The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-01-17
"It Ism. fair to yourself. have no right

"It isn't fair to yourself. have no right
10 listen"
81 caro- NOT, how unfair she be If only
she be fair to-herselfl Ehf And you have
every right to listen, Jack. l give you
right, full right. Besides / have to talk
about it. 1t is so long ago, too, and we are
so much older. Surely, it does not matter
1t was such a tender time, a time OF dane
ing blood, Jack. We shall never live ~
again, never more foot it to the same giddy
measure. We are half burned out now, like
bloated candles in the cold dawn. We have
tainted our atmosphere with the consum-
Ing of our own fires"
The flush in her cheeks died, leaving
them pallid, Her head dropped and ha
hands fell listlessly.
"You forgive me, Jack, don't your" shse D
said presently. - 5.t4
could not speak. Silence were best.
was wrung with vain regret The poor
little LADY, ~,
"When you went away that night" she
said, "you took more with you than you,
knew. Had you come back it might have,
been all different. 1 cried many nights
thinking of you. 1t was the thought OF
your lonelin ess that made me cry. We had,
been such good chums. And was lonely
too" ...5e,
She paused. Half unoonsciously took
her hand In mine. ss, =,
"They tell me you are married, Jack, -
said she presently. 1T Is quite true, !
suppose Why shouldn't it bep And dc
you love your wife very, very dearly,
Jack?"
She was turned half from me, her hands
busy with the folds of her dress. 1 had ne
words to answer her. Suddenly she ut
tered great cry, and sank down in a chair.
covering her face with her hands. T r
"Listen, listen" she said hoarsely, tap
ping my hand with her fingers. ~" Listen.
This is the truth. 1 hope you do love,
your wife, Jack. hope you do love hon
very dearly. 1 hope you take her in youI
arms to your heart and kiss her-kiss her
always when you meet I hope you ara
proud of her and set her above all women
above me. No, no; listen, Jack, listen
Don't try to stop me. You must not g.
away thinking me worse than am.
"This is the truth--this is the truth
Let me confess-or have l confessed al
ready2-I love you, Jack. I loved yos
then. I always loved you-always shah.
love you. hungered for you all of these
years. l can't keep silent. But we shah
not see each other again. 1t does not matt
ter And it will be something to renaemr
Der. Tho years are very long-yery lone
and my art is sometimes stale to me.
and the life has gone out of my brain, and
the cunning from my hand. l am doing
her no wrong Surely may have my lit.
tie moment. She has all her life for hen,
very own. I have been meek, Jack.
have been ever cheerful. l would not
have spoken now if-if- It's a hard
- fpr |
very young too. And everything was ST.
possible Oh, my Godl" .&
She bowed her head on her arm against
the wall.
"Leave me alone, Jack" she said
"Leave me alono just for minute. I've
cried against this wall before. shall bt
better presently. 1t always does me good,
And 1 had meant to be SO strong If we
should meet!"
1t tore my heart to see her. I went ub
to her and put my hand on her Shoulder.
She caught it in her disengaged hand and
pressed it.
The twilight descended on us standing
thus.
"Goodby, Jackl' she said, with her
hand on the latch.
"Goodby!" answered.
She put up her lips. would have kissed
them lightly, but she drew my head down
and wound her arms about my neck.
"This once" she pleaded. "It's such
little sin'
'Goodby! |" she said again, the glory OF
her eyes shining through her tears
"Goodbyr answered as before.
She opened the door, and I passed inta
the little lopsided street.
There were gray ghosts rising from the
river.-Chapman' Magazine. .a..