The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-25
LIKE Split WINE.

3, LIKE Split WINE.
i When 4 woman who has been prett
Q realizes that she Is 90 no longer she
Q apt to exaggerate her past charms. Sh
Is also apt to regard herself as singu
farly astute and honest, and to admir-
i her own sweet reasonableness in con
I Tossing 1t.
0 Lucy Locke-James had been jiltet
( and not overgently fitted. Her feel
ings were not complex, and she did no
analyze them; but she was sensitive
4 and she felt pain quite as acutely a
! do more superior persons. Her father
: Admiral Locke-James. did not max
things easier for her. He went abou
breathing fire and slaughter, and usin:
nautical language against the maj
who had Tilted her, so that the whol'
town Of Bath was sorry for Lucy, ant
showed 1t. 1t is not surprising, there
fore. that she lost her color, that hel
manner became shrinking, and bel
expression grew wan and sad.
= Presently she stood up and let down
her hair. She was tall girl, and now
much too thin for her height. She
shook the soft waves round her face,
and looked in the glass again, signing,
my eyelashes and my hair are all that
are left" she thought, sadly. Then she
! undressed and read one OF the little
white books on her dressing table, try.
Ing to believe that God must love her
dearly, inasmuch as he had thought fit
to chasten her SO; and so to bed to lie
/ wide-eyed and wakeful, thinking Of
that earthly love who had loved her
so little.
Il am too worn out too world-weary
to give you love worthy of your own,
my Lucy" Clarence Webster would
say, pickering up his forehead as he
gazed into Lucy's eyes-his own were
large and blue and prominent,
"The love you give me is enough for
me; ask nothing more or better of
fate" was LDcy's invariable rejoinder,
Then she would complacently tell her.
self that he idealized her, that she was
In no way really fitted to be the mate
OF such high-minded genius, but.
And so they were really happy, In a
quiet-commonplace sort Of a way, until
Mrs Van Scborer came to Bath. !
Mrs. Van Schorer said she was Eng
lish, but her appearance and her tenn
permanent helied her. She was small
and decidedly plump, with that grace,
full, undulating walk that suggests
more southern chimes. Her eyes were
dark ana inscrutable, her hair heavy
and straight and black. She wore it
parted In the middle in Madonna bands,
and the result was quaint and uncom-
mon. Her complexion was pale, her
mouth big, and her teeth magnificent.
She nearly always dressed in black.
Women called her ugly and fat. Men,
whom she interested, called her "une
bellelaide, ronde ct gracieuse."
Clarence" said Mrs. Van Schorer,
why do you marry this ridiculous
girl? Have you forgotten, Clarence?"
Her voice was musical, with pathetic |
little break in 1t; a touch of foreign
accent gave subtle distinction to her
English.
Clarence Webster looked at the be-
bundle of desire on the sofa; |
he crossed the room, and knelt down |
beside it; and for the time being the
Ddor OF patchouli quite oyerpowered
the scent of lavender. |
One afternoon toward Christmas,
lust as 1t was growing dusk, and as he
lat smoking by the studio fire and
why he had ever been born,
here was knock at the outer door
! fluttering, uncertain sort of knock.
ike that OF child.
He crossed the little passage to open:
he gas on the staircase was not lit,
'ut in the semi-darkness he recognized
he outline of the tall, girlish figure
landing there.
LUCY" he cried, incredulously.
lucy! You!"
The girl was trembling and could
lot speak; he led her in and put her
u an armchair; then she held out a
etter to him, saying timidly:
will you read it and tell me If it is
rue?"
Clarence turned on the light and
ilently took the letter. Lucy leant
ack in her chair. grasping the arms
0 stay her trembling hands. He no.
iced how thin she was and pale, and
Or minute everything was blurred
y the tears that came into her eyes.
The letter, in handwriting he knew
ell, bore an African postmark, and
cyan abruptly thus:
1T has struck me lately that it is not
lir that you should be punished for
y fault. I noticed you that day in
ath, and you are the sort of girl who
III take life hard. You probably love
larence Webster; it has been a grief
you to lose him; there Is no neces-
ty. Such love as he is capable of
~ have had, and can have again if
~ wish it. What he felt for me was
erely passing passion, which does
It in any way affect his feeling for
u. You probably think it all terrible
ID shooting, you are only girl.
obablv a tender and foolish one, who ,
Iows nothing of life. II, when you
| tais, you still care for him, tell him !
lat ! have said, and try to believe
at bear you no sort Of ill-will.
Victoria Van Schorer," ! 4
The letter fluttered from his hand. =
d he went and knelt by Lucy.
Can you forgive me, my dear, my
arr"
FOR answer Lucy put her arms about Z
neck Il have been SO miserab!e!"
} said.-Chapman Magazine.
Ispley-But McLeric is not so bad 4
they say; there is a better side of I
4. -. .
what is It?