The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-07

evening, that our ways have strangely
been brought together | have often
wondered what the end might be- l
have not dared to cherish any definite
thought on the subject. Through our
acquaintance l have gradually and un-
consciously learned to trust you and
depend upon your judgment in many
little things you have said. and 1 find
great pleasure and comfort in your So
ciety.
your letters have touched respon-
sive chord and my heart urges me to
yield to your desire. Let us see each
other and talk the matter over together
and have clear understanding.
You said something last evening that
led me to believe you love me and care
for me, and my dear Jimmie you pos
sess my every thought this morning.
Let me ask you to confide in me and
trust me for have never seen my ideal
until 1 met you Let us be together
We can Just as well as not If you say So
Please, dear don't go away. If you do
YOU will only add greater misery to my
already breaking heart After you learn
me to love you as l DO how can you
make me miserable? Never in my whole
life dear, have seen the fellow would
deem worthy of such affections as be-
stow upon you. Under the circum-
stances cannot feel afraid to under
take the responsibility of being your
wife.
Let me assure you of my unchang-
ing love and of my confidence in you.
But my dear Jimmie you do not place
any in me You hurt me when you said
what you did about that ring. l would
not wear that ring for all this state,
but l simply wanted to learn what your
confidence was in me. Never again
could you get that ring on my finger.
No never. When a boy cannot trust
me with sixty dollar ring, he does not
trust me very much. Now, my dear
Jimmie, do not think for one-half
minute you could have got me to have
~ ~~I-k
have happened But that was not il.
1 simply wanted to try you, which did
to my sorrow. But l will say no more
do not want to make you feel bad,
even though I do.
TELLS OF HER LOVE.
Love. my dear. is a great thing to
think about. Never before have 1 felt
its power; never, sweetheart, have 1
been so susceptible to a man as l have
been to you. Never before have / felt
its fullness, greatness and power. Now,
my dear Jimmie, it is all right with you.
The future is what you wish 1t to he.
But remember this: you must love me
more than any one you know. This is a
serious thing to think about. " hat is
a home without love? 1 will tell you
what my opinion is. Dearest, you know
1 have. been experienced in this line and
now allow me this privilege of giving
my honest OGinion of a home without
love oh, my God, deliver me from
ever again having that kind of a home.
Dearest we know there are homes where
poverty has never left its pinch or sick
ness paid its visit: homes where there
is plenty and health in the circle, ana
yet dear where a skeleton more grim
than death haunts the very soul, and an
ache that gnaws sharply at the heart
Why do our shoulders stoop 50 early
ere LIES noon is passed? Why is the
sigh which follows the closing of the
door after the husband is gone a sigh
of relief and that which greets his com
ing footsteps sigh of dread2 l have
thought when in my own home, when I
was married. why was it that was so
nervous when Mr.. Willis came in; why
was It that would press my nervous
hand against my heart and force mer-
ry laugh while l pressed back tear
that would come in spite of all. When
| would get alone. how I have been
when Mr.. Willis was at his sisters and
! how cross he would be. What a miser-
able home it was. 1 have thought how
can ever trust another. For IA months
I was not out of my yard trying to get
along Deaceable- But no. How many
homes have been ruined by lust such q
husband. Oh my dear Jimmie, if we
| could but speak to the husbands that
haunt these homes we could tell them
| that some such soliloquv as the follow
ing is ever passing like a labored
| breath through the distracted minds of
their wives. They say is this what was
promised me before marriage: is this
| the land of promise: is this the land of
milk and honey that was pictured to
my fancy when we were together before
marriage?' The walks among the lanes
and fields and flowers were all too short
| and the whispers were all so loving. the
pressure so fond. and the heartbeat SO
passionatei Ard then sweetheart, have
thought for what have l surrendered
home, youth, beauty. freedom. love- all
that a woman has TO give in all her
wealth of confdence?
TELLS OF MARRIED LIFE.
Il will tell you what l got in return, anC
there are a great many others in my fix
I got harsh tones. cold looks. stern words
short answers, sullen reserve. Tell me
dearest, what more is needed to make
home dark; to poison hope, to turn life
into a funeral; to turn the marriage robe
into a grave cloth and the grave a refuge
Now answer all OF these questions. tel
you it does not take drunkenness, blows
bruises. clenched fists. and oaths to work
sacrilege in the telslple Of the home Dear
only a little ice where the fire SHOULD
glow; only a cold look where love should
shine: only a sheer where there should bt
a smile; only neglect where there SHOULD
be affection. Then how many people say
Husband that wife of yours is wretcheC
because you are a liar; because you per
? jured yourself when you vowed to love
and cherish her. Most men are too grea
, Il coward to beat a woman for fear The
| gallOws will claim them.
Now I have written you a serious let
ter. and you cannot help but see that
am in earnest. But I have said never
again would try married life. But how
, much greater is the affection that link
: together husband AND wife in a holier anC
more enduring passion than the enthus
iasm Of young love. Dearest. it may wan
in gOrgeousness: it may want in imagina
tive character, but it is richer and TRUSTEE
} in its attributes. My dear Jimmie, tall
not to me of absence of love in wedlock
: 1t burns with a steady and brilliant fam
shedding a benign influence upon exist
, ence, think. sweetheart. a million time
more precious than the selfish gratifca
lions of single blessedness. Dear. whel
two are happily married domestic love
: the greatest thing. Who can measure it
heights or its depths? Who can estimat
I its preserving and purifying power.
sends an ever swelling stream of jo
through the household. It binds heart
= ! inin bundle of life II shields fror