The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-08-05
An On0ercurrent.
BY Florella Estes.


The womans voice, hot and bitter:
you talk of unkind thoughts! You
talk of cruel blowl think you have
forgotten who struck that blow"
The mans voice, firmly: 1T was not
|, surely"
The womans voice, as firmly: 1T
certainly was not l."
The mans voice, excitedly: What
do you mean, Dolly? l don't under
stand. In Gods name, don't you call it
a cruel deed for you to have married
another man the day before reached
home, after two years in Europe, when
you Hnow how much l loved you, and
that | had worked hard those long
years, buoyed up by my faith in you,
and the thought that you were to be
my reward-my wife? Don't you call
that a cruel blow. Don't? My God! l
was nearly crazed!"
The woman's voice, frantic with
pain: stop, you shall not talk so to
me. 1t was you who were faithless. Do
you think | did not know of your let
ters and gifts to Kate Oakes? Every
one in our set knew, for she boasted of
your devotion to her. Oh, my heart
was broken, and my pride hurt beyond
endurance! And when Mr.. Van Ness
asked me to marry him, | was glad
glad although | did not love him-for
as his wife no one would ever know
how you had hurt me. And six months
later you married Kate
Silence, broken only by a Quivering
sob.
The mans voice, slow and dazed:
my letters to Kate! My gifts to Kate!
There was mistake somewhere. Why,
Dolly, surely Kate gave you all the let
ters and gifts | sent her? You remem-
ber your father was displeased because
| would not study law. and when l
went to Germany to complete my
studies, he made us promise that we
would not write to each other during
my absence, hoping our love would
die of silence and separation. l kept
the letter of my promise, but not the
spirit; | could not write to you, but
| did write to Kate for you. She was
such friend to us both, and she knew
our situation. / believed / could trust
-" A pause, then slowly: Dolly, Kate
is my wife,
A long silence, then the woman's
voice, sweet, tender, almost joyous:
do you know, Jack, love this bit
of rocky coast better than any other
spot on earth! Nowhere else in all the
81
look at the sky now! That perfect
glory of color would drive Turner mad
with despair.
DO you remember the first summer
| you came down here with Tom? You
were Q. big, handsome college boy, and
l was a spoiled child, who would go
everywhere with you and Tom. You
were so good to me always, and so pa
tient. Do you remember how we used
to fish from that level rock down close
to the sea? You used to carry me in
your arms over all the rough places.
"You came here every summer after
that" The voice became low and sad:
And when Tom died-I was sixteen
then-you came down here TO comfort
L
but Tom. Pa was so cold and stern
that | coulo not love him. Do you re-
member how begged you to be my
brother in Toms placer"
Silence. The woman's voice, clear
and happy: And two years after
came the best summer of all, when
you know what happened, and we plan
ned your future, and talked of the
name and fame you would win / was
so proud of you, and we were very hap
py, and"
The mans voice, hoarsely: Don't
Dolly! For Gods sake, don't! | can't
bear it. If only had known!"
The woman's voice, ineffably tender:
1T doesn't matter so much, now that
we know, Jack. You did love me, and
you were true to me? Say 1t again.
Jack. 1t can't be wrong for you to tell
me that you loved me before!"
The man1 voice. brokenly: Loved
you. Dolly. little sweetheart! Did
love you? oh, Dolly, have always"
The woman's voice, quickly: mo
no, Jack! We have no right no. But
it won't be SO hard to bear, now we
know, and life is not SO very long, and
perhaps, sometime-somewhere--" A
little catching sob.
The mans voice deep, tender, trem-
ulous: God bless you, little sweet
heart! God help us both!"
The gorgeous crimson and yellow of
the sunset had faded to dull purple,
and twilight had fallen on sea and
land. The fretful voice of the sea had
grown soft and slumbrous with the