The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-30
4 Pair 0E SINNERS.

>
barrister. She was of a norbidly pOetical
temperament and looked at lifs always
through q prism of sentimsus. He was
unimaginat4ve and practical. In G word
each was the complement OF the other
"Are you sure, Clarence she asked
him, signing, THAT you really love meg''
* Absolutely, dearest. -
"And you have never loved any one but
mef''
''Never-never-never
"And youawin love me always?''
Forever
He yawned and looked at his watch.
They were half expecting visitor.
Something might happen to change
you, " she persisted dreamingly.
What couldf''
Suppose Ihad a secret in my life which
] had never revealed to your
what sort of secret?"
81 always used to say, dear, that 1 had
told you all about myself-everythin
that was keeping nothing back from you.
am so sorryl" Her eyes grew misty with
tears i did not intend TO deceive you.
There is one-only one-eYent OF my lie
have never mentioned to you I had for
gotten it until lately. It has been my one
secret-the one page of my life would
rather no one read -
'WeI, and what is itP'' he interrupted,
a little irritably.
She sank down on the rug beside him
in an attitude Of supphcation and olRsped
her arms about his knees
did you know, dear, that I onoe used
TO write poetry?''
"wel, many persons do that. It may
be foolish, but it is not wicked.
ct wrote great deal of It Ny sole am
bition then was 20 be poetoss. Much OF
what wrote was love poetry
''Well welll YesY"
"And about six years ago, dear, col.
lscted all my poems into q volu1ns and
published them"
And the heartless man was the pub
lisherS"
"No. The publisher was exceedingly
kind. he thought very highly Of my
work.
Never mind the publisher. lam anz-
iOus to get TO that heartless man"
Tho book was published, and saw
only one review Of it, ana thae-ie vss in
a paper called The WrtteT-oh, Clarence,
it was oruel-oruolp'
''If that Is alp
''Alll IL humiliates me to think Of 50
even now. remember every narrowing
word OF il, but / caanoe-oRnnot bring
myself to repent them.
Don't try 10. Ny dear girl, why On
earth should you upset yourself like this
over a trivial matter that happened and
was forgotten six years ago BY everybody
but yourself9'
9uN tAaA4G n1Ns i 8UIHEeaA AGE pEH~
icity-the disgraoel These poems he
wrote-oh, do not AJAX me what be saidi''
And yes he may be quito . harmless,
inofensavs aoze Of ass, II we only knew
him"
81 felt as II all the world was laughing
at me-
"You little silly. I dom suppose even
q millionth part Of the world knew any
thing about it. Nobody reads reviews q
books-excePt the men who write them
81 could not regard it so stoically, % she
sighed. Il cannot even now. You do not
altogether realize my utter degradation.
These babblings of incipient imbeoility.'
That was one of his phrases
She shuddersd at the recollection Of it.
BY Jovel OF course the best Of critics
are not angels, but yours must have been
"A heartIess, heartless manl''
If it had been a mans book
"He may not have known I was a
woman
you are too severe. No reviewer criti-
cises a book till he has read the title page
But did not use my own name. ]
wanted to see if they would mistake my
work for that of a man. I called it Heart
Longings,' by Harold Ransom, but all
my friends knew, SO that really made no
difference"
He had grown suddenly thoughtful and
spoke absently.
You viii forgive me, darling, won't
you, for deceiving you?"
"Deceiying me?'' he asked.
''Well, for scanning not to con1ide in you
unreservedly?'
Taking the childish, pretty face between
his hands, he gazed down into her dreamy
blue eyes.
Yes. ="
''Well, coming to think of it. re1nen-
Der have secret which have never dis
closed to you. So, after all, we are each
bad as the other. -
She started and scanned his features
eagerly.
"You2 A secret, Clarenee?"
"Only little one-like yours. -
But mine was no secret. 1 had forgot
ten it, she protested. Besides, mine
was nothing for which you could blame
me-"
NOW, want you to make me prom
Use If forgive you, yeu viii forgive nneF'
She hesitated-
''Tell me, first, all about It,"
Do you Promise?" he insisted.
Eyes, yes, dear I prOInisel" she said
desperately. Whatever it is, love you
and must forgive yoa"
She pressed her handkerchief TO her eyes
Il won't keep you in suspense, d" said he
81 We have both been sinners, and I was
the worst of the two. I must tell you,
then. Before was a successful barristcr
was good for nothing young scoundrel,
with very good opinion Of myself and
very bad one of every body else. was q
wicked young dog and did several scandal
0us things that am ashamed OF now -
She caught her breath and waited in an
agony Of expectation.
They were all of the same description,
bat am sorry on account Of one in par
Ecular. -
And that2'
well, being hard up, I used to earn odd
Euineas in all manner Of odd ways I was
q hippant, self satisfied brute, and He