Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-05
A FINAL QUESTION.

"I received your letter yesterday" SO
she had written, land it would be affecta-
ton of me to say was surprised at the
contents. Lack of observation in this mat
ter has never l 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 ono or two
things want to ask you. shall be at
homo 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 boistcrOus state of things
without. If the one suggested tumult, the
other was tranquility pCrsoni1cd. The fire
burned steadily in the tiled CRATE, on the
mat in front a gray coated Persian cat doz-
ed peacefully, and the Shrek of the wind
that swept the streets so furiously outside
was softcncd by tho double windows into
a soothing lullaby.
The wOmans own face, as it pccped
forth from amid the mass of cushions that
Graded her head, was well in accord with
her surroundings. OF tho emotions that
were surging over her brain, bringing Joy
one moment and unrest the nuNt, it 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 indff-
ference that was very far from expressing
what she really felt.
Her visitor was n good looking young
man, somewhere between the twcntics and
thirties, with intellect stamped firmly on
his forehead and a 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 the woman, percciving his intention,
drew tho hand gently but firmly away.
When he protested, she only smiled and
pointed to seat.
''No no." she said, and there was
shade of Impotence in her tone, "not
that now. Aftorward"-the smile played
round her lips perhaps"
"But really
81 asked you here to get an answer to
certain questions which it is imperative
should be answered before 1 can tell you
whether can marry you'-
He half rose from his ,uat.
"Thcn you care for me n littlo?" he be.
gan.
81 did not say so. You should not in
terrupt"
81 am sorry" He sank back into the
chair again.
CAS- was about to say, there arc certain
questions which, before 1 could make up
my mind, it is absolutely necessary should
be answered, and answered satisfactorily.
/ believe that you love mG-in your own
way-but that may not be enough for me.
l must know exactly what that way is If
l marry at all, l mean that my marriage
shall make me happy. There are a few
women who never regret their marriage;
there are thousands who if they under
stood what it was to be like would rather
have thrown themselves into the sea than
undergo its indignitics If l marry at all,
am going to be one of the few. Do you
underestimate
Il would do anything-anything in the
world to make you happy"
THAT is what l am going to see" she
answered, setting her face hard that he
might not guess her emotion. "And the
first thing l have to ask you, and l rely on
you to answer honestly, is this: During
the time l have been on the stage l have
made not a few friends-wOmen, l mean,
they are the only possible kind-many of
whom perhaps are not the sort of people a
husband-the average husband-would
choose his wife to associate with. The
world would sneer has often sneered, at
their morality; society-your society
would not receive them. If they were IA
nous, it would be otherwise. Fame excuses
everything even to the world. AS it is,
instead of fame they have only got notori-
ETY.. l say nothing for what the world
would term the morality of these friends
possibly there is nothing to be said,
though in any case they are mostly what
the world has made them. l only know
that this one thing apart, they are some of
the best, the truest, the most generous
friends woman could have, and honor
them as SUCH And even to be your wife
could not give up my friends"
"Your friends are mine, " he said sim
ply.
"Despite the worldP warn you it may
be unpleasant"
despite the world"
For moment solitary CLEAN of emo
ton lightened her grave face.
"You are more generous than the ma
jority of your sex, she said.
"You set me the example, " he answered.
She ignored the compliment and went
on still in the same measured tones:
81 almost expected you to say that. The
second question may try you more. Iwant
to know if you love me well enough to
NV CT pf, bo CT r,n o1-nr,
if am your wife. Will you be able to
share me with the public? When you come
home from your work at night tired, want
ing a little oompanionship, worried it may
be, how will you be able to put up with
long weary evening alone, joined to The
knowledge that some few hundreds of peo-
pie whom you have never seen, whom you
never want to see, are enjoying, across the
fnOtliphtS IL Is trup bur stil1 on lowing tho