Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-04

Just as servants change their places-in
order Ito better themselves"-and alas!
that parents encourage this latter-day craze
for the artifciality and glitter of town life
that so often fascinates and spoils a bride
ere the honeymoon is over. The majority
of girls today are not content to marry the
hard-working professional maj whose lot
is cast in the country, but prefer to marry
a man in town, so that they may partake
of the pleasures of theaters, variety and
otherwise, suppers at restaurants, and the
thousand and one attractions provided for
the ~revcller in London. They have OBJ
tanned their knowledge OF life" from the
society papers, and they see no reason why
they should not taste of those pleasures
enjoyed by their wealthier sisters, whose
goings and comings are so carefully chron-
icled. The majority Of girls have a desire
to shine beyond their own sphere; and the
attempt, alas. is accountable for very many
of the unhappy marriages. This may sound
prosy, l know, but the reader will forgive
when he reflects upon the cases in point
which arise to his m-emory-cases OF per-
sonal friends, perhaps even of relations, to
whom marriage was a failure owing TO the
uncomfortable desire on the part OF the
woman to assume a position to which
neither birth nor wealth entitled her.
, To the general rule, however, my love
was an exception. Times without number
had she declared her anxiety to settle in
the country, for being country born and
bred she was an excellent horsewoman, and
in every essential a thorough English girl
OF the grass country, fond OF a run with
either fox or otter hounds; therefore, in
suburban life at Kew she had been entirely
out of her dement,.
In that letter l wrote, composing II slowly
and carefully-for like most medical men
/ am a bad hand at literary composition-I
sought her forgiveness and asked for an
immediate interview. The wisdom Of being
so precipitous never occurred to me-. I only
know that in those night hours over my
pipe I resolved TO forget once and for all
that letter l had discovered among the
dead" mans effects, and determined that
while sought reconciliation with Ethel
wynn l would keep an open and watehful
eye upon Mary and her fellow conspirator.
The suggestion that Ethelwynn. believing
herself forsaken, had accepted the declara-
lions of a man she considered more worthy
than myself dashed me to a frenzy Of mad
ness. He should never have her. whoever
he might be. She had been mine and should
remain so, come what might. l added a
postscript, asking her to wire me permits
sion to travel down to Hereford TO see her
then sealing up the letter l went out along
the Marylebone road and posted IT in the
pillar box, which ! knew was cleared at
o'clock in the morning.
II was then about 3 o'clock, calm but
rather overcast. The Marylebone road hat
at last become hushed In silence. Wagon,
and cabs had both ceased. and save for Z
! solitary policeman here and there the Ions
th~oroughfare so full OF trafic by day wal
utterly deserted. I retraced my step
slowly toward the corner OF Harley street
and was about to open the door Of the hous'
wherein l had "diggings' when heard
light hurried footstep behind me, and turn
ing. confronted the figure OF a slim womaI
Of middle height wearing a golf cape. tn
hood Of which had been thrown over he
head in lieu OF a hat.
Excuse me. sir" she cried in a breath
less voice, but are you DR.. Boyd"
= / replied that such was my name.
"Oh, I'm in such distress" she said. Il
the tone Of one whose heart is full OF an
guish. my poor father!"
1 lis your father me- ! inquired. turnini
from the >O0F and looking full at her.