The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-07-29


wonder why he did not love her,
arguing that he did not, on the ground
that were it otherwise he could not be
happy without his wife's affection.
1T does not follow that it is because
l do not love him." she said, " for men
have adored women who were indif.
ferent to them. l wonder if he ever
loved"
One day she asked him.
Sidney, did you ever care for
woman?"
Eyes" laughingly, my mother"
mot that, did you ever have "a
first loveY
YES" gravely now, Il have had
first love-"
"She Tilted you, l suppose?
mo"
Then" her voice full of sympathy,
"she is dead"
mo, she is not dead"
The conversation was interrupted
then and was not resumed; but Mrs.
Clarke wondered now why her hus-
band married her, and before she was
well aware Of it, with all the dormant
passion of her nature waking into
| life. she was jealous of his first love.
After awhile she began trying to win
his affection The restraint that Sid
ney put upon himself in those days
was wonderful. His wife was 80 sweet
and gentle, SO tender and Womanly,
so altogether lovable, that having
loved her always, the temptation to
tell her so was almost irresistible But
it was the desire of his life to win her
heart, and understanding her nature
perfectly. he feared to speak too soon.
| and so waited with seeming patience
until the longed for treasure should
be his. At last, Gloria knew what
caused the jealousy that possessed
her. the eagerness to win her nus
bands regard the thrill that shook
every nerve at the touch of his hand.
She loved him. with the love of a
woman who had lived, and suffered.
and learned wisdom; the passion of her
girlhood was the fragrance of the
rose. this was the rose itself. 1t blooms
once only, but the flower is immortal;
the crisis in the lives of these two
came unexpectedly after all. They
were riding home from the theatre.
The play was one in which the hus-
band having married to please his
father. eventually falls in love with
his wife. They were speaking Of it.
Gloria said
"Do you think people ever do fall
in love after marriage"
Sidney replied promptly:
II know it,"
"From experience"
"No. l could not have such an ex.
perience."
Some light they passed just then
flashed full on his wifes face. He saw
that she had grown very pale, but she
asked:
"Why"
He could bear it no longer, and TAX
ing her in his arms, he said:
Because, my darling, always loved
you. | could not learn it after mar
riage. for l worshiped you long be-
fore. Oh, love, tell me it is not in
vain" and the wife Of four years
blushed in the darkness like girl as
she put her arms around her husbands
neck and whispered:
II have loved you ever so long
dear"
Some time afterwards Mrs. Clarke
said:
Tell me about that girl you loved
long ago, Sidney"
"What grip in surprise.
"Have you forgotten, you told me
you had first love; l have wondered
why you did not marry her"
II did"
[ Sidney"
"GIoria"
"You don't mean that-that-" ant
then she stopped, something choke(
her little.
Sidney dropped his paper, got up ant
went over to her. He took her face
: between his hands, and looked dowI
; into the big gray eyes that were shin
ing through tears
my dear wife" he said, "you ar
! the only woman I ever loved. Chap
erone Magazine.
/, A Jap's Different Names.
Hxr~n