The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-08-19
Double Trouble, By Herbert Quick

Clearly. II seemed. ne ought 10 open
and examine these letters. They
might serve 10 clear up this mystery.
lie would begin with this.
My darlingi" Il began. without any
other form OF address-and was not
this enough. beIoved?-'Bdy own darl-
ing. I write this 50 that you may
have something OF me. which you can
see and touch and kiss as you are
borne farther and farther from me.
Distance Unbridged 10 such z terrible
thing-any long distance; and more
than our hands may reach and clasp
across Is interstellRr space 20 me. You
said last night that ell beauty, all
sweetness. ell things deiectabls and en-
ticing and fair. all things which allure
and enrapture. are 90 bound up in 1T
tie me- that surely the very giants OF
steam and steel would be drawn back
20 me, instead OF bearing you away.
All, nay Eugene! You wondered Why 7
put my hands behind me. and would
not see your outstrstehed arms Now
that you are gone, and win not return
FOR 80 lonE-unul so near the day When
I may be all that I am capable OF be-
coming 90 you. let me tell yOu-I Was
afraid,
Not OF you. dearest. not OF you
for with all your sFdoF Of woOing CaHd
no girl ever had a more perfect lover
I shall always thank God FOR that
mixture OF LancelOt and Sir Galahad
IN you which makes every moment iu
your presence a delight), I always knew
that you could leave me Ike a SEN
sible boy, and, while longing for me.
stay away. But Whom you have
sometimes complained OF a little for
my coldness-had not looked above
your eyes, and put nay hands behind
me. should have chung 10 you, dear,
1 was afraid. and never have allowed
you 70 go as you are now going, and
made you feel that am not the per
feet woman that you describe 10 me.
as me Even now, I fear that this
letter Will do me harm "a your heart.
but all the lover in me-and girls In
heTit from their fathers as well as from
their mOthers-cries out IN me 10 WOO
you. and you must forget this. only 81
such times Of tenderness as YOU will
sometimes have while you are gone.
when one embrace would be worth "a
world. Then read or remember this.
as my Teturn-C.asp for such thoughts.
Besides. may / not, now that YOU
are away from me. give you a glimpse
or that side OF my soul which a girl
IS taught 10 hideg This was The
swans nest among the reeds which
Little Ellie meant 90 show 20 that lover
who maybe. never came. All, AIRS.
Browning was woman. and knew!
tMind. dear. us Mrs Browning
speak 0fy
Sometimes, when the Knight has
come. and the wife wishes 10 show the
glories Of her soul. the Wild swan has
deserted, and q rat has knawed the
reed. Let the wild and HoWery uttle
pool OF wOmauh0od which IS yours
yours. dearest-Erow somewhat less
strange 10 you than il would have
been-lasJ eveuiug-s0 tlal when lou
see me again you viii see it as "a part
OF me. and. without a word OF look
from me. know me, even more than
you do now Yours.
ELIZABETH"
Fl0TiaU read IL again and again
Sometimes he llusIeu-uut with shame.
DIT Win Tie eiLaarrassmeuJ OK "a girl
81 Roe LerNia occurrence, AaI then le
would Levl tNlaEe OF envy for Lhis
~
sucu a cir! Ca perfect lover"
rom one soon 90 De a bride" said
be 10 himself. TO the man she loves.
Il iLe sweetest letter ever written.
WONDER now long ago SHE wrote e.,
Irr- Tie date. ,ln january. 1871. odd.
That she should mistake the year. But
IL vas The ttL, 40 doubt By Jue way.
i uuu know Tie day " the week or
month, OF what month IL is. here.
Uos Is jnaJ the morning papeTE
lie seized the paper ieytrisaIy, held
II crushed ia his land GltI rae boy
letJ Alm. and Jnel sp-vad il out. look
Ing LOT the dale. II WAS january The
Stu, l9I. The letter had been Written
Lac preceding evening. Whatever had
happened 20 this man Br.tssueId, had
% -curfe4 within the past sixteen hours.
anu great God. where Haa Flo.lag
4midyu been since June. 1897 Avn US
dark. and. in sympathy with IL, black
hess came over I-s el es. and le rode
INTO NrW York ia a dead faint