The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-08-18
A Shadowy Lover.
IOriginal.l

koht6Aos1
She was a girl of great depth of feel
ing. Her sense Of duty was Of the
highest. So intent within herself was
she that her friends never got very
near her. Among men the feather.
weights II mean mentally-let her
alone from choice, the heavyweights
because she was not of easy approach.
She was twenty-five before she re-
ceiyed single offer of marriage: then
It came from a practical. common
sense man of business. He was tempo
rarity thrown into intimate association
with her and discerned great deal in
her. When he proposed she took time
before giving him his answer, then
gave II in this wise:
"'Some years ago I received a letter
from a man who was dying. He told
me that he had loved me without being
known by me- Being afflicted by lin
gering disease. he had never sought
me with a view to declaring his love,
Since 1t gave a dying man comfort to
tell me of his devotion. he hoped
would not blame him for doing so. He
carefully concealed his identity. and /
have never discovered It,
Il have since been unable to shake
off sense Of being appropriated.
know this Is unwise. but | can't help
1t. have analysed my feelings for
you and cannot tell whether or 10 |
should marry you. I am. however.
willing TO throw the responsibility on
you and become your wife II you say
the word"
He told her that he fancied marriage
TO be practical sentiment. Her feeling
for the dead was sentimental senti-
ment. The first pertained to the high
est Of all human institutions. the fam
lily; the latter was simply a canker-
worm feeding on emotion. lie would
have her marry him. trusting to the
great unbreakable bond. family affec-
ton. to absorb all other sensations
They were married. The wife for a
time appeared 10 be contented and
happy. but after awhile showed that
she was brooding. Her husband no.
ticed the change. but did not refer 10
ii. He knew that her sentiment" was
with her and that IL could not be driv-
en- away by open interference. He did
not consider his wife responsible for
its presence. He knew that IL came
from some mental condition the nature
Of which he could understand. though
he had not experienced It. He conClud.
ed TO wait for il TO disappear Doubt
less the first child would drive II away
as the sun will dissipate a cloud
But children did not come There
was still this intangible. psychological
freak between the two to keep them In
a measure apart II was never re
ferred 10 by either. but both knew Of
its existence. II was endured by both
for the wife felt that II was wronglnl
her husband, and the husband felt thai
II was sapplng the happiness Of his
wife as we'll as his own.
One day while searching in desk o.
his wife for a paper he came upOI
the note that had been written he
from her dying lover. It's finding
brought about a singular act. Takinl
note OF the handwriting. he wrote
letter in the same chirography 10 hi
wife purporting TO come from the maj
who had written the original. II state,
that he had UNEXPECTEDLY recovere'
and had since prospered: that he knew
she was married, but in spirit she b.
longed 10 him. Did she reciprocate thi
feeling? II so. let her defy the worl,
and he would come to her
when the wife opened this forge,
letter one morning at the breakfas
> table. the husband saw her turn pale
> That evening when he came bacI
. that something had happened. She hs
debated with herself whether sh
, should tell him or not and had decide
. that II was better that she should mo-
lie replied that he had full sonfidenc
In her Judgment. and this was al h
] said abor' the matter,
After this the wife showed plaini
that she was under the inhsencc Z
some powerful einoiLpn. Her husban
} meanwhile wrote Ir'r anothor forge
letter from the same correspondent
She was Informed that her lover coul
) no longer endure the strain ~ s"rarl
. tion. IIe must Ss'n her lie legge
, her 70 send her husband away for
, certain evening. during which /
would call and they would conoo'
: INDUS vlvendl lie asked for th
one Interview only. after which. n 81
80 wished. be- would never 500 b.
again. simultaneously with hts SEN
, Ing this letter III" husband Inform,
, his wife that he must le away on bus
, uess on III" evening he bad apiplnte
. Ills wife cInichpd her fingers sIlsmo
lcally. whlc'I he pretended not 70 Sc
and left her.
At = OclOck on the evening lie we
!, home aud was packing valisc ~
r tarntory 10 his departure when b
: wife came % him trembling m
: throwing her arms about him. begg
: him 60 take her with him.
. lie had accomplished an object. b
!. be- did not yet feel sure that Il was q
a cofnplished for all time IIe told b
! that II would he Inr0uvpnIput for nj