Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-20

/ u am sorry that must divide the room with
YOU she said, with pretty roll of the r learnt
abroad
At the sound of her voice his brows contracted
tie turned his eyes quickly to her shadowy cor
ner, then MS swiftly averted them.
am in your way" he said, almost sulkily,
know that; but couldn't 90 on in this blind.
ing snow. ! shall Try not to Inconvenience you.
didn't mean that" said Eleanor, sweety
was apologizing for disturbing you"
beg your pardon for making such a mis-
take he said, rather eagerly "I was rude. /
the truth is"
He rose and began walking up and down.
You are not rude" said the pretty voice from
the sbadowy corner; "only nervous-and un'
happy"
The last word was said very low.
Paul wheeled about and looked towards the
corner, with frank surprise on his face.
How do you know that?" he asked
u have eyes," said Eleanor.
81 wish TO heaven ! had?" cried Paul Tive
lost my glasses .and cant see anything; / can't
even see YOU
He looked as if he would like to.
80 much the better said Eleanor. Think
OF me as the priest in the Observation-Disclosures,
but sympathetic Tell me your trouble"
Her heart beat at the audacity of her words.
Paul seemed perplexed.
"It is not usual" he began slowly.
at is not usual, you would say, to con6de ones
private affairs to a strange lady whom one can't
see, in the coffee room of a kentish inn. No,
it is not; but you are not in your usual condition
of mind"
"How do you know that?' he again demanded
ut does not require second-sight." She laugh
ed gently.
He came nearer, back to his own place by the
fire. She was still protected by the shadow and
the hanging lace.
Do you know" he said with some hesitation,
"you reminded me at hrst-that is, your voice
did-of some one who is very dear to me; some
one"-he paused, and his voice broke-"whom l
have offended.
Eleanor's heart leaped The freight showed
her how his face was sharp with trouble, his
head bent on his chest
at is solemn thing to offend one who loves
us, she said gravey
"This person does not love me-" he said. 81
do not wonder"
"How can you be sure of that?"
"roo sure Today's work has finished it all"
Eleanor's throat throbbed painfully.
'NVere you ever married." Paul demanded,
abruptly Forgive the question. l cannot even
see you'll don't know whether you are young
or old--but your voice tells me that you are kind
and do not think impertinent. Were you
ever married?"
eyes" said the voice in the shadow.
He thrust his hand through his hair with
wild, troubled gesture. He was very pale.
Il feel" he said, like man who has done
a great crme-has ruined his life, and almost
finished it. / don't talk to you as man to woman,
but as creature to creature. If | were in my
senses could not tell you these things; tomor-
row [ shall be ashamed but tonight | can only
long for sympathy, and seek it in the stranger
whom chance has thrown in my way. You have
been married. What do you think of mar
riage"
Eleanor smiled behind her screen. "That is
the largest question l have ever been asked in
my life" she said.
81 am not the first to ask it" said Paul.
"Your married lifelong or short-has asked you
the same question every day"
'"rhat is true" answered Eleanor. But we
dare not answer, even to ourselves
He went on eagerly, as though unutterably
glad to be talking: II say that marriage ought
to be happy. Unless man is criminal or
a rake, or dastardly fellow, he ought to be
able to make woman happy"
"Some men, said Eleanor, coldly, "have been
rakes, and dastards, all three, and yet
they have made women happy"
His face froze into panied surprise.
"You believe that?" he cried, with tinge
Of reproof.
"T know it. My husband was an excellent
he made me miserable"
Don't think me too rude but-speaking, you
know creature to creature, for the first and last
time-were you not at all in fault?"
eyes, greatly"
"Ah, I thought So" He looked relieved
Greatly in fault, and my fault was this: from
my wedding day gave up my will in all things,
and took his decisions and opinions for mine"
"Surely that great virtue-the greatest a
wife can possess.
"No, serious vice lost my identity, and
my husband came to believe only in his own
powers of governing. The ruin of the poor mans
character is on my conscience, and it is very
heavy"
She buried her face in her hands, and whether
she were laughing or crying she scarcely knew