Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-24

questions. You are living legally
from your wife, but you are
not divorced, and you never will be by
your own consent, for her father is
paying you to behave YOURSELF
"'There has been no marriage here
said my husband. Don't say any
thing. This is a mere freak of mine.
I'll make it right with you If you'll
keep quiet
"'You le,' said the doctor, and then,
Am too late to save her?
"My husband answered Yes Brenda,
how Is it possible for human being
to utter a falsehood like that? I was
no more 70 him than you are except
that I had promised before God to bc
his wife. And the doctor looked him
in the eyes moment and then struck
him across the face with the back OF
his open hand and went out Of tho
room.
"My husband came to the curtains
and looked in; then he approached the
bed, and l groaned as loud as | could.
At that he seemed to lose his wits. He
ran around the room aimlessly and at
last snatched his hat from the floor
and rushed out. l suppose he was CO.
ing for another doctor.
"Whcn he was gone, invented an
errand and sent the woman away. Then
l got up and dressed. l don't know
how 1t was possible for me to do it,
but l seemed to be as light as a fcath-
er. got out Of the hotel easily enough
l had not money enough for a sleeper,
so l rode in day coach all the way 20
New York, but my mind was in
thousand places, and some of them
were beautiful, and l was happy there,
and again was in terror and pain.
when left the train at Jersey City,
my head was bursting upon my Shout
ders and the air was fire. Honestly,
Brenda, when the ferryboat ran into
the slip on this side, l thought it was
the mouth Of the Internal regions. 1t
looked like great cave full of flames
and it seemed that 1 was being crushed
and thrust into 1t. Yet 1 must have
had some part OF my senses, for 1
found cab and gave the driver my
address. And so I came home from
my wedding journey, Brenda. l let
myself in with my key, and the people
in the house never knew that l had
been away that night. They found
me I'll and got a doctor for me, and be-
fore the day was over l was nearly
ali ha I
en- some sort of ghing-what do they
call til always think Of tomatoes"
"Ptomaines," said Brenda. "Oh, you
poor child you poor, wretched, lucky
little Elsie am so glad. so gladw
would you believe" said Elsie,
that that man tried to get my heart
back again. to plead his cause with me?
Well, he did, and, though I had peace
for quite a long time, of late l have
been much annoyed by him. You can
understand now why Clarence Alden $
love was torture to me. why - well,
why l bought the picture Of Tantalus
to look at Brenda. Oh, love him,
heart that I can never have! He is
everything want, Brenda.
But why in the name of all martyr
dom should you hesitate to tell this sto-
~ to him. exclaimed Brenda. What
bar can it be to your marriage"
zone day." said Elsie slowly, when
I was beginning to love Clarence so
that my heart sang of him all the time.
l was walking on Broadway and had
stopped to look in Ut n jewelers. win
dow. And I glanced up, and Clarence
was coming down the street with that
doctor!'
THE one who attended you in Phil
adclphiaY"
YES" said Elsie. "They were laugh
ing and talking together, and l shrank
into a doorway and died of shame as
they passed. Suppose they had seen
me-?
II think no harm would have come Of
it," said Brenda.
Suppose l married Clarence and we
should meet him them"
But, my dear" exclaimed Brenda,
take the widest possible supposition.
Say that this doctor believed the worst
and told it to Clarence and lived to
finish the story, which unless he is
Samson leinearnated is not possible. it
would make no difference. Unless Clar-
ence can believe you absolutely against
every other voice in the world, you
don't want to marry him anyway"
"You don't know men," said Elsie,
shaking her head. zone little doubt,
and there is misery for lifetime. l
heard Clarence speak once of woman
who had gone wrong. 1t frightened my
bones until they turned to dust in my
body"
But, Elsie, you haven't done any
wrong" pleaded Brenda. You were
cruelty deceived
II no more than the Others" replied
Elsie. every woman who goes wrong
Is deceived, or there would be no wrong.
The point Is, Brenda, that that is not
the way to get married. No really good
girl ever does such a thing. | should
have had my mother and my friends to
see me make my VOW. That is the only
right way; your way, Brenda, the way
of your world. And, besides, l haven't
told you all. am really his wife,"
what do you mean?"
"IIis wife from whom he was sepa.
rated was abroad at the time" said
Elsie. "She died two days before my
marriage. That's why l called him