The evening Republican., 1902-09-30
[ICAN, SEPTEMBER 1902
Anp her hair, Sne was preparing y

go to a ball.
Starzey l, had to wait long in the
dining-room and listen to her fathers
Jokes and anecdotes. which bored and
irritated him painfully. After sleep
less night, he now felt as though in
toxicated with something sweet and
pleasant. He waited for Catherine
with bated breath. Finally, when she
appeared, charming and graceful, in
her evening dress, Starzey was so
oyerjoyed that he could not utter n
word--he only gazed at her and
laughed. "It is so late already" she
remarked, looking at the clock, and
she bade him good night" But
Starzey followed her, saying that it
was time for him to go home, as pa
tients were waiting for him there.
"rhe club is on my way-may l take
you over there in my carriage? he
asked timidly.
"Very WELL" consented Catherine.
1t was dreary, rainy night. Cath
crime and the doctor boarded the car
riage and started off to the club.
81 was at the cemetery last night"
began Starzey. 1T wasn't at all KIND
of you to-
"Were you really thcre?"
"Of course | was there, and waited
till two o'clock in the morning. suf-
fered--"
SIT serves you right-yon may suf-
fer if you can't understand a joke"
Satisfied that she played such a
fine trick on the doctor, and that she
was loved so passionately, Catherine
burst into laughter, and suddenly
screamed with fright as the horses
made sharp turn into the gates
of the club. When Catherine leaned
slightly toward Starkey. he clasped
his arms around her waist and kissed
her on the lips and on the chin, and
then held her in firmer grasp.
"Enongh!" said Catherine dryly.
A moment later she was out of the
carriage. Starzcy hurried home, but
returned within half an hour. Dressed
in hired frock coat and white
tie. which was for ever getting the
best of his collar, he sat in the club
at midnight and spoke to Catherine
with all the fiery passion he could
muster. "Oh, how little they know
who never loved. 1t seems to me that
no one has ever properly described
Iove-it is indeed impossible to de-
scribe that gentle, joyous, sweet, yet
often painful feeling, but he who has
experienced it will not venture to de-
scribe it. But what is the use Of SUI
perAuous cloquencc! My love is lin
tless....I beg, implore you,' he ex-
claimed, ''be my wife!"
"Mr. Starzey," said Catherine, after
a brief pause, very serious express
sion on hev face--"Mr. Starzey, / am
very thankful to you for the honor;
! respect you, but...." She rose,
and resumed, standing. 'but you must
pardon me, | cannot be your wife.
Let us speak seriously. Mr.. Starzey,
you know that | love art above all
else in life: love, ! adore music, l
have devoted all my life to it. I
want to be an artist; ] want fame,
triumphs, and you would like me to
live in this provincial town, to con-
tinuc this empty. useless life which
has become unbearblc to me. To be
your wife--oh, no, l beg your par
don! One should always strive to at
tain the highest and most brilliant
goal, while married life would only
bind me forever. Mr.. Starzey, you
are a kind, noble, sensible man, you
are better than any one | know....
Tears gathered in her eyes. Il SYM
pathize with you,. but You UNDER
stand me; | cannot" And in order
not to burst into tears, she turned
and walked away from him.
Starzey's heart was beating fast.
On leaving the club he first of all
tore off and flung the cravat which
was choking him. He felt ashamed
because his sclf-respect had thus
been humiliatcd; he did not expect
rejection, and he could not believe
that all his dreams and tornents
and hopes led up to so ridiculous an
ending. And he was so sorry for
his wasted love that he felt like cry
ing.
For three days he could do nothing
he could not eat or sleep--but when
he learned that Catherine had gone
to Moscow to study music, he calmed
down and his life flowed on peace
fully.
Four years went by. Starzcy was
by this time very popular physi-
clan, with large practice in the city.
One beautiful morning he received
a letter from the Turkins, in which
he was requested to call without fail
in the evening. There was post
cript in the note which read: II also
invite you TO come, Catherine"
In the evening Starzcy went up to
their house.
"You never come to see mo, doc
tor" said the hostess with re-
pronchful smile. "Of course, am too
old to interest you, but my daughter
may be more fortunate. She has just
returned from Moscow"
Though Catherine had grown thin
ner and paler, she still looked bcauti-
full and graceful. But the doctor no.
ticed that the former expression of
childish naivetc was no more. There
was something timid and guilty about
her manners, as though she felt her
self out of place here in her own
home
"lIow do you do?" she said, shaking
his hand and regarding him stead
fastly and eagerly. slow stout you
have grown, how manly! But on the
whole Won seem tn have CHANGED