The Meeker herald., 1901-08-31

Martha Dubreuil said this in a tom
malt railing and half testing.
Pierre raised his head without an
Awering and twitched neryously tn,
page blackened by ink. 1t was tn,
twentieth time at least that his wifi
had made such remarks, and what
was worse, he realized sorrowfully
that she spoke the truth.
Once he had written q book of which
he had been proud, a novel launched
timidly by publisher who made him
pay the coat of publication. That wal
an hour of ambitious dreams, LONG
since dissipated by the grim reality.
II will amount to something in the
world" he had said resolutely. And
he believed it as did those who ad.
mired him-which is to say his mt her,
his sister and some of his friends who
read the book. Martha, his wife, was
not one of these admirers. She told
him frankly again and again: "You
Will amount to nothing"
He had no answer to make to Mar
tha's sneers. and he suffered kcenly in
recalling the lucky days when they
walked together as lovers along paths
bordered by flowers and they made
VOWS to each other and kissed. "You
will be great man, my darling" she
had said then.
Pierre believed that he had been
faithless in not keeping his promise of
greatness made -four years before.
She had brought him her youth and
peauty, and he ought to have given he,
Il exchange TIA literary fame she had
expected, and have earned fortune
= for her By his psn. But now she had
abandoned thoAa ,Nharishsd dreams Of
todsot4S e3sEy. X X. III; n
The poor renew recalled tbe happy
Gags that had preceded their marriage,
and the delights o. their companion
ship during their honey moon. And he
answered to her tdunt:
$50 much the worse, my dear. But
I'VE love each other. and that Is enough"
He would not have cared for the plaud-
its Of the crowd If he had had the love
OF Martha. But she broke into laugh
ter that froze his feeble smile.
"Oh, yes, indeed. That's well
enough. One can't live on love. It is all
vefy well to say SO in the novels you
write-or count on writing-buti in real
life things are different"
When summer came they went to
the seashore, Pierre securing an APP
poihtment as the resort correspondent
Of : newspaper. When he told her that
they were going, she said: "Ah, you
IRE nice husband, after ALL" And she
smiled, but the smile was given ~ in
Alms.
At the seashore she was soon the
belle Of the place, and people forgot
about her husband, the reporter, who
temained in the shade. Some men were
With her much of the time. and gossip
linked her name with that of wealthy
dlsf. Pierre ventured to speak of 1t.
what of it?" she asked. 1.-THE man
lmuses me with his compliments. You
fnew that am an honest woman.
3ut I need amusement" ~
Dubreui1's sufferings were intense.
The thought of that imbecilS who !
vas ever at Martha's side bruised his :
leart. He wanted to strangle him In :
he crowded ballroom; and longed :,
or . duel. But the man was infiu- :
initial aud . litterateur of renown. :
duel between them would have I
'een grotesque and useless.
The count deigned to interest him
elf . little in Pierre.
"tet us write a piece, my young /.
riehd," said he, "and I will give you
A man has talent. :,
rheh he has the sense to win . wife :,
8 pretty a. yours"
ayes, Pierre, why haven't you some Il
hing on hand" said his wife. n,
One evening when he was in the "
tile room, he seated himself at his Il
rork table, while his wife, who had p,
aneed too much, slept peacefully. IL
[e rested his head on his hands and 81
bought sadly: eyes, Martha's love b,
" me has passed." q,
White paper was in front Of him. il
was one Of those silent nights that
.npt + writer, 4 night Of stars and b.
ience. n
II will Try 70 work." he unused. d
Feverishly he took up his pen. He 10
r6te Of things and thoughts such re,
} he Had in his heart, speaking of te,
e happy past and the chagrin Of the !
esent, Of charming memories and nu
e painful reality. All night he an
orked upon hi work o. Ire and tn,
lotion.
up already, Pierre?" exclaimed Te
artha when she opened her pretty
e. In the mssnfhg. "At what are -,
. working. my early bird?" -
what difference does It maker" no
d he, coldly. "You know well thai .oi
in capable Of nothing" ae''