The Van Buren press., 1898-03-05
A PAIR OF SINNERS. F.:
BY A. ST. JOHN ADCOCk. :

CHE was the only daughter of a
draper who had once been eminent
and was now retired; he was young
and prosperous barrister. Her man.
ners and habits of thought were, per-
haps, overrefned and affected; she was
of a morbidly poetical temperament,
and looked at life always through a
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 word, each was the
complement of the other.
Naturally, then, when they met they
loved; and she was too romantic and
he too matter-offact to believe in q
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, i'm
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 1t had risen to her
lips, but, fearing it might make note
of discord in the harmony of their
welded lives, she had left it unspoken.
IT was a trife, no doubt; but hers was a
disposition that magnifed trifles. She
found a 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.
care you sure, Clarence" she asked,
him, signing, chat you really love me?'
absolutely, dearest"
"And you have never loved anyone
but me?"
"Neyer-never-neye
"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 l had secret in my life
which | had never revealed to you?"
She regarded him yearningly.
''What sort of secret?"
81 always used to say, dear, that had
told you all about myself-everything;
that l was keeping nothing back from
you. am so sorry!" Her eyes grew
misty with tears. 81 did not intend to
deceive you. There is one-only one
event of my life have never mentioned
to you. l had forgotten it until lately
It is not much, perhaps, but ought not
to hide anything from you, ought Il
| It has been my one secret-the one page
of my life Iwould katherine one read
"Well-and what is To" 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, Dul IL Is SuNH q litplS, itAie
secret, and never meant to"
"No-no. Well-let me know what il
is"
at overwhelmed me with shame
Oh, words cannot tell how deeply II
Inundated me-"
my dear child, do calm yourself
lie laughed, but felt vaguely uneasy
at can't have been anything so very
awful"
"You will not think hesitated to tel
you sooner because I distrusted the
strength of your love-?"
'Of course not"
cor because feared'-she stifled {
little sob-"you might scorn me, as thai
heartless man did!'
"What heartless MANI" he demanded
sharply, don't mystify me with al
this preamble, Mabel. Tell me the
worst, at once"
"And you will forgive me, dear, fol
not eonfding-?"
"Oh, no doubt. It is nothing much
I'll be Bound. You are soaring III
both with a DOGGY of your own max
ing. What is it?"
II will tell you, Clarence"
She dried her eyes, and reaching up
laid a hand upon his shoulder caress
ingly.
"Did you know, dear, that once
used to write poetry"
"Well, many persons do that. 1t may
be foolish, but it is not wicked"
81 wrote a great deal of it. Ny sol'
ambition then was to be a poetess
Much of what l wrote was love pc
etry-"
addressed, | presume, to the heart
less man you just referred TOP"
mo, dear. 1t was addressed to quite
imaginary persons"
"Wen, Welt Yes?"
"And about six years ago, dear, l col
lected all my poems into volume anC
published them"
"And the heartless man was the pub
lisher?"
mo. The publisher was exceedingl,
kind. lie thought very highly of m.
work"
"Never mind the publisher. l an
anxious to get to that heartless man.
1.-THE book was published, and | say
only one review of it, and that-it wa
in a paper called The Writer-Oh, Clar
ence, ii was cruel-cruel!"
'If that is all"