Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-20
A ShadOWy Lover.
GoriginaLl

near ner among ulen the feutneE-
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-
ceived single offer Of marriage; then
II came from practical, common
sense man Of business. He was tempo
rarily 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 | received letter
from man who was dying He told
me that he had loved me without being
known by me. Being afflicted by a lin
gering disease, he had never sought
me with n 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.
II have since been unable TO shake
or sense Of being appropriated
know this Is unwlse. but | can't help
1t. have analysed my feelings for
you and cannot tell whether or no.
should marry you am, however,
willing To throw the responsibility on
you and become your wife II you say
the word"
He told her that he fancled 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. He 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
time appeared to be contented and
happy. but after awhile showed that
she was broodlng, Her husband no
tlced the change, but did not refer to
II. He knew that her sentiment" was
with her aud that 1t could not be driv.
en- away by open interference. He did
not consider his wife responsible for
Its presence. lie knew that It came
from some mental condition the nature
OF which he could understand, though
he had not experienced It. He conclud-
ed to wait for II to disappear. Doubt
less the first child would drive II away
as the sun Will disslpnte q cloud.
But children did not come. There
was still this Intangible, psychological
freak between the two TO keep them in
measure apart II was never re-
ferred to by either. but both knew OF
Its existence. II was endured by both,
for the wife felt that II was wronglng
her husband, aud the husband felt that
Il was sapplng the happiness of his
wife as we'll as his own.
One day while searching In desk OF
his wife for paper he came upon
the note that had been written her
from her dying lover Its finding
brought about n singular act. Taking
note OF the handwriting. he wrote a
letter In the same chlrography to his
wife purporting to come from the man
who had written the original, 1t stated
that he had unexpectedly recovered
and had since prospered; that he knew
she was married. but In spirit she be-
longed TO him. Did she reciprocate this
feellng2 II so, let her defy the world
and he would come 20 her
When the wife opened this forged
letter one morning at the breakfast
table the husband saw her turn pale
That evening when he came back
from business his wife said to him
that something had happened. She had
debated with herself whether she
should tell him or not and had decided
that II was better that she should not.
He replied that he had full confidence
In her Judgment, and this was all he
said abort the matter.
After this the wife showed plainly
that she was under the influence OF
some powerful emotion. Her husband
meanwhile wrote her another forged
letter from the same correspondent.
She was Informed that her lover could
no longer endure the strain OF separa-
ton. He must see her. He begged
her TO send her husband away for a
certain evening, during which he
would call and they would concoct
a modus vivendt He asked for this
| one Interview only. after which. II she
so wished he would never see her
again. simultaneously with his send
ing this letter the husband Informed
his wife that he must be away on bust
ness on the evening he had appointed.
Ills wife clutched her fingers spasmod-
ically. which he pretended not to see.
and left her
At o'clock on the evening he went
home and was packing v0lise pre-
paeatory to his departure when his
wife came to him trembling and.
throwing her arms about him, begged
him to take her with him,
lie had accomplished an object. but
he did not set feel sure that Il was ac-
cOmplished for all time. lie told her
that il would be lnconvenient for him
TO take her. hut she begged so hard
that he consented. They dlned toReth.
or aud after dinner took train
The husband kept his own counsel
The wife during the journey one even