Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-07
THE TRAGEDY OF AN IDEAL.
Was Misfortune That He Did Not Find His Married Life Just
What He Expected.

smoked short briars in the street and
talked music. music, music, all night
long. They played-these wretched peo-
ple-played sometimes divinely; but
they bored Stella beyond measure.
Besides, they we're so impossible. A
bishop and his wife lived on the floor
above, *. C. B." below; they must
think them very strange to have such
callers,
Its almost as bad as inviting In the
mysterious musicians who play outside
our windows every night" said Stella
fearfully. Miller stopped bringing his
friends to Ashley gardens.
However with sigh, she was not
musical-that was all. and he always
hated clever women. What II she were
little exigeante in expecting him to
say pretty things to her the whole day
through? It was only because she loved
him so. She was the dearest little girl
in the whole wide world, and he had
spoken like brute to her. He ought
never to have taken her away from her
home; she was only a child; she had
never understood what it involved.
Then sudden wave of passion swept
over him. How could he help HIMSELF
They loved each other; he was SO sure
that he could make her happy. He was
selfish, egotistical, (Mr. Hitler gave a
remorseful little frown), but he thought
Stella would help him to be better.
A perfect wife! Where is perfection in
this world?
And now? A sense OF strangeness
seemed to have come between them.
Suddenly they had drifted far apart
SO far that Hitler, his whole soul burn
ing with fire Of penitence and remorse,
could but sit still and wonder what on
earth to say to her.
The clock licked on. Half an hour,
1t was getting serious. Hitler pulled
himeslf together and plunged nervously.
Anything the matter, Stellar" he in
qured, little stiffly. Dead silence for
a few moments; then white, set face
looked up at him, and hard little voice
made answer
Nothing is the matter. was only
tired"
"Ah, well! l should lie down II were
you" said Hitler, with a vain attempt
at easy sympathy. I'm off for an hour
or so, so you can be quiet for little
bit"
Thank you,' she said, simply.
Hitler rose up hastily; fierce indig-
nation against his utter helplessness
stung and maddened him. But he hes
itated as he reached the door, and stood
there, his hand upon the handle. not
knowing what to do or say.
Certain there's nothing | can do for
you?" he asked at length, awkwardly.
Nothing but leave me. o,
Lal, Lal I think my heart is broken!"
With a sudden cry she had turned to
him, and Hitler surrendered. In an
other moment he was kneeling down be-
side her, her head upon his shoulder,
her hands tightly clasped in his. lie
wondered how he had ever hesitated;
everything seemed so easy now. And
yet there was something different. Was
it Stella had changed?
Il was beast to you" he said des-
perately. And l love you so.
l love you SOL"
She turned away from him little and
looked past him out of the window
across the narrow road. The great
red flats rose up opposite, cherries
wall, to the sullen sky. In the narrow
strip of so-caled garden" trees stood
dejectedly, the last few leaves upon the
branches rustling slowly to the ground
Starved! Everything was starved and
cramped where her restless eyes fell!
Ana the heat, sitting, oppressive, though
it was late autumn!
20, how hate everything she said
with sudden gasp. And it will al
ways be like that! / am married, mar
ried! My whole life is over! o, it's
too horrible to think of. / can't beal
it! l can't, l can't, I hate this dull
street; l hate the great red flats, The
miserable, starved trees! Starved Ok
you hear? Starved, as I am! Starved
of everything that makes life worth liv'