The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-12
Three Confessions: By Clara Morris.

One must never urge n woman 20 con-
fess herself; II you DO she will evade you
and bury the truth out OF sight. It is her
priceless treasure She will not be robbed
of q: she will not sell it: she will not
barter II. But II YOU are an attentive and
sympathetic listener she VIII confer Il upon
you as an Eastern queen confers a prin-
cipality upon a favorite vassaL. Ophella had
chosen 10 confess to me. How well l re-
member her Eordsl
FIRST CONFESSION.
You know my intense nature. You know
! absorb love as the sand absorbs water.
II Is my meat and drink. Without IL I
perish a thousand times. / have had one
day 20 divine ecstacy. Listen, II L. Easter.
The weather Is exceptionally fine. I have
a dress which Is n miracle Of handiwork.
and fits 70 perfection ! have parasol and
hat to match. My entire outfit IL an inspi-
ration ! know thPt nothing Is licking. I
feel the exquisite physical joy that one
feels when she Is graceful. she cannot help
Il. II is the enthusiasm OF conscious mus
cleS that have attained perfect develop
ment. / feel religious I cannot stop with
In doors on such a day. l resolve 20 attend
church. and to attend the Church Of ST.
Anthony Of the Desert ! select that church
for several reasons. II Is Gothic: its stained
glass IL a combination OF three tints best
suited 10 my complexion: its choir Is the
largest In the city. one sees only the best
people there, and one cannot avoid feeling
deeply religious; the uphOlsteFing is a tri-
umph OF ecclesiology: the velvet trimmings
Of a deep clerical crimson. are enough to
melt the hardest heart. As I enter the
vestibule I hear the throb OF the organ; I
hear the click Of my boot heels on the blue
tiles; I am conscious Of the presence OF
several gentlemen who regard me with in
terest as l pass: I feel their eyes upon my
Mknanr a.a .aarn. 49, aka~~HHa-. - -.
back Is turned. I bow my head and enter
the sanctuary; an usher leads me 10 n pew
near the altar. then goes down the aisle
and whispers TO two or three youths near
the door. Ali this l see without being
conscious Of looking. The organ ulavS soft-
y-low notes that make the afr tremble.
high notes Ike far-away flutes breathed
into by angles. 1 see a gorgeous trio gazing
at me and specializing as TO my Identity. I
pat my elbow on edge Of pew and lean pen
sively on hand Graceful pOse-throws out
throat and wrist curves. I look al gorge
Gus trio dreamily-al captured at one fel
sWoop.
Enter Very Revered - from vestry:
prays devoutly in most becoming robes: all
pray devOutly; more organ; haxen-haired
chOristers with rosebud mouths look like
chanting cherubs. The robust bass does
lovely solo, he always sings with tremend-
Gus passion and stirs me up-sings hymn OF
praise TO his Maker as II Il were a 70
nance de ramOur TO his mistress. Result: I
feel madly IN love with somebody. don't
know who. I sit and dream to music.
Enter some one, who sits near me. I am
provoked that he. she OF Il should dare TO
disturb my delicious reverie. Keep my pose
with back turned. During pause In service
the PsalteF Is given out. Have no book
don't use any: know the whole thing by
heart. A low voice whispers: Pardon me-
! turn suddenly. and. behold the hero I've
been signing for all these weary. empty and
Improbable months Is at my side. Offering
with graceful elegance his prHyer-book. /
had rather Il were his hand and heart. for I
am surely in love on the lnstant-splendid
figure. divine mouth. beautiful hands. Am
conscious OF nothing else; saw a strange.
dreamy fascination which he seems to -ex-
hale as a flower does perfume. A Jasmine
or n IL a tuberose7-in his lapel. II may
help TO heighten the ilusiOn-dOn't know.
don't care. shall adore that pallid flower
henceforth and forever. Awake from my
dream 10 a reality sweeter than any dream:
doesn't 10 last forever. when I've been 50
starved OF late. and this is an ambrosial
feast2 I must not forget n long. dark mus
tache. a faultless Eet-up. a man superbty
handsome and ~sinRulRriy graceful. The
music goes on. I look az him furtively. He
saw me all over in the ten minutes I sat
with my back turned. I am as f~auitIess as
he. We hold the book together: il Is an
intense moment. Our arms touch-we can't
help IL. Little shivers run mine TO the
shoulder and down to the finger tips. Don't
know how he feels. but when Il Is all over
the organ plays some heavenly thing.
rises and passes out first. waiting at
pew entrance for me to precede him down
the aisle As he waits I approach him very
closely and our eyes meet. His say: Il
adore youf" Mine say: Il want to be
adoredF' ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I knew