The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-07-21
CHAPTER II, CoNrIHus.Dl.,

rs liberty to speak out what she had
never lisped since her mt other died, and
OF being once again, Joy ously and with
1 out reserve, herself. There are no
4 harder specters to lay than these same
dreams. Memories, however dear and
sacred, are more easily forgotten or
dismissed, or smothered BY the growth
Of later ones. If she babe them fare
well now, DIT was for a lifetime. s a
ijfetime!" she repeated, shivering with
q sick chill, and crouching lower over
the register. Maybe ten, maybe
twentywho knows but forty years? It
Is tedious slumber Of ones heart, and
a loyeless marriage is a loathsome sep
ulcher for ones better and real self. A
lifetime! and can have but one! But
one! II this step should be ruin and
misery, there can be no redemption
this side of the grave. His grave, per-
haps-just as probably nine!''= ii 5a..
: Tonight, this very hour, she must
! resist the glittering temptation to fore
swear her womanhood, or murder, with
her own hand, the deartvisions that had
y.1
winter twilight had fallen early. It was
the season best loved by her dream
visitors. She had not lied in de 7laring
to her inquisitor that she had never
been in love, but she confessed
that she had equivocated as
the shadowy figure :. Of her,
ideal lover stood beside her in the
friendly gloom. Mrs. Romai1e would
have questioned her sanity had she
Guessed how the girl had sobbed her
griefs into quiet upon his bosom, how
talked lowly but audibly to him OF her
love and the comfort his presence
brought. She had never looked into
his face, but she should know him in
an instant should they two ever meet
In the flesh, as they did now daily in
spirit. Somewhere in the dim and
blessed future he was waiting for her,
and she had borrowed patience from
the hope. She was to be his wife the
mother Of children as unlike the prodi-
gies of repression that lined two sides
sof her brothers table as cherubs to:
puppets. She welcomed them to her
larms in these twilight frances. They
lolled upon her knees, slept in her en-
brace, strained eager arms about her
neck, dappled her cheek with their
kisses. Unsubstantial possessions
these, but cherished as types of good
things to come. Other women had such
riches-women with faces. less fair and
& =, - 70. re
the Great Father was good and merci-
ful, and the ReWarder Of them who put
their trust in Him, true and loving
parent, who rejoiced in the happiness
of His creatures all these must be
hers at last. II she resigned them now
1t was a final separation. = -
q And Lean have but one lifetime y
she moaned again. Thwarted and fruit
less thus. far, but still all she had.
The one idea required to her with the
persistency of a presentiment. The life
which God had given, the heart He had
endoWcd! .s. $:zS*.@ - =. -.
+, If some one, stronger and wiser than,
4, would only take the responsibility Of
decision from my soul, would hedge me
in on the right and left, I would go
forward. AS it is, I dare not! I dare
not!' She sobbed and wrung her hands
in the agonies of irresolution. 4
& - You told Constance about the tele-
gram?" 1t was her brother speaking in;
the library below. The sound arose
plainly through the open register. q,
7 did. But regret to say that she is
not yet in the frame Of mind we could
wish her to carry to the interview with.
MIR. Withers," said Mrs Romaine. She
always expressed herself with DELHI
crate precision even in conjugal tete-
a-tete. ". r g. .& ~ s.
/ "No?" Constance heard the rustic of
the evening paper as Charles laid it
down, and the creak of his chair as he
confronted his wife. What is the mat
der?'' s ~ = ss5S..s = s.= Fl,
Some overstrained ideas of the beau
ty and propriety Of reciprocal devotion,
i believe. She looks for. a hero in "a
husband, and Mr. Withers has nothing
heroic in his appearance or compost
ton n n "a Il + (. aEs
fGt2t'g55 LIZ Is WI Ia ulUISF IMAM %nal1 a MIL
+ dion, all accumulated by his own tai
ents and industry" returned Mr.. sRo-
4 maine. Constance cannot be such an
egregious simpleton as not to perceive
4 the manifest advantages Of this 5connec-
4 ton to her.ssI have never complained Of
{ the burden Of her maintenance, but I
have often wondered her own sense OF
Justice and expediency did not urge her
tc put forth some effort at self-sup-
i port. There is but one way In which
she can do this. She is not sufficiently
thorough in any branch of literature,
4 or any accomp lishment, to become a
successful teacher. In the event Of my
death or failure in business she would
be driven to the hum Hating resource
of taking In sewing for a livelihood, or
n to seek the more degrading position OF
4 a salesWo roman in a store. Her future
1. has been a source Of much and anxious
thought with B me. This 4 marriage
would hoped. quiet my apprehen-
sions by settling her hand somely in