Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-03
MY FRIENDS DIVORCE.

rorfon Truth
,,@rv years have passed since We
sitting together, one May after
,, in the trellissd arbor, that over
-,,rsi Nentone and its western bay.
,,,. s-isnd was a handsome man Of 40
,-s or so. a landscape painter VINO
...5 fame. 1 believe. only because he
..,..5 the desire Of fame and the spur
.-,,srrv. because ne could be content
49,, ar. for arts sake. We bad be-
sscouainted Onlyafew days before,
,r oar hearts had grappied from the
orr friendship seemed dateless.
-..,tsv, we commanded was assuredly
r..-.srving. but We were debating, or
~. chatting. nOnchalantly. My
rf had CHANGED 20 maintain that
..r was stronger than fiction; ana
.,-e1 The question was time-worn,
Tr-1- mat could support argument
r5rnter-argument indifferently, l
r,'f.ng momentary briei for the
,-,.-s- straugeness of fiction.
r-,1u like" said he, Il viii tell you
-7-- about myself 1 dO$~- swear
,, secrecy. since Love laughs at the
. of confdants as we'll as lovers,
t as you are an alter ego, you
-...- egree TO keep my story TO yourself
.- -,, actors have left the scene. Be
t,. do not suppose You viii ever
..,~r Desperately 10 lmpart the secret
90 others.
nughingly held out my hand in sign
o. reement, and HI proceeded with
lis ale
.v,l must know" he began, chat
dam nv early childhood, my mothers
--4r stood to me in the place Of
,..r-s WeIl-to-dO, leiSured, he was
r#r'y sngrOssed in scientific pursuits;
,-Ita. of severe and dignifed demeanOr,
had long cultivated the alent Of sill
.r,s As grew up, ne INDUCED me in
~r d-sire of freedom and love Of art;
m. EXPRESSED himself as satisfied with
my choice of profession, supplied me
amply with requisite funds, approved
INV diligence. shook his head at most
wien could not show him many new
Smiles. There was only one subject
when could serve 10 break down his
reserve and that was woman. Even
-ran no seldom ventured beyond witty
eg.eams. The cause Of this confirmed
m.s,gyuv I may be right in assigning
70 some youthful love appointment,
tu I have nothing but conjecture 10
r9sa uDOn. 7 was eager TO please this
Grabbed. austere uncle Of mine. whom
knew 10 be warm hearted az the core,
SD un0stentatiOusly helpful was he 10
s'l whom he discovered TO be in need of
assistance: but my eagerneSS led me TO
rhe commission of an error. l was con-
sanity on the lookout Tor epigrams that
should De new to him, and occasionally
managed 10 fashion one which | could
produce as an imprOmptu: readily seiz-
81 opportunities to pass from epigrams
10 defamation. In word, l Overdid
MY part And yet my uncle seemed 10
quietly smile at ny Sallies, and often
congratulated me on my revolt from
paUic1aJ government.
Wen I can honestly say that FOR long
my ar- VS. my sole mistress; but. when
Twas reaching my 3Oth year, Dan Cupid
spread his wiles and captured me. |
was making studies Of Picardy scenery,
and visiting at a pleasant chateau. My
host SIS daughter one day informed me
tina. the dear music-mistress and friend
Of her schOOladys (an English lady, she
added was TO arrive in the course of the
week. My fate my fate" I murmured
at her advent. tt was case OF love at
first sight. and. moreover, the coup de
sOudro was not One-sided. / committed
another error much graver than the
first I told her of my uncle'S idioSyn-
Grassy. and though she was ineXperenc-
"a (she gas but a year or two younger
.han ID. and had not lacked, could
not have lacked naccepted lovers, l
won her reluctant consent 20 secret
marriage. The case was simplifed.
since she had none but distant relatives,
could readily resign her post, cared not
for society. And so we spent happy
winter I'm the London in which my uncle
and I liyed but not tOgether-hidden,
unsupported. In the spring it was my
custom 20 go 90 Italy. and. of course
my cry this time was Italian Petimus.
first person plural.
But with spring came the unexpect-
Ell death Of my uncle. One morning l
rang az his door, and was supplied by
'5e -dngs that he had been found but
an hour or two ago dead in his bed \
messenger had been sent at once to my
studio. but / was not there; l had just
come In time 20 fOrestall further in
ql.res 40 the homes of various artists
with whom it might be supposed that 1
l-d stayed the night. Dazed, 1 crossed
,ae threshold Of the death chamber and
2oked sorrOwfully on that truest friend
whose voice | should hear no more.
realized the crimicality Of my want of
.olndence. my silence. my secrecy. Ay,
.l. repentance was useless; the past is
-.aroca5le An hour later I sailed out
INTO The streets for a little while, and
sent telegram to Margaret informing
On guarded terms of what had hap
raed and OF my necessary absence till
should have executed the last due
roS
To- The funeral succeeded the open
ing and reading Of the viii. a matter
Nl.cl had but little occupied my care
.as thoughts. Could l believe my ears?
there was no possible doubt. His
lr nephew was his sole legatee on
niloa that he should marry in the
>t.e OF Two years. during which time
-e customary charitable subscriptions
'-l my quarterly sU0vention were to be
.-d' otherwise the property was 10
's iu certain proportions TO these
,-lil.i.s. and his dear nephew was to
.a 'o his art for a livelihood.
s1 privacy with what haste I could,
ON E5l 20 think it all over. Why
.o.al change in my uncle's views?
Ut. ne Iencntel of his WOntpd fear and