Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-02-02
CHAPTER XIX,

CHAPTER XIX,
Now, with respect to these two women,
each doomed to suffer, because Brian
Desmond had committed a thoughtless
and selfish error, while the one wept and
walled, and bemoaned herself with all
the abandon of strong and passionate
nature, the other had done nothing of
the kind.
Kitten had come in from her bal, to
find her husband sitting up for her. With
one quick glance she had taken In his
haggard, grief-stricken face; the lines
about his mouth, the dark circles round
his miserablelooking eyes. A sickening
gasp of pain had cut through her heart
at the sight, but she had said nothing
She went to bed, and all night long she,
too, like Rosamond Earle, had lain
awake. All night long she had faced her
agony In fearless silence and she had
said to herself over and over again: He
loves her, he has always loved her; l
am nothing to him. What can l do for
him?' For it was for him, and not for
herself, that she thought What could
she do to tighten his burden and to di-
minish his woe? That was her only
thought. Her utter unsel6shness, and
the very strength and force of her love
made her long to sacrifice herself; so that
in some fashion or other she might bring
back happiness to the man she loved.
She rose in the morning as usual, and
at the ordinary hour Brian and his wife
sat down to breakfast together. The
servant brought In the silver-covered
dishes and the steaming coffee. Brian's
paper lay as usual by his plate. Kitten
mechanically opened the little pile of let
ters by her side, that were chiefly invi-
tations, written upon dainty tinted and
crested paper; everything to all outward
appearance was exactly the same, and
still this strange, self-contained woman
uttered never a word. Just as her hus-
band was rising from the table she look
ed up from her plate mad uttered his
name:
"BrianT
Yes, Kitten"
Mrs. Earle is In London
He flushed darkly red, then turned
pale.
What do you mean? How did you
hear her name? Why should she not be
in London? Remember, l will not be
dictated to about her." he stammered half
guiltily and half angrily.
Have l dictated to your she asked
gently.
who told you about herr" he asked
in low voice, after a short silence.
Sba Cd
rare, shy smiles which, in the days long
ago, he had once thought so sweet and
So delightful; and instead of answering
his question, she said to him softly and
dreamily:
DO you remember the cherry tree in
the old garden, Brian; and how l asked
you to teach me the secret of happiness 2"
oh, Kitten" he murmured abashed.
covering his eyes for a moment with his
hand
Pope was right" she said with
grave, sad little nod of the head. ."No
one can teach that, because no one is
happy; only for little while one fancies
it." And then she stole up behind him
and passed her tiny white hands round
his neck, standing behind his chair. SO
that he should not see her face, and lean
ing her cheek, that was very white and
hollow, against the dark curIs of his close
cropped head.
He tried to draw her round so that
he might see her face, but she kept her
place behind him. And she spoke lit
tie brokenly, perhaps, but still very gent
ly: Il am not very old-or very wise
but l think | have learned one thing:
to each man and woman there is only one
other soul that can give content, so that
no other person on earth can bring any
happiness to us, but that one only. And
when man who loves one, by some sad
mistake, marries another"
"Kitten! Kitten do not say thatv' he
cried, but she laid her fingers upon his
lips and went on. 'Then with that other
he cannot find happiness; oh, never
never! Do you not think feel It? But
then, what Is the meaning of love IL It
cannot sacrifice itselfW He did not un-
derstand her fully, nor see what she
meant, nor what she wished to imply; but
he saw that somehow his love to Rosa
mond was a thing which she had faith.
omed, and protested that she was mis-
taken, that he loved her and ALWAYS
should love her best.
That Mrs. Earle was but an old friend
of his youth, whom he had met again
and who was nothing to him, oh, moth
ing at all. Perhaps, indeed he did "pro-
test too much" for Kitten only smiled
sadly to herself. OF what avail arc
empty words to one who knows, as Kit
ten knew, that he did not love her1