The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-25
MANS DESIRE.

Certainly il was the best thing by lar
that he had ever done.
He leaned back In his chair having
carefully wiped his pen after the word
"Fiuis - and looked at the pages as they
Law before him. He had written and pub
lished several books, chiefly novels OF the
domestic order but this was something
ouite different There were none OF the
little fnannerisms and sentimentaiities
that caused am usement even TO his ad-
mirers This story ran evenly ana Wig
orously In an easy natural style. Ire
interest centered round woman OF what
might be called "strong personality. As
he reclined in his chair. with his eyes
closed, and thought OF her, he felt as III
shn were no creation of his brain. but
real, living woman. lt seemed Tor the
moment as If she were near hlm. perhaps
in the room.
He opened his eyes hastily and looked
around. How absurd OF course no one
was there He strolled TO the window.
Heavy rain--no use 10 go to his club lie
would look for his wife, and see If cup
of tea would drive away this strange feel
ing OF oppression.
How COSY and comfortable 10 was in
the drawing room with mis- wife In her
easy chair, and two rosy children sitting
at her feet on the rug. He had fooilsh
fancy that be-. too, would like to sit there.
and rest his head on her knee.
bed, he talked 10 his wife about the now
book.
.'It is quite the hest work, he said.
"but somehow. feel as II / should like
TO put IL in the fire.
His wife raised her eyebrows.
"Why. In the worldg
"Wen, il is not like nv other novels.
The woman is-yes-wicked, but she Is
very interesting.
4 q.
Everyone writes about wicked people
nowadays. she said.
'And all the good people read about
them, he said with a bitter little laugh.
(Some critic had noticed his last story
among "Gift Books for Young People. y
''Well, ! suppose must stick to It, but
dont feel quite easy.
"Ihere can he no harm, so far, !" said
his wife, sagely "You need not send IL
off il YOU don't like IL, when you have
quite finished with 1t. Half past six.
must run l promised To look after the
school library for an hour. ="
''Must you go?" He felt curious re-
Iuctance to part with her.
s'Of course; i promised. And you
know you don't generally want me at
this time.
mo" he admitted grudgingly. II 1t
were not too foolish. he would have liked
TO go with her. Anything rather than be
left alone.
In little while he went back to his
study He was conscious OF giving "a hur.
ried glance around rs he entered, but all
was as he had left IL. He sat down and
turned over his Ms. He might as weIT
read il through and Degin TO polish IL for
the publisher
Certainly, Ulrica was wicked woman.
Now that he came TO examine what he
had written, he began to wish that some
passages had never existed Should he
alter themY But they were much the
best-so racy, so smart; he hardly recog-
nized his own work. He could not cut
them out; he must bring the rest TO the
same level.
But IL is not so easy for good man 10
create a thoroughly wicked woman. He
found that Ulrica sometimes relapsed into
(comparative) virtue In "A very unsatisfac-
tory manner. What would she have done
undsr such and such circumstances7 He
lnust think IL out.
II don't believe shall do anything
with the hook, as 1t is now." he said TO
bis wife, after dinner, when she had set
tied herself in the low chair before the
fire and taken up one of the white fleecy
stockings, at which she was continually
kitting In spare moments. II shall have
TO write 1t all over again, from beginning
60 end"
What nuisance - said his wife; "but
III.
She was used To her husbands IS anxioties
over his work, and took them very piacidly
PONG one of those calm handsome matrons,
whom clever. overworked men adore as
being ''restful," and clever, impatient
women despise as being 'oow like. /"
Next morning the author spread
clean sheet of paper on his writing desk
and began resolutely at page !. chapter
the first. When previously writing the
story. Ulrica had only been tn him rs one
OF the principal characters-nore inter-
csting. it Is true. than the virtuous hero
inc. who was rewarded with husband
a. the coDclusion-but STILL one figure
among many. Now the other characters
seomed TO rade into insiRniilcance, and
she alone remained distinct. The whole
plot turned round her. He thought no
more of art or Of probabilities. lie could
only think of Ulrica. All scenes in
which sire bore no part were tame and
unirterestirg. and he hurried through
them carelessly, as n piece Of task work,
In order that ho might return to her
u was clear 60 him that bis style had
undergone a wonderful improvement in
the last few months Never before had
writing been such pleasCro To him
never before had he been able TO write
for three hours together without Jaying
down his pen and casting about for an
idea or "a phrase. When the book was M
gsve him a place among tho first noyeIsts
oi the nay. Then again came the mis-
g.v.ng that he mnst not lot IL go before
the world In this form. Some PASSAGES
must be softoned or suppressed. hut To
do this would De TO spoil tho whole. Ii
was not the desire of fame that resolved
him in the end Co send the book 20 his
publisher just as IL was; IL was tho
thought of Ulrica so real had sho ba.
come 10 him that IL seemed like mutilgt.
Ing living creature 10 make nny change
In his conception OF her. She mus; 90
forth into the world as she had revealed
herself 10 him.
80 Mans Desire" came not. and. as
Will be remembered. it was the sensation
OF the season. Every one read 1.-THE
wicked y ainCse themselves. and
the GOO peop to be able TO caution
Others ainst Those few who STORMY
declinet let on their tables did not
lose nut eir virtue, as 10 was dis.
cussed anu quoted in every drawing
room. Young men, with two ideas i'm
their heads, tried Co talk In epigrnms:
young women with red arms wore black
velvet gowns and carried ostrich feather
fans-all In imitation of Ulrica It was
eait that coma of th.ao fr,.If.t ..o...t. -.