from amid the mass Of cushions that
Graded her head, was we'll in accord with
her surroundings. Of the emotions that
were surging over her brain, bringing Joy
one moment and unrest the next, 1t gave
no sign. 1t was not for nothing that she
had been six years on the stage.
When at length he was announced, she
rose to greet him with an apparent indif-
ference that was very far from expressing
what she really felt
Her visitor was good looking young
man, somewhere between the Juveniles and
thirties, with intellect stamped firmly on
his forehead and suspicion of weakness
round his mouth. As he took the hand she
held out to him he made as If he would
have raised it to his lips and kissed it.
But tho woman, peroeiving his intention,
drew the hand gently but firmly away.
When he protested, she only smiled and
pointed to seat.
"No no." she said, and there was q
shade of Impotence in her tone, mot
that now. Afterward' smile played
round her lips neutrality-suspicious."
"But really
II asked you here to get an answer to
certain questions which it Is imperative
should be answered before can tell you
whether can marry your
He half rose from his seat.
''Then you care for me littles' he be
gan.
II did not say SO. You should not In
terrupt."
ri am sorry" He sank back into tn,
chair again.
| Gas was about to say, there are certain
questions which, before could make VI
my mind, it is absolutely necessary shoult
be answered. and answered satisfactorily
believe that you love me-in your owl
| way-but that may not be enough for mo
must know exactly what that way Is. l
marry at all, mean that my marriag
shall make me happy. There are few
women who never regret their marriage
4 there are thousands who If they under
stood what 1t was to be like would rathe
have thrown themselves into the sea thai
undergo Its indignities If marry at all
I am going to be one of the few. Do yol
underestimate
~ would do nything-anything in tn
world to make you happy"
"That is what I am going to sec" sh
answered, setting her face hard that h
might not guess her emotion. "And tn
first thing have to ask you, and rely O.
you to answer honestly, is this: Durin
the time have been on the stage hav
made not few friends-women, mean
they are the only possible kind-many
whom perhaps are not the sort Of people
husband-the average husband-woul
choose his wife to associate with. Th
world would sneer, has often sneered, 9
their morality; society--your society
would not receive them. If they were II
NOUS 1t would be otherwise. Fame excuse
everything, even to the world. As 1t 4
instead of fame they have only got motor
ETY.. I say nothing for what the worl
would term the morality of these frienf
possibly there is nothing to be sal,
though in any case they are mostly VIII,
the world has made them. only kno
that this one thing apart, they are some
the best the truest, the most genera,
friends woman could have, and hone
them as such. And even to be your wife
could not give up my friends"
"Your friends are mine, }" he said sin
ply.
despite the worldp warn you 1t ms
be unpleasant"
despite the world"
9 For moment solitary CLEAN Of en-
ton lightened her grave face
y "You are more generous than the m
9 jority of your sex, /" she said.
= "You set me the example, " he answere
She ignored the compliment and wei
; on still in the same measured tones:
2 II almost expected you to say that. ~
4 second question may try you more Iva
: to know If you love me well enough 7
!. contemplate my staying on the stage evt
: II am your wife. Will you be able
i share me with the publicf When you con
home from your work at night tired, wan
ing little companionship, worried 1t mi
z be, how will you be able to put up with
y long weary evening alone, Joined to q
q knowledge that some few hundreds Of pc
z pie whom you have never seen, whom y
= never want to see, are enjoying, across u
. footlights, 1t is true, but still enjoying, q
society of the woman who, though tn
). may not know 1t, bears your namei 9