The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-08-13
POSE

when she opened them and read the
first one she grew as white as a ghost
and gave a little gasp and pressed her
hand to her heart. All day long she
sat in her room saying nothing, see,
ing nothing, and paying no attention
even to me, but with such a look in
her eyes as l never wish to see in
them again. That night, when The
Man came, she walked quietly into
the room, and as he arose to meet
her, and held out his hands, she placed
the package of letters in them. The
Mans face turned even whiter than
hers.
"1n Gods name, Philomene. where
did you get -these?'' he gasped as he
sank into a chair.
"A messenger brought them to me
this morning,.' she said wearily. 81
do not know who sent them-or why,'
Then she went on bravely: Tell me
| all about them: tell me all about her
Was she-as much to you-did you
love her SO very, very dearly?" she
asked softly. is she dead Or"
mo, no, Philomene. I thought
loved her, but it was not real love-
l know what that is now. But the
story is such miserable one, cannot
bear to tell it, to you. Still, as you
say, you have right to know, and
will tell you all-the whole truth"
Yes, DEAR" said Philomene, "all OF
it, please"
Il met Helen Burnett at a recep.
tion given by an artist friend in Lon.
don. Her wonderful beauty of face
and form caught me, and before l
| knew it I was, as l thought, desper-
ately in love with her. She was an
actress-nOt so great on the stage
as she was off it-as I discovered to
my sorrow. We left London together
and went to Paris-'
You married herr"
"Well-no, not-you see, she had a
husband living somewhere and she
had not yet secured"
A low moan from Philomene caused
spasm of pain to CROSS The Mans
face. He hesitated and then went on.
But intended to marry her just
as soon as l could do so. Then one
day, some kind friend-I never knew
who, but I have blessed him ever
slnce-told her that had reached the
end of my fortune; that was .prac-
tically beggar. When she came to
me and asked me if the report was
true the mist cleared from my eyes,
and l saw her as she really was. To
get rid of her was my only thought,
and so did not deny the rumor, but
allowed her to think that it was true.
Later when she found out that she
had been duped, she was furious at
the loss of her prey, and she swore
she would some day get even with
me. Fearful of what she might do.
sent friend to her with instructions
to buy from her my letters. She sold
them to him for an enormous price
but it seems that she kept a few of
them. She has sent them to you
and-well-and that is all"
Philomene looked at The Mans
haggard face and sweet pity stole
over her own. Then she slipped quiet
ly around behind him and put her
arms around his neck and pressed
her face close to his cheek.
Dearest" she said; Il had thought,
in the way all women love to think,
that l was the One Woman. But it
was foolish of me to think you any
less human than other men-and
women" she added after little
pause. Il know that 1t was only a
mad infatuation that carried you of
your feet-and know now it is ali
thing of the past. love you and !
forgive you. as l know you would
Fv & - sr- ~ ,E '..-, d., Il -. ~, ,5sa$=Ay. T.