The Portland daily press., 1895-07-22

eountryf 1t win not be often, perhaps, for
my name, as you know, is getting known
now, and"-she smiled triumphantly-
they want me in London, but still even
bernhardt tours at times and you cah-
not-I 90 not want you to-shut your eye
to the fact that at least two months out OF
every year your wife will have to spenui
away from London. You see-you Will
pardon my frankness, and it is no blame
to you-you are not rich man, at leasp
you are not man Of leisure. 1t will pe
impossible for you, like the husbands Oh
many women in my profession, to journey
with me from town to town, to accompany
me on the OCCASIONS and you must frank
ly recognize occasions when I may have,
for time. to leave England altogether
love my work too dearly to be able ever TO
give it up. Existing with the mere placid,
meaningless existence of the average mar
ried woman, / should be miserable in
week and raving hnatic or a suicide in
six months. If / marry l marry only to
| love and to be loved-not to be imprison-
| ed. 1t may be great deal that ask, or
| rather it may seem SO to you, but at least
am honest. Take it or leave 1t, as you
| will"
| oAO pUOOA lOtihllS ue5etlA,oo oAAS --ie'A&NS~
piece, her head half turned toward him,
| her eyes gazing into his as II she would
| search his very soul.
| He had listened to her throughout at
tentively, weighing her words we'll And
now when she paused he answered her
| without moments hesitation, speaking
in tones that left on her mind no doubt OF
| their genuineness, in voice that, though
| tCxu v,itabod xua cinnI11arlu clear and i'm
| pressive.
81 will answer your question" he said,
"honestly, and I trust you will believe
that what say is true. Your art should
always be your own, thing apart do
not ask you to give it up for me- think
| it is because you are real, living woman,
not mere painted doll or a possible para
gon among housekeepers, that love you
| at ALL know as we'll as you that without
| occupation you would be miserable, and /
| am proud of your talent, proud OF your
| success. You talked of Bernhardt just
| now Why should not the fame that has
come to her come to you some dayP Why
should you not become in time one Of the
great actresses of the world? should
| miss you every minute you were away
| oh, so muchl I would like, if / could, to
| have you with me every minute of time
| to the end of my life, but, believe me,
| would never think of asking you tosacri-
fee your career to me. l suppose i am
selfish-all men are-but am not so self
| ish as that
"You are good"
Her face had flushed little but 1t was
in the same modulated tones that she
went on to address him again.
"There remains" she said, "but. one
question more, and if the answer to that
is what hope it will be I shall be ready
to become your wife. I don't suppose you
| ever dreamed of 1.-THE outside public
thinks it knows such q deal about the
stage and really knows SO little-but there
are times-I do not say in the life of every
woman who follows my profession, thank
heaven for that-when the fact that sht
possesses husband becomes a bar to hel
professional triumph, when, If only hi
were not there, she might embrace oppor
tunities, achieve triumphs, that the very
fact of his existence denies to her. dt
not say that such cases are frequent; but
for all that, they exist pray that MAJ
never find myself in such a terrible posi-
| tion--I think it indeed very unlikely--stil
as an honest woman it is impossible fol
me to blink the fact that such cases hay,
been known before, may equally occul
again.
'tIf I could trust myself to resist thi
temptation, should it occur, the question
am now going to put to you would no
| have been necessary. 1t is because / can
not, because I fear that if such an hou
ever came to me ambition would triumph
over what you men call, in all but you
own sex, honor that l ask you now-ant
before God see that the answer you Civ
me is true--whether, if I ever sank to that
you could forgive me? And remember tina
ON your answer depends mine"
Her voice in her concluding sentence
had sunk to a whisper, and the last word
were almost inaudible. She turned he
face away from the man and buried it il
her hands, waiting.
And he, with face from which all tn
color had died out, and lips that tremblet
in the opening, would fain have expostu
lated with her
''It is not fair, /" he cried, ssto ask M
that. I do not believe such a case coul,
be. If it were, you would never do it.
81 am waiting for your answer. Wha
is it to bef"
The voice came brokenly from between
her hands. Her face was still covered
tsIt is impossible. 1t is unjust. Oh
dearest''-he stretched out his hands i'm
ploringly-" you would not ask me that?'
II must. do"
"I-oh, it is impossible! How can an
swer your 1t is horribler'
"Your answer. Yours for mine.''
She buried her face in her hands again
y
How long she stood like that she coul,