Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-01-08
ne repentsd of his VOL

echoes OF his sentiments Clsp4C,D % l. .'..
as masters are wont to be dl.ll,.s,
with too apt disciples? On the othu
hand, sure that was "A confirmed cell.
bste, did he wish by an Unacceptable,
Impossible condition to drive me from
zmateurism TO strenuous achievement
IN my art? Well, facts were facts, aud
hypothesis were only hypothesis.
walked hastily homeward 10 Margaret,
thinking the while how / should break
the news. Greeted with an anxious in
quiry as TO my palenoss, l stammercd
out the tidings In coherent fashion.
She, too, grew pale, and a long silence
followed. | could not read the meaning
of her face, for her eyes were averted.
i waited for her TO speak, but in vain.
At last she walked away 10 the window
and turned her back to me. Gently
raised her hand to kiss, but she drew it
away as though she Were stung ard
fronted me with flashing eyes and quiz
ering lips.
Z" So this is what you have brought
me TO, she cried, trembling with pas
sion and anger. Il trusted You, and this
is the reward Of my confidence.
And reproach followed reproach.
Inn not sure that she did not even
charge me with knowing my uncle's in
tentions from the first, though how such
| knowledge and deceit were compatible
with my actions and the present situa-
ton were quite beyond my comprehen-
sion. But, then, it was passion and not
logic that dictated her words. However,
/ looked upon myself as a justly ar
raigned culprit and bowed my head to
the storm, hoping against hope for re-
vulsion in her feelings, for tears and
imploring hands But when she had
made an end she stood calm, self pos
sessed, scornful. | made last effort. /
was eloquent, for my heart was full Of
pride and pity and hope. declared
myself ready 10 forego fortune; should
work at my art till | won success. She
should be my nurse, my comforter. But
she only tossed her head and sneered,
Love in cottage, / know what that
means My love then turned TO bitter
ness, for then l knew that when women
sheer at romance they forsake their very
womanliness, they harden their hearts.
She marked the change and pointed 10
the door.
." N OF word. sir. Go Let me see
you no more. Go your way and | will
go mine. My friends Will protect me
from you.
Il found myself in the street, crushed
dazed, stupid with conflicting emotions
Was this the woman / had loved so
dearly-this the Margaret for whom l
was ready, if needs be, to embrace pow
erty? Poverty! The man who is poor
has no friends; on friendship let no
man count when fortune is adverse.
And the love that is stronger than death
80 y was evidently unable TO face pow
erty. Margaret lowell Clearly she had
none or she would not have reproached
me, abandoned me at the very first trial.
shook myself together, promised my
self to forget her She was not worthy
of remembrance; she was merely an ad
ventures, bad woman.
"A year went by devoid of incident,
occupied with fitful exertion. Unhappy,
only too often absentmindcd-tha is
to say, haunted-I yet made good prog
there were two ether remedies for love
madness, kept telling myself. But ]
found that absence did but aggravate
the malady. That which is absent grows
vague, and that which is vague has the
charm Of mystery. Absence idealized
Margaret, absence endeared her once
more to me. began TO seek excuses for
her conduct, became anxious TO pardon,
to convert blame into pity and from
pity pass to love. The sole other rem.
edy was scorn-dOubtless the strongest
remedy of all. l scorned her truly, hut
intermittently. Too often my scorn
sought means for abdication. And thus
it came about that i began i'll my weak
ness TO yearn for news from her. But
how could ! forgive her? At last de-
termined TO hear news of her, if not
from her. / should least commit myself
by such course Of action. She had de
clared her intention Of going to her
friends But she had none in London,
in England Our privacy forbade the
cultivation of acquaintance. France,
then? Margaret pupil friend and this
friends brother had indeed visited us
not long before. l would write to Pr
cardy, inquiring as calmly, as naturally
as possible. Nine b. would possibly be
prejudiced against me and return no
answer However determincdto write,
and a week later l received a reply,
mere line, a single phrase, Too late.
What was the meaning of such a mis-
sive? Did Nine. i. wish to express her
blame chow could she blame me:) or to
signify coldly that she would not enter
into communication with me? / would
go myself to Picardy, request an inter
view, hear and see how the case stood.
1.-The second day found me in Picardy.
Mime. B. received me strangely. 1t
Aemed to me as though she feared to
see me. Evidently she knew something
which she was RELUCTANT TO reveal. At
length drew from her some stammer-
ing phrases which sent the blood cours-
ing madly through my veins. She had
just received news--bad news-her son