The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-16

ueNeT S6eu III any one elee SuCD ZEAL
ousy-Oh, when you think how long ]
had known him, how long, it was cruel,
cruell l can never forgive you, Rich
ard, neverl I will ask your pardon. 1
will kiss the ground you stand on, for
your forgiveness, but l will never for
give you in my.heartl loved you too
well. When think how would have
shaved for you, died for you, when
think how all my life was devoted
to you-you never knew Richard" she
said, "did vou2" "No," said the nurse,
l never did,"
Close under the window q group of
players squabbled over the game, and
one mans voice rose above the rest: 81
can't stand this nonsensel I've told you
before that that rule is printed in the
last regulations: what is there to say
after that? Henry, you'd argue your
self sick, if you had the chance. Miss
Carter, it's your play. Try for ball"
"Ahl' said the woman softly, "that's
like Richardl Helen, take your skates
off and go home; you've skated long
enough. shall come presentlyw And
1 always took them off. We were in
school together. And when he went to
college 1 wrote to him every week, but
he only wrote to me when he had time
Richard was in everything; he was
very busy. And then afterwards when
we had to wait while he was getting
his practice-Oh, l was going to marry
Richardl Do you know that it's all
overall over"
She stared at the nurse vaguely and
seemed to see the face of some one she
knew, for she smiled and held out her
hand a moment, weakly.
"Ah, you know" she said, "you know,
for l told you'll Dear little dead mother
] whispered it to you in your coffin,
that night. You know how / hated
and hated and hated, till my soul was
all cold and stiff with hate, and so
l did it. You know how l tried and
tried to make him see that it was only
because she was not worth it--not
worthy of him. He needed some one
to humor him, to study his moods, to
be patient with him-and he had only
known her month. One month! And
loved him for nine yearsl"
She sobbed, and wiped her eyes with
the frill of her white, loose sleeve.
Her lip quivered piteously and she was
still for moment. The nurse thought
she slept. Suddenly she half raised
herself on the pillows, her clasped
hands rose and fell on her breast, and
her voice sank to low, strained plead
ing: ooh Richard, not, not that womanl
Richard, if you ever loved me at all
think what you are doing. She does
not love you, Richard-she's hard,
ambitious-but that will make you love
her morel'
She clenched her hands and her face
hardened. "Ah, you think that? You
are kind-very kind. l shall remem.
Der that, Richard. l had hardly de.
served it. / have been, as you say
somewhat foolish.
"You say you are not Catholicf
Then what good will it do 10 tell youf
And you never knew that woman. TIC
marry woman older than he! TIC
love woman who frankly admitted
that having married once for money
she was going to marry now as she
pleased! What is there in yellow hail
that holds men so? Do you suppose il
had yellow hair"
The sun was dropping in red ant
purple glory behind the hills. All the
pleasant sounds and scents of late
peaceful afternoon poured into the
room that seemed portion of a differ
ent world. Slowly the summer people
were drifting.i in from the hills and the
river. Under the window stopped 6
merry crowd, planning drive in the
moonlight. "And Rlth"-said some
one, "Ruth and the guitar will com
plete the affair. Where is that lovely
that melodious Ruth?" And they
strolled away, their voices growing
fainter and sweeter.
"Ruth? Ruth?" said the woman ir
the bed, questioning the nurse with
those dog-like eyes. sis Ruth-but
must have been talking very wildly.
meant to tell you'll can't think-I will
go back and make it clear-I will"
"Hush," said the nurse pityingly
"hush my dear. l understand, think
When you think of these things, you
forget"
II forget nothing. remember per.
fectly," said the woman. snow III
tell you what / did. She had child
a little daughter, Ruth. She was only
seven years old, but she sang like az
angel. Richard loved music more than
anything else. And he was devoted to
that child, because he said she was the
very spirit of music to him. Now ]
will have drink. l was very rude to
you before"
She drank like thirsty child from
the glass the nurse held, and sank
back, looking out at the sunset almost
peacefully. 81 shall have told YOU
soon," she said, twill you hate me,
then? l should not like to have every
one hate mel love so to be loved, but
| have lost the right to love, now.
Even if Richard should forgive me, he
could not love, for he buried his love
Tor all women but Ruth-little Ruth
that sang-when her mother died. She
had the fever, and he came to me and
asked me to nurse her. Mel So look
ed at him and came. But she died.
Then Richard forgot me, / think. He
could hardly have been 80 cruel, could
he, il he had remembered? He talked
about her.al. night to me. Sometimes