Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-09-07

HDON'T say bitter things" said the
J girl. sharply; "they hurt"
by MAY BATEMAN.


more" said the woman.
II was late afternoon. and the lamp
lighter had 1T the lamps in Curzon
street. Beyond. in Piccadilly. thou I
sand lights famed and giared. The roll /
Of the traffic sweiled like the muf- /
fed echo Of distant drum.
At the corner which led upon Hay
Hill. man in rags was begging Of the
foot-passengers who sed the par
row pathway. In Bolton street
womaa's voice. importunate. could be
heard. Mrs. Marchmont withdrew sud
denly from the window sill against
which she had been leaning.
"You think me brutal" she said,
after pause. Perhaps she waited for
a disclaimer. hut nOhe came. II hate
10 see YOU suffer- would like 60 save
you. IL Is a mistake 90 idealize. The
man is very ordinary at best"
"He Is the one mani" the girl an
swered. Her eyes sbone.
"But. Margot. YOU don't suppose that
you are the one woman" broke i'm her
friend. Her voice rang almost pain
fully. "It is a question OF degree
Women give more or less. But the
n y
give is more than such man de-
serves"
You're conventional. after all" the
grii said. smiling easily. Fate had
given such bouutiful gifts 20 her that
she could afford 20 he generous TO her
less fortunate and embittcred sisters.
you're taking the worlds narrow
Judgment. It's not my fault IL I am
rich. I'm glad-in way. II gives us
both opportunity and power. Aud it
may even help him on I'm his career"
Money has uses. obviously" said
her friend. drily. Particularly ia the
case OF penniless Suhaltcrn. whose
single claim 10 distinction lies in the
fact that he has fcathered his nest 60
the hest advantage-st a womau'S cost
am putting this crudely. The main
facts are crude"
Its the stocktaking season Of your
line. and winter Is approaching. You're
buying goods that are only it for sum
mer wear. and one day you Will feel
the cold"
'Am I so little worth loving that a
man cannot love me for mysclf?"
"a mans love. at best. As az worst
Is different from woman'S," said hcI
friend. "Al the elements 90 20 MAX,
up woman's love. whereas. a mans
love is made up OF many elements
Men reveal. and women feel. but mos
women feel once. and most men revea
often. IL in the resurrection IL wer'
asked OF any woman OF our acquaint
ance: Whose husband should he be
how many women In each case would
justly lay claim to that position?'
The girl upon the bed shrank back
"Your experience has been painful.
she said. pitifully. You are iudgin:
him by that. Whatever other men are
he is true and honorable"
"How has he shown ii2 II was n
easy TO love y0u as il was wise. Yo
are on the brink OF mad action. Yo
want TO run away with him, 20 begi
Iife-the intimacy of which you hav
no ccnception-with a stranger Yo
are quarreling with your people; IA
people who have thought for you an
loved YOU for years, for his SAX,
What's his passion worth? A Low
which can't be openly acknowledge
can hardly be called love at all"
The girl waited TRANQUILITY her hand
clasped.
"I love him." she said. "He love
me. o, poor you! Probably You can
realize what this means. Your ow
happiest moments must have bee
spoilt by doubt and misgiving. I don
want TO know If knowledge bring
pain. other men may be false He
the soul of honor and loyalty. I al
not fit to be his wife. The only drea
have about the future is that he wi
some day find out how little / Wa
worth his love. You should hear hi
talk. Till / met him / never unde
stood how much men felt about Il
deeper issues of life. The merei
'feck on the white jars him. Som
Il times he makes me feel quite unr
fined. i choose even my words car
fully now. His face is the index of b
i nature. II isn't only good-hookinx-
it's goodness itself. believe be won
/ physically shrink from anything whis
fell short of his standard"
Her companion rose abruptly. 81
crossed TO the window. In Bolte
street there was the outline OF Il
woman's waiting figure.
"Every nature has its reverse side
she said. God help you when the tru.
Is revealed 10 you. And yet il is Il
only chance of saving you. win v,
come with Jack Arbuthnot and II
tonight? We are going TO the mask,
Il bail"
''Move aside. please. dear"
A woman stood leaning at the ma