The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-15

Now that she Is at home again, hnd ner
lost as unwilling TO enter into details OF
the subject OF her married life, as hau
previously found her all through the tlme
OF our separation, when we could ohly
communicate with each other by writing
Al the first approach made 10 the for
hidden topic she put her hands on my
lips. with a look and gesture which fouch-
ingly. almost painfully, recalled 10 my
memory the days OF her girlhood and the
happy, bygone time when there were no
secrets between us.
whenever you and | are together,
Marian" she said. I'VE shall both be hap
pier and easier with each other, II We \
accept my married life for what IL rs, and /
say and think as little about 1t as pos
sible.
II would tell you everything, darling
about myself" she went on, nervously
buckling and unbuckling the ribbon
round my waist IF my condolences /
could only end there But they could not
they would lead me into commences
about my husband, too; ana now am
married, | think / had better aVoid
them, for his sake, and for your sake
and for mine / don't say that they
would distress you, or distress me-
wouldn't have you think that for the
world. But--I want 10 be so HAPPY, now
1 have got you back again. and want
you 10 be so happy too" She broke OFT
abruptly. and looked round the room, my
own sltting-room, In which We were talk-
ing. "Ah" she cried, clappng her hands
with a bright smile OF recognition, an
other old friend found already, Your
bookcase, Marian-your dear little shao-
by old satin wood ook-case-how glad !
am YOU brought il with you from Linn
meridge. And the horrd, heavy, mans
umbrella. that you always would Walk
out with when II rainedl And, hrst ana
! foremost Of all, your own dear. dark
| clever. gypsy face. looking q me just as
usual. II Is so like home again 10 be
! here How can we make II more ike
home still? | will pat my fathers por-
trait in your room instead of In mine
| and | will keep all my little treasures
| from Llmmeridge here-and we Will pass
| hours and hours every day with these
| four friendly walls round us. oh. Mari
an" she said suddenly seating herser
| on a footstool az my knees. and looking
up earnestly in my face. promise YOU
will never marry. and leave me. II is sell
lsh TO say so. but you are so much pet
ter off as a single woman-lnless--unless
YOU are very fond OF your husoand-nit
YOU won't be very fond of ANYBODY but
me. will you?" She stopped again. cross
ed my hands on my lap, and laid her
face on them. Have you been writing
many letters and receiving many letters,
| lately?" she asked in low. suddenly alter
ed tones | understood what the question
meant: but | thought II my duty not 10
encourage her by meeting her halfway.
: Have YOU heard from him." she went
on, coaxing me to forgive the more direct
> appeal on which she now ventured, by
Z kissing my hands, upon which her race
still rested. "Is he well and happy. gettnt
on In his profession? Has he recovered
himself-and forgotten me?'
d, She should not have asked those cues
tions She should have remembered hel
] | own resolution, on the morning when 81
Percival held her to her marriage en-
| gagement, and when she resigned th'
book OF Hartrghts drawings into my
hands forever. But. ah. me! where is I'M
I faultless human creature who can perse
we're I'm a good resolution without some
times failing and falling back? Where u
the woman who has ever really torn iron
her heart the image that has been ono
| fixed in IL by a true love? Books tell Vi
that such unearthly creatures have exist
7 ! ed: but what does our own eXperlenc
/ say in answer TO books?
| made no attempt TO demonstrate witt
. her, perhaps because ] sincerely appre
!, ciated the fearless candor which let m
. see what other women in her position
9 might have had reasons for concealin
even from their dearest friends-perhap
: because | felt. in my own heart ana con
u science. that. in her place. should nav
u asked the same questions and had IN
same thoughts. All l could honestly q
a was TO reply that had not written I
! him or heard from him lately, and the
& 10 turn the conversation TO less dangerou
topics.
There has been much TO sadden me
our interview-my first confidential intel
> view with her since her return. TT
- change which her marriage has producs
- in our relations toward each other, I
n placing a forbidden subject between I
-, for the first time in our lives, the melal
% choly conviction OF the dearth OF a
~ warmth of feeling. OF all close sympath
III between her husband and herself Wink
IL her own unwilling words now force on N
US mind: the distressing discovery that q
influence OF that Inflated attachment 81
vn remains (no matter how innocently, nc
ELI harmlessly) rooted as deeply as ever
her heart-all these are disclosures 10 sa
NO den any woman who loves her as dear
ne and feels for her as acutely as | do.
ne, There is only one consolation TO
no against them-a consolation that ought
zee comfort me, and that does comfort n
las All the graces and gentleness Of her che
ful acter: all the frank affection OF her u
ct ture, all the sweet, simple, woman
hts charms which used to make her the "a
mo ling and delight cf every one who Q
Old preached her. have come back 10 me W
or herself or my other impressions /
ias | sometimes a little inclined to doubt
"A this last best hnppiest OF all impressio
~ 7 grow more and more certain every nc
ol i'm the day.
" (To be continued