The record-union., 1897-07-13
HER FIRST STEP AWRY.
(Written for the "Record-Union'' by
Mrs u Il

| hTS. -. II. M
Man the stronger vesseEbeing strong,
Jumps, cracks and wanders oft to pas.
lures new. Kate Field
you might just as well know it now
as at any other time that / never intend
TO marry your
The poor girl bowed her head on the
| table in despair Her work of delicate
lace and muslin patterned into a dainty
garment, fell TO the floor. The sword
that had been hanging over her head
had fallen, severing with one blow the
confidence she had reposed in the man
she loved, the reliance she had placed
in his promises of marriage since the
hour he had imprinted the betrothal kiss
upon her fresh young lips. At last she
faltered:
Why not, Carlyle?'
Why? Because 1 would not besmirch
ny name by marrying one so far be-
meath me-
If | am beneath you no hand except
yours has placed me there. You should
/ have gone down with me-"
Men do not go down you know" said
ne triumphantly. Tt takes two to make
a bargain, until it comes to sex, and then
it takes but one, and woman is that
| one"
What about our child, Carlyle? Is the
mother to bear the shame alone?"
Our child! How do I know that is
ours? The law presumes that if a girl
will do wrong With one eman she will with
another, and that no man can claim the
fatherhood of an illegitimate child. So
you need not put on any of your airs
with me-"
Then the law protects the man and
not the woman? Society protects the
man and not the woman?" questioned
she slowly, as if the truth We're just
dawning on her mind. rs that right? Is
it iustice?"
Il am not to blame about the law, but
something must be done about you You
Snail conceal yourself until tbs affair is
over"
She stood erect, her tall regal form
revealing it's dignifed, statuesque
teauty as she exclaimed:
Conceal myself From whom and
what? Not from the law-there is
neither protection nor punishment in
that for me; not from society. you have
long since placed me beyond the pales of
that; not from the church, it will hold
side; and surely not from your intended
bride''-
What's that Jealous are you? Trust
jealous woman to scent a rival
Intense anger was depicted on every
feature Would she dare to tell Miss
Coleman, the heiress to many millions,
and thus Illustrate his approaching mar
riage in that direction? His finances
were running low. By all means he
fnlust prevent any exposure. He arose,
started toward her threateningly as if
he would like to crush her out of exist
ence. She sprang from her chair, eluded
| him and fled from the room.
The slow hours dragged YEARLY on to-
ward midnight. The world, her world,
in its course had drifted with blind, con-
fiGing force against an unealculated OBJ
stacle, and rebounding suddenly, had
| been dashed into utter darkness and de-
spair.
Even hope had fled from her Pandora
box. She sat by the window of her room
looking out at the river as it went rip
ping by over the rocks, gltttering like
diamonds in the silvery moonlight. She
seemed in a duh, dreamy stupor, con-
sciOus only of her condition and the
hand that had stricken the fatal blow.
How she had loved him, trusted, and
cCnfided in him! One of the most re-
markable things in connection with
human associations is the confidence
woman will place in the man she loves,
Sunrise was creeping over the slowly
awakening village of Reno. gar
ment was seen by some fishermen en-
tangled in swaying chaparral bush
that had grown within the waters edge
of the Truckee River. On investigation
the body of a woman was found swish
ing back and forth under the water 1t
was all that remained of Carlyle Adams
once promised wife.
She had found sweet Lethe's stream in
her first journey alone.
Past all dishonor, death had left on her
Only the beautiful.