Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-09-07
HER HEARTS TENANT
BIZ FLORENCE HAMILTON RAN.
DIAL.

never even saw you D6fOFS you loon EOs-
session of my rooms"
But the New Tenant, who had grown
familiar Of late, was equally insistert
to the contrary. Il ncverierget a heart,
though l don't always recognize faces,
he said. ''T1l admit your rocr-s lave
changed, if you He, since | locked at
them before, but | once k1cw these
quarters well, and have not fcrgotteu
how bright and sunny they were"
But this is SO stupid Of you" said
the Girl. "Ill confess | an very much
interested in you jist now, and have
been for some weeks. bat II | had known
you before. long ago, l could not have
forgotten the fact"
"Ah, but you persist In thinking of
appearances and faces" said the New
Acquaintance. Cant you look
deeper"
She gazed at him lcng and steadily.
"You do remind me of come one" she
said. at last, "but some one l should
never then have dreamed might turn
out to be you"
because you would not know me
then" he said, reproachfully. you
drove me away, put me out of your
life, disowned me. You declared |
thrust myself on you, hurt your pride,
lowered your self-rsspect-and you
shut your door in my face, in short.
All, l see you are beginning to remem-
Der! Yet / vas l when you did not
care to continue my acquaintance-just
as much then as now, when you think
me a fit person to associate with; it Is
only circumstances that have changed
Well, you would have nothing to do
with me, and though some think me a
pushing individual, often coming when
not wanted. | respected your wishes.
and went. That was because | had
not known you long enough to make
you feef my power. Now 1t is differ
emit; you could not send me away to-
day. could you?Anow when you have
nothing against my character, when the
barriers of conventionality are broken
could you send me away in polite
dismissal. and tear up the lease?"
NO" said the Girl, family. mot
now"
But what If 1t be just as bad for
you to know me as before? What If
the barrier which you thought broken
still exists?"
How a you torture me SOP" she
cried. "Ycu know 1t is not true. His
wife is deac-is d~ead--and l am only
learning to live. You have often told
me that"
But suppose that was acruel prank
fate played, and that you are not free
to choose your acquaintance as you
wizi,-I am still an outlaw should
ftiil be forbidden to rest In your heart.
Will you drive me out again, now, when
you know me?1 US 56i 4
The Girl hid her face in her hands, g
face from which all happiness had de-
parted. NO" she moaned; you will
have to stay and be my lifelong punish
ment and solace. cannot let you go. l
know your power If | never did before
why, oh, why did | ever let you into my
heart? 1t is a sin for you to stay?"
was it q sin to harbor me those last
few weeks, them" he asked.
mo" she said, for | thought
thought"
THAT he was free? Poor child! Yet
who a blame mi or you? | am selfish,
| admit. I do not stop to think whether
1t is better for the lessee when | want
shelter. must live. must have house
room. pay my rent. Who says | dc
not give good measure for all l owe?
So many happy thoughts and days of de-
lightful reverie. Surely / am worth my
lodging when l ask so little in return
The Girl paced up and down the floor
In her misery.
"You ask my ALI" she cried. why
oh, why, did / let you in?"
"You did not know me-" he said.
1T was not your own fault"
She turned ON him fiercely. "You
may have houseroom,p she said. But
1t will be only that, you understand?
A room shall be yours under lock and
key. but l, shall be your warder, and
l will never let you QUIT"
"As you will" said he, ''for | know
you mean what you say, and after all, /
can only do what you will let me. But
take care that | do not fare badly. If
you give me nothing to eat, the walls of
your heart will yield me s~ustenance.'
"You shall s~tarve!' she cried. You
may eat my heart out If you will"
The Tenant eyed her pityingly as lie
retreated to his barred chamber.
you are so brave" he said, land
you might SO easily spare yourself all
this. There is no more wrong in har-
me now than before, Is there?
| am no worse character than 1 was;
again 1t is only circumstances that
have changed. Well. we won't go over
the whole argument again. 1t is a.
drawn battle SO far, and we shall see
who will win in the end"
And neither the Man nor the World
knew of the prisoned Tenant, and they
deemed that her heart had small house
- - nyHr