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

country 1t will 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
a Bernhardt tours at times, and you can
not-I do not want you to-shut your eyes
to the fact that at least two months out OF
every year your wife will have to spend
away from London. You see-you will
pardon my frankness, and 1t Is no blame
to you-you are not rich man, at least
you are not man of leisure. 1t Will be
Impossible for you, like the husbands OF
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 l may have,
for a time, to leave England altogether. l
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, I should be miserable In
week and raving lunatic or suicide In
six months. II marry, I 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
| tam honest. Take 1t or leave 1t, as you
will"
| She stood leaning against the mantel-
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 a moments hesitation, speaking
in tones that left on her mind no doubt Of
their genuineness, in voice that, though
low pitched, was singularly clear and i'm
pressive.
II will answer your question, he said,
honestly, and l trust you will believe
that what say Is true Your art should
always be your own, a thing apart. do
not ask you to give 1t up for me. think
1t Is because you are real, living woman,
not mere painted doll or possible para
gon among housekeepers, that love you
at all. 1 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? I should
miss you every minute you were away.
oh, so much! 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 to sacri-
fee your career to me. 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 shs
went on to address him again.
"There remains" she said, "but one
question more, and If the answer to that
is what I hope it will be shall be ready
10 become your wife. don't suppose you
ever dreamed Of 1.-THE outside public
; thinks it knows such deal about thu
, stage and really knows SO little-but there
, are times-I do not say in the life of every
, woman who follows my profession, thanh
heaven for that-when the fact that sht
possesses a husband becomes a bar to hel
, professional triumph, when, If only HI
, were not there, she might embrace oppor
tunities, achieve triumphs, that the vesy
fact of his existence denies to her. d.
i not say that such cases are frequent; but
, for all that, they exist. pray that ma!
i never find myself In such a terrible posi-
toni think it indeed very unlikely-stil
a rs an honest woman it Is impossible TO
me to blink the fact that such cases hay
been known before, may equally occu
. again.
}. "If l could trust myself to resist thi
. temptation, should 1t occur, the question
am now going to put to you would no
. have been necessary. 1t Is because can
4 not because / fear that If such an hou
n ever came to me ambition would trump
q over what you men call, in all but you
a own sex, honor that I ask you now-an
4 l,efore God see that the answer you Civ
me is true-whether, If I ever sank to that
/, you could forgive mef And remember tha
;. on your answer depends mine."
d Her voice in her concluding sentence
had sunk to whisper, and the last wore
a were almost inaudible. She turned he
n face away from the man and buried it /
d her hands, waiting
And he, with face from which all IL
color had died out, and lips that tremble
o in the opening, would fain have expost,
q lated with her.
II ''It Is not fair, he cried, 'to ask II
that. do not believe such a case coul
be. If 1t were, you would never do 1t. -"
}. II am waiting for your answer. Whs
Is IL TO Dc!
!. The voice came brokenly from betwee
her hands. Her face was still covered.
"a "It is impossible. 1t is unjust. o.
dearest"-he stretched out his hands III
n ploringly-" would not ask me thati
~ II must. do"
a "I-oh, it is impossible! How can al
y swer your 1t is horrible!'
=, "Your answer. Yours for mine"
= She buried her face in her hands again
n r.
10 How long she stood like that she cou
W never remember. 1t might have been mi
Q; utes, it might have been hours. One do
r not measure the duration Of a crisis by tt
er hands Of the clock.
IN The sound Of closing door recalled h
i, to herself, and when she looked up Il
~ room was empty and she knew that
was gone from her forever; that a chapt
he in her life had closed, never to be rewrl
ten.
he my God, she sobbed, chow low
he him! How loved him !''-Exchange.
IN Lightning.
lg As generally understood at present, I
We marks Dr. Lodge, in contribution to T.