The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-24

PREPARING TO ABsCoND.
20 haunt me. It was In my mind when
| Meldon visited me the next evening.
do you think" said he, you could
manage to interview this actress with
out arousing suspicion? After all.
she may prove pliable, and it is our only
hope"
"Who is she ?" / asked.
"Gladys Blake"
The name gave me n new self-loath-
ing. 1t was that of a beautiful, debased
creature with whom | had had associa-
tions that l was not at all anxious to re-
new. But l simply had TO see her.
81 will try" l answered, quietly.
"You are simply invaluable" replied
my mentor. "Do SO at once"
/ had no difficulty in seeing the fair
ensiaver of n %financier, but the conse-
quences were disgustingly absurd. She
received me in the most appreciative
n and Immediately began to talk
of other days. This gave me a new
key of the situation. Perhaps it would
be possible to win this creature away
liOiA u SuoSe PtipiC i'llO" NohsDii utoA
without compromising an o%rganiza-
| ton.
/ will pass the hideous days that en-
sued. Within a week 1 had installed
the creature in superb apartments. /,
a young man in the twenties, married
and p~assionately in love with my wife,
now led a double life. Meldon was in
lecstasies. The elder defaulter who
had so nearly ruined us was compare
lively safe.
Why is it that the noblest impulses
in our fellow creatures are so often
sources of the most exquisite torture?
My double life had not endured a month
before / learned that Gladys Blake
loved me dearly. 1t seemed to be the
one last drop in a file" cup of bitter
ness, She had no idea that / was now
married. / found new depths in her
and a capacity for good i never sus-
pected.
Dearest" she said, one night, 81 am
tempted at times to regret the past.
Yet, for your sake, / am glad"
looked at her in mute inquiry.
"As il is" she said, you will never
marry me. We're it otherwise you
might, and thus ruin your life"
Gladys aroused my interest in spite
OF myself ut times. l VAS furious ut
the situation she had brought about
by falling in love with me; but l must
do her the justice to say that she
never forced herself upon me, and was
always considerable and patient. / had
| hoped there would be a train of admir-
,ors and that il would be a contest of
purses, in which l felt sure of victory.
nut to punish me, it proved altogether
different.
why would you not marry me?" !
asked.
because / love you, deay," she an
swered, tenderly.
The matter was becoming absurd,
and that very absurdity made me in
~ternally rebellious. left her and went
home TO Margaret. Here again my life
was a hell. Icould not be the same any
more. Instead of that, | made her
cry and cry, and then soothed her into
calm by declaring that / loved her. 1
wondered how others managed these
matters so easily. Meldon told me
once that he had had ever worse COM
| plications TO deal with in his early man.
hood.
Thus the hideous life went on until
could endure IL no longer. | deter
mined 10 give Gladys up. But how tell
her? The wound would he very pain
full. Meldon was thrown into the most
violent alarm when j made known my
determination.
you'll ruin us. my boy" said he.
.Sherl go back TO that old fool"
I YVES not TO he shaken. Meldon be-
came profane and cursed all faithful
husbands heartily.
"Glndys," said 7. that evening, "you
know I am not rich"
She smiled.
"But I have money. dearest" she said.
"Besides, I gain IT. rs You know. My
manager says this bns been my best
season. Can ! he Of service toyou?"
ALMOST cursed aloud in my humilia-
, ton NJ these words.
"It isn't that" I managed 20 reply.
,"I cannot maintain you. dear. but 7 will
not let you maintain me-"
For a minute she looked In silence Mt
me.
~ -~S" not care for