Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

besides my mother don't think my father ever
did. Margaret has idea of it let fall few
words day. In way, you and have been
SO intimate for years; and yet
She stopped short and the soft color rose in her
cheeks like dawn. Van Torp looked down at the
pavement he walked
See here" he said in a low voice. you'd better
not tell me. Maybe you'll be sorry some day if
you do.
ct would be the first time" she answered softly,
and I've often wished you knew | mean to tell
you ust wait moment
THEY walked on: they were already in the out
skirts of the dull little town. Van Torp did not
again raise his eyes to her face; for he knew she
would speak when she was ready. When she did,
her voice was little mufled and She looked straight
before her as he was doing. They were quite alone
in the road now
much and he liked me. We grew very, very, fond
OF each other He was not much Oh older than !, and
then, because had no money,-my father had
not come into the title them you know,-but
promised each other that we would wait. We
waited, and no knew, except. perhaps my
mother, and she kept from seeing each other
much as she could. Then came the Boer war, and
he kled-killed in wretched skirmish-not
in battle-buried somewhere in the veldt-
if | only knew where! l read it IN DESPATCH uSt
killed. nothing more One doesn't die of things
l suppose and years passed, and went out just the
same, and they wanted me to marry. You know
how it is with girl married to get rid of myself
| married Leven because he was good looking and
had money, and don't quite know why, but it
seemed easier to marry foreigner than an English
l suppose you cannot understand that. 1t
made all comparison mpossibe-perhaps that was
it. When mine dead, could never have taken
another who could possibly have known him. or
who could be in the remotest degree like him "
Il understand that quite well" said Van Torp.
she paused.
I'm glad then for it makes it easier to explain
the rest l don't think l always did my best to be
nice to Leven You see, he soon grew tired of me.
and went astray with strange goddesses. STILL
/ hav
cared what he did; but l faithful to him,
my way, and it much harder than you
guess, anyone Oh, it not any living
that made it hard-not that 1t was the other.
He came back,-dead men do sometimes,-and he
told me was his, and not Leven's, wife; and
fought against that, just if had made love
to in society. 1t didn't honest and true
to my real husband-in my thoughts, you know, and
in some things thoughts are everything. | fought
l think that was the beginning of my work,-beng
sorry for other women who perhaps had tried to
fight too. and wondering whether should do much
better if my dead man came back alive. Do you
sees I'm telling you things have hardly ever told
myself let alone anyone else
Yes, see. didn't know anyone could be
good that.
You guess the rest Lady Maud went on,
not needing what he said. when | believed that
Leven dead, the fight over, and l took my
dead back, because l really free. But
if Leven is alive after ALL it must beg again.
ought to be brave and fight against it; | must
but can't can't! It's too hard now! These
months have been the happiest in my life since
the day he was killed. How 60 back again?
And yet, if l cannot be honest in my
thoughts I'm not an honest woman at all-Im no
better than if deserved to be divorced. l never
believed in technical virtue
WAN TORP had seen many sides of human nature
good and bad but he had never dreamed of any
thing like this in the clear depths of this good
woman's heart, and what he heard moved him
Men born with great natures often have tender
side which the world does not dream of,-call it
nervousness call it degeneracy, call it hystercal
who will it is there. While Lady Maud was
finishing her poor little story in broken phrases