The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-29
TWO OF THEM.


II vas almost midnight. She had dark
ened the room and was kneeling by the
window looking out over the city. Tae
Capitol glimmered in the distance. The
countless lights and Snow topped houses
made it look like great Christmas card.
She was wondering if ne was tn linking
OF her. Perhaps he too, was looking out
into the night. Oh how she loved HIM
She stretched ont her hands with pitt nj
little gesture then remembering. c asped
them tightly. That last letter, written
over "a week ago, It was so cod, 80 for
mal-and not one word since But he was
busy or worried. he would write tomoT-
row. Ies-yes, he would writ tomorro -
She was sure that he would. And then
she bowed her head on the ~inGoNshI
and burst into tears. sickenins sense
of desoIation swept over her. Fo. houss
she kneit there sobbing bitterly; at length.
exhausted, fell asleep.
The moon. looking down at her through
the window, smiled cynicaliy; looked
again. smiled pitifuily. and hid its face
behind a cloud.
Yes. he knew that his letters were
growing less frequent and more formal.
1t was really quite a bother to write TO
her; strange he had never thought 80 be-
fore. But then he was in love, and now
WELL now he was not. He was rather
sorry; she was a nice little thing; too bad.
he should have grown tired of her so soon-
But then his family had got wind of it
somehow-one of her letters-and the
whole thing came out They made it pref
ty uncomfortable for him for awhile. Said
all sorts of things about "a man OF his age
and position so far forgetting himself as 10
become involved with some common, hor-
rible woman He didn't like to hear them
call her names. She was really a good lit
tie girl, or had been until he made her
otherwise. But then, of course, he couldn't
stand up for her; under the circumstances
no man could be expected to do that. So
he let them think she was bad and shame
less, and for the sake OF peace promised
TO have nothing to do with her in the fu-
ture.
And perhaps he had better keep the
promise for after all the game wasn't
worth the candle. few hours OF her So
ciety would not pay for all this worry. NO,
decidedly not; he could not afford TO have
any more family rows. He must break
with her; but how? She was such queer
little thing. high strung and sensitive. IN
like other women. He didn't know how she
would take il. The worst OF II was that
she loved him. He felt rather like brute
to love him. He wondered if she would
reproach him with the promises he had
made to love and be true to her always
But then a man makes a great many prom
ises when he is in love; no one should ex-
pect him TO live up to them. She ought TO
have sense enough to know that a man
never cares for a woman like that that
long-six months or a year. at the most.
Yes, he had been quite fool about her
for a time But she was young and pure,
and he wanted her. She resisted at first.
but she was all alone among strangers in
q strange city. She was hungry for kind
ness and love; he offered both, and at last
she yielded
He had been very happy for while 1t
was wonderful 10 watch her develop, TO
know that he was teaching her what life
and love meant, and that she was learn
ing to love him with all the strength OF
her newborn womanhood. Yes. he had
been strangely happy, he seemed to grow
almost young again. The dependency
and ennui OF old age vanished. Flooded
with the love of this young girl, life held
for him new charm.
And, now? Well now this trouble with
his family mad cured him of ali romance.
Strange what difference it had made in
his feelings for her. But how was he TO
tell her so? II he only knew how she
would take it. But she was intense, emo
tional. (hysterical he called it,. In her
grief she might resort to chloroform. That
would we awkward. He didn't care to fig
ure in a scandal case. The papers would
be full of il. No. that would never do.
he must rig plan to prevent that He
must use diplomacy He would not let
her know at onee-but gradually. He
would put 1t on a high moral platform;
tell her that he had begun to realize that
her love was wrong, that it could only
bring unhappiness and disgrace to her.
That she must try to forget him TO think
of him only as friend.
OF course he would do the right thing by
her; he was not a cad. He would look
after her until he could get her position
in some library; see that she was estab-
lished comfortably, and then leave her.
telling her that he hoped she would be
happy and that if she was ever in trouble
he would always be her friend.
Yes, that would be very plausible end
ing He congratulated himself that it was
well planned. He rehearsed the speech
about hoping she would be happy, and be-
ing always her friend. II seemed to please
him. He was rather prone to making
speeches like that. They sounded mag
unanimous. He always prided himself on
being magnanimous, on not being little
man Most women were impressed with
his importance and dignity. but somehow
she never was Strange, wasn't it? For
she was only an insignificant little girl,
but though she loved him she never seemed
to realize his superiority. 1t had always
rather irritated him. And now. Well now
it didn't matter.
He whistled softly to himself and went
out 10 look at the dogs. He was going
shooting tomorrow. He hoped it wouldn't
rain.