Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-06-09
A PAIR or SINNERS.
BY A. st. JOHN ADcocK.

ana prosperous DdrrlsttI. her udu-
ners and habits of thought were, per-
haps, overrefned and affected; she was
of morbidly poetical temperament,
and looked at life always through q
prism of sentiment. He was unimagi-
native and practical.
He had all those sterner qualities she
lacked; she had all those dainty, ten
der graces he despised-until he found
them in her. In a word, each was the
complement of the other.
Naturally. then, when they met they
loved; and she was too romantic and
he too matter-of-fant tn baliava in :
long engagement.
They had been two months married,
and but just returned from the honey
moon, were seated cozily by the fire one
wild, wintry evening, when Mabel, in a
languishing mood of sentimental mel
ancholy, unburdened herself of tardy
confession.
1t had really never occurred to her
during the rapture Of their short en-
gagement, but once or twice before
since their marriage it had risen to her
lips, but, fearing it might make note
of discord in the harmony of their
welded lives, she had left 1t unspoken.
II was trifie, no doubt; but hers was
disposition that magnified trifies. She
found subtle Joy in grief, as do all who
are surfeited with happiness, and, un-
der such circumstances, the smallness
of the grief is no disadvantage.
"Are you sure, Clarence" she asked,
him, signing. "that you really love me?"
Absolutely, dearest"
sand you have never loved anyone
but me? ?"
'Never-never-neve
"And you will love me always?"
Forever"
He yawned and looked at his watch.
They were half expecting visitor.
Something might happen to change
you" she persisted, dreamily.
"What could?"
Suppose I had secret in my life
which I had never revealed to your"
She regarded him yearningly.
what sort of secret?"
II always used to say, dear, that had
told you all about myself-everything
that ! was keeping nothing back from
you. / am so sorryl" Her eyes grew
misty with tears. II did not intend to
deceive you. There is one-only one
event of my life have never mentioned
to you. had forgotten it until lately.
1t is not much, perhaps, but ought not
to hide anything from you, ought I?
1t has been my one secret-the one page
Of my life would ratherno one read"
"Well-and what is it?" he interrupt
ed, little irritably.
She sank down on the rug beside him
in an attitude of supplication, and
clasped her arms about his knees.
Don't look at me so coldly, Clarence"
she pleaded. Don't speak so harshly.
Say you will forgive me, dearest
know there should be mo secrets be-
tween us, but it is such little, little
secret, and never meant to-"
Mono. Well-let me know whatit
is"
at overwhelmed me with shame.
Oh, words cannot tell how deeply It
Inundated me-"
my dear child. do calm yourself"
He laughed. but felt vaguely uneasy.
at can't have been anything so very
awful"
''You win not think hesitated to tell
you sooner because / distrusted the
strength of your love-"
"0f course not"
'sOr because / feared"-she stifled a
little sob-'you might scorn me. as that
heartless man did"
What heartless man ?" he demanded,
sharply. Don't mystify me with all
this preamble, Mabel. Tell me the
worst, at once"
"And you win forgive me, dear, for
not confiding-?"
''Oh, no doubt. 1t is nothing much,
I'll be bound. You are soaring us
both with DOGGY of your own max
ing. What is it?'
Il will tell you, Clarence"
She dried her eyes, and reaching up,
laid hand upon his shoulder caress-
irgly.
"Did you know, dear, that 1 once
used to write poetry"
well, many persons do that. 1t may
be foolish, but it is not wicked"
Il wrote great deal Of it My sole
ambition then was to be a poetess.
Much of what I wrote was love po-
etry-"
addressed, presume, to the heart
less man you just referred to?"
ssNo dear II vae addressed IN u1iife
imaginary persons"
well, WE'LL Yes?"
"And about six years ago. dear, col
lected all my poems into a volume and
published them"
"And the heartless man was the pub
lisher?"
''No. The publisher was exceedingly
kind. He thought very highly Of my
work"
'Never mind the publisher. I am
anxious to get to that heartless man"
The book was published, and saw