The times., 1898-03-06
der its mass. Raymond looked on daz

4 der its mass. Raymond looked on daz-
ed. He could not understand.
When il was too late it was made
3 plain. CiceIy sat before her own fire,
in the dusk, and looked quietly at the
blazing logs. The light shone on her
fair face and on her cleaning hair.
Raymond stood and looked down at
. her, resting his arm on the mantel-
piece. He was an honest man. He had
no intention IF speaking Of even the
love Of the past 20 another mans wife,
+ but beside the blank reality rose up in
{ front Of him the night-have- been of his
life. and he cried out from the depths:
"Cicely why did you do it?"
She started back and looked up at
him. For one long minute the deep eyes
gazed into his eyes and saw there the
futlity Of an irretrieyable mistake.
The curved lips grew white, and part
ed and closed again. She turned and
hid her face. in her tight-clasped
hands. and bowed her head against the
back Of the chair. There is tragedy of
the fercest sort that enters. once. at
least into most liyes-tragedy which
seems to rend the veil Of ones universe
.
where ones hopes and sorrows have
lain sleeping. Yet we jeer at melo-
drama when we are shown bits from
the play Of existence that are as nothing
60 the truth We say il is overacted. 1t
is because il has been mercifully given
10 Us 10 forget. In the past Raymond,
first Of all would have sconed; in the
future he would come 10 doubt the hOT-
r5r Of the present moment But it
caught him and held him then with
mighty strength The primitive Great
ure comes out when it is lashed with
, the whip Of real pain; all the bars Of
custom and convention cannot restrain
I 3d. He forgot the honor Of his sane
moments He snatched away the
/ hands. and dragged her TO him. and
turned her face up again to his.
why did you do il. Cicely?' he re-
peated.
She clenchcd her teeth and steadied
her voice and then she told him.
But you were utterly wrong" he
said. He was dazed 10 have been so
misunderstood and he offered no eX-
/ PLANTATION. But she did not need one
now She had seen the fun measure
vi her folly.
Il know. she answered, II was
/ wrong. and-I am punished She
/ threw her arms about his Heck and
/ sobbed. and he held her close. 1t was
! only for a little time. Then she drew
away and her arms fell at her sides.
1t cannot be helped" she said; and
She turned and went away.
There was no change in Raymond,
either then or as the years went on.
/ lie was a good officer and a good man,
4 and unembittered. But Cicely Clan
vile changed The world loves nothing
( better than to find an explanation for
what has mystified it. 1t does not
( trouble to verify its belief 1t is
plain. ii said now. why Cicely Marlitt
married GlanyiIle. Raymond was not
the man to have allowed her TO indulge
( her propensities,"
The propeEsities We're toward fiirta
tions that scandaliZed that conserva-
tive and respectable institution, the
army Even the men OF the regiment
resented that it should be given fame
through Mrs. Granville And the
women feared and hated her: but they
also admired. Popular superstition to
the contrary Notwithstanding. most
women see the charms Of a rival Envy
is as keen-sighted as love is blind. And
the clever ones admit them.
Being isolated from the small circle