The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-18

And TO think that I once called that
creature, Milly Morpeth. my friendl
That l loved her more than a sister!
That l made her my trusted confidante.
opening TO her all the secrets OF my
heart. All. had 1 only known what
IA serpent l was nourshing I'm my bos-
ON, what a serpent 1 was hugging 10
my breast But. alas. we never know
these things until too late! 'Tis only
when the serpent's poisoned fangs are
buried in our fiesh-only when we
writhe meath the fiery ache OF the scor-
pion's sting-that we know ourselves
beguiled, befooled, betrayed. l was for
three years at Girton. | have read
Euripfdes. You remember what he says:
20 Zeus, why hast thou provided for
mortals trusty tokens OF gold which is
spurious, but yet hast set no marks
upon men whereby the true and false
may be distinguished?' The words are
put into Medea's mouth, when she exc
crates the perfdy of Jason--a man. But
the periidy of "A perfidlOus man ~ as
nothing to the perfidy OF perfidious
girl. Language alone would suffice TO
prove il You never heard OF mink
man You must often have known
though heaven grant you have not
known her with such bitter realism as
as / have-a minx-girl. Yes. that with
ering epithet-appropriated 10 the fe-
male sex-implies a very melancholy
truth. We may. however find counter
vailing consolation I'm the term angel"
appropriated also tas far as humanity
goes) TO the male sex. For as your
true girl Will soar 10 heights OF sub
Unity to which no man can rise, 50
your base girl will sink TO the depths
n. Ill A.
ever fall. 'Ts the old story--corruptio
optimi pessima.
But there! | don't want To prose in
TO metaphysical discussion. | had
enough OF that From lecturers at Cir
ton. / simply want To tell you, calmly,
dispassionately, impatiently, the story
of that odious Milly's abominable
treatment OF me, I'm order that. you may
judge whether l am, or am not, tusti-
fled I'm clubbing her a mink.
In the beginning. as | have said Mil
ly Morpeth and l were bosom friends.
Ali how | loved that girl! When we
were together what huggings and kiss
ings and endearments passed between
us! When We were apart, what gush-
ing notes. We, too. had our fancy
names for each other. 1 was Bun: Mil
ly was Puss. Puss? All. yes-Pussy
cat. How many true word Is spoken
in jest. How many n prophecy has
been unconsciously uttered. involun-
tary and darkling, from the days N
Isaiah TO our own time. This Is the
irony OF prophecy; never to be under
stood till after its fulfilment; never To
make It's warning comprenensible Till
after the comprehension of the warn
ing is Of no more use.
III only i had been warned against
that cat Milly I'm time! IL only l had
never poured into her ear the story of
my first love! But how was | TO know
that she was deceiving me? She SEEM
ed simply agog with sympathy. she
was SO glad. She caught me In her
arms and fondled and kissed me,
a dozen times. asking me between each
whether | didn't wish that was from
him And ! blushed and pretended
didn't. But she said size knew | did.
And thought how nice IL was to have
"A friend who could enter into ones
feelings so completely. and express
them for one with sucn tact and SYM
pathy. That was the humiliating part
OF 1t, when | found Milly out. To have
been betrayed by an unworthy friend
was bad enough. But To have thus Civ
en- myself away 10 pretended conf
dante. who was laughing at me in her
sleeve all the time-this, when after
wards thought of 1t, made me literally
SlulIiU Win anu ldSts
member a man once calling at our
house with a collecting book and sad
story OF a poor woman whose husband
had been killed In an accident. and who
had nothing but the clothing on her
back between herself and restitution.
subscription was being raised 10 set
her up with mangle. Would l con-
tribute? | looked at the book. / saw
that the vicar and one or two more had
piN TO
five shillings. But i could only afford
a modest half crown, which i handed
10 the collector. apologizing profusely
for not giving a larger donation. He
said: Don't mention II, miss; any lit
tie sums Is kindly welcome!" So. no
doubt, they were-the wretch. For he
turned out 60 be thieving impostor.
You may imagine. therefore, my feel
nigs of humiliation afterwards, when
recollected how / had actually apollo
gized TO this swindler for only allowing
him To relieve me OF two and siXpence.