The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-10-16


that night now so long, long ago-only
two years, and to me they seem life
time. And all that time / have been in
this city, almost within stones throw
of his great, happy world. How hard
it has been God only knows"
but, tell me, why did you leave
him?"
"Oh, yes, will tell you. 1t cannot
matter, now that the end is so near.
All! / must talk" she murmured. in
answer to the nurses look of mild re-
proof. at will kill me to keep silence
| longer"
She closed her eyes for few Sec
onds, then began to talk in a clear un-
dertone, too low to reach the ears of the
idly curious.
~ knew the world would say hard
things of me, but there was no other
way, and for his sake nothing mat
tered. 1t seems long, long while since
our marriage. / was 4 poor, simple
country girl. lived with my half
sister way up in the Vermont hills,
never dreaming of the great busy world
beyond till Herbert came there to
write one summer, and when I met him
I realized what lonely life mine had
been, and how insufferably dull it would
henceforth be without him. He was
very young, full of the glorious en-
thusasm of ambitious youth; he used
to tell me of his successes and all his
golden dreams of the future, and
knew he would some time be one of the
Of nov,ft Ip 70 oil
me 'innocently pretty'-yes, that was
it-'so innocently pretty, free from the
poor affectations of society girls and
liked to have me near him while he
wrote, because my simple presence
helped him to realize his highest ideals.
Then my sister died suddenly, and
after the first shock of grief, when he
realize that I was alone Elm the
world, he told he loved me-that I
was the one girl in all the world to
him, the woman to fill his life complete
ly. His work would take him among
all classes of people; he would be of the
gay, tickle world which pleases for il
time, but cannot satisfy, and he would
always return with joy to the home
nest, where l was to be queen forever.
What a dream of happiness to me:
How could I know that it was but a
dream!
"The confusion and noise of the city
disturbed me at first, but had Herbert,
and nothing mattered when he was
near. We had long, happy evenings
together in which to talk of and plan
for the promising future. Then he
grew very busy and began to go out q
great DEAL and, to satisfy the demands
of society, had people at our home often
people whom 1 did not understand
'Bohemians,' he called them, and eN-
planned that they were necessary to his
success. So the quiet evenings were
brcken-it was not Herhert's fault, you
know. When the world makes hero of
q man he must smile back. | was not
adaptable. tried earnestly to interest
myself in the strange ways of his
friends and understand the things
they talked about, but they showed me
how hopeless it was. Perhaps they did
not mean to discourage me, but could
not help but feel their silent scorn
Herbert felt it sorely and tried to help
me, but it was of no use, it was not in
me to learn the ways of Bohemians.
He was disappointed; it was not his
fault-yeu understand that, don't you"
she asked appealingly.
1 nodded, and pressed her hand in
silent sympathy, and after little pause
she went on in her low, even voices
Zone night, when l was very tired
and troubled, 1 went into the little al
cove off the library, where it was darls
and quiet, and lay down to think it all
over. You see, thought there must
be some way out of the difficulty, for
loved him SO, and wished more than
anything in the world to help him.
Presently I heard Herbert's study door
open, and after pause some one came
into the library, closing the door after
them. Through a narrow rift be-
tween the portieres saw the face of one
of my husbands friends-a handsome
young fellow called famliarly the
Bohemian prince because he was SO
recklessly prodigal and very popular
He and Herbert talked a great deal Of
people whom did not know, and felt
very uncomfortable in hearing what
did not concern me; but was afraid
my husband would be annoyed if /
made my presence known, so 1 lay quite
still and tried not to listen. At first
Herbert was in q bad humor, which the
other man noticed, and tried to dis
sipate jestingly; but failing, said pres
emily: Loring, old fellow, l know your
trouble, just as the whole world will
soon know it; and upon my word am
sorry, but it won't mend matters to
sulk. Believe me, there is only one way
out of it, He went on to say that but
for me Herbert would be at the top of
the ladder of fame, and I knew it was
true; but every word was like a sword
thrust to me.
Don't take it so savagely, old
man. he said, lifting his hand as if to
ward off Herbert's protests. You will
not be SO foolish as to deny it. No one
blalnes her; it simply is not in her 10
be otherwise than a good, humdrum
little housewife, all heart and simpli-
city-the sort to make an ideal wife for
n poor pious clerk, but for you she's
simply impossible Don't Herbert
said once; but the other man paid no
heed. He went on to show him what
drag would be to him his whole life;
how the world would laugh at and
wound his poor, stupid little wife; and
finally Herbert admitted the truth of
his reasoning.
THAT night I left his home for
10