The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-14

kind word to her. did thousand child
ish things to amuse her had, however,
one slight defect was horribly absent
minded Sometimes, absorbed in some
foolish fantasy, I failed to answer her smile
or her speech.
There came day when | was unusually
distracted, and she banged door louder
than common. An "Ohr' escaped me.
She heard, and l regretted it. But in
vain Another time Nina left me in a
brown study. She walked on tiptoe and
was very careful to make no noise in shut
ting the door. The changer of the forge
of Vulcan would not have caused me to
leap quicker from my chair. ran after
her, embraced her, and we had a great
laugh together But the ice was broken.
We had mutually admitted one thought
we were not perfection.
However hard she tried, Nina could not
correct herself Only when she slammed
door she took on certain air, half con-
trite, half mischievous, that made her more
beautiful. As for me, it.was in vain that,
caught with my wits wool gathering, l
shook my head and started. l became
neither wiser nor handsomer.
Our honeymoon had lasted many months
unclouded. Then came day, day of
July, when the sun glared and the heat
was cruel. She asserts that she began the
quarrel, asking me what [ was thinking
about, with my head in the clouds. But
it was who gave the first offense in the
form of very little swear word apropos of
door, One mild sarcasm led to another,
and soon [ was sulky and Nina in tears.
Another occasion ended in the same way.
The next time the thing went farther.
This life is unbearable, said she.
'Indeed?' said l, teasingly.
'1ndeed! All, indeedl Oh, l knew
that you were tired of mel 1t is almost a
year that you have been married.
''Ten months" l replied.
(Which have seemed like ten years to
you. Our happiness has lasted too long.
Oh, how unfortunate l am! You will end
by hating me, if you don t do so alread y
and I-shall come to hate you. -
| wanted to catch her up in my arms
and run about the rooms with her and her
wrath-a precious armful-until she should
cry Enough | wanted to fall on my
knees before her and say my little prayers
for her forgiveness sorts of things that
an indulgent husband could think of in
order to make her smile. Iglanced at her.
She turned her shoulders to me. | took a
step toward her, and she ran into another
room-and l, in pet, descended the
stairs, remorseful before accomplishing nay
fell revenge | took turn round the
square, not being able to go far away,
keeping in view the little home where had
been my happiness. thought of Sulpi-
clio and Coneetta and told myself that there
was nobody to act as peacemaker between
my wife and me, and that we would not
have stood it if there were
| reflected: "This is the first time
who knows if it will be the last? | must
90 back to her, comfort her, and tell her
that we never must do so again. But how
will she receive me? What wouldn't
give to be sure that she will reply to my
words with good kiss? Then we would
weep and laugh over the affair together
and never speak of it any more.
All these reflections brought me several
times as far as the threshold of our house,
and as often l withdrew At last | sue
ceeded in overcoming the spell, sprang
through the doorway, ran up stairs four
steps at once, and in an instant was face
to face with Nina, who had come to meet
me on the landing. She hid her face be-
tween her hands and did not speak to me.
| put an arm about her and led her into
the parlor. made her sit upon my knee
and gently took her hands away from her
eyes, laid my cheek against hers and begged
her forgiveness, But instead of pardoning
me she burst afresh into sobs, threw her
arms around my neck and buried her face
in my shoulder My heart beat hard.
Nina actions were expressive of misfor-
tune What had happened during my
absencel After many questions and
caresses, and on her part great sob, E'She
is deadr' said Nina.
who?
'sConeetta, poor Coneetta" My wife
was silent for moment Then raising
her head, she added, Their separation has
taken place. y
H'Who has told you about it?'
"a friend who came to see me. Poor
Coneetta passed away yesterday very sud
denly.
''And Sulpicio?'
''He is in despair. He does not speak
word. He seems dazed."
81 must go and look him up. -
''0h, my dear, go as soon as possible.
| went. The heart of the old man had
not been able to resist the oppression of
solitude, and at night, few hours after
his companion had been carried away, he
laid himself down in his widowed bed with
the certainty that he should never see the
morning.
His dead face appeared to smile at me
and to tell me that not even death had
separated them. I went home with sad
ness in my heart-a gentle sadness, that
did me good l did not like to tell my
wife the news and was glad when some one
else told it to her in my presence. As
soon as we were alone she clasped me in
her arms as though she were afraid.
s'CarloI'
:'Ninar'
She raised her eyes as if to read my
thoughts and slowly murmured these words:
''That will be the way with us, will it
not9'i