The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-12-16
THE FASCINATION OF
FORBIDDEN FRUIT,
BY HENRY 8. sPIcER.

copyright. 1903. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Being Junior member Of tho firm OF
Bunker & Co. Of New York, whose
business involved some correspondence
with olive oil merchants in Italy, i
concluded to learn the Italian Ian
guage In order to be able to write
those in their own tongue from whom
we bought oil. ] inquired Of a friend
for a teacher. He told me that he
could recommend one, a young wom-
an, native Of Italy, but there must
be one condition attached to her giving
me lessons-I must promise not to
make love to her. Somewhat surprised
that such a promise should be exacted.
asked reason for 1t, but received
no satisfactory reply. AS l had no
intention Of making love to any one, l
readily agreed to the terms. 1t Is only
too true, however, that such a promise
was very inconsiderate on my part, for
several episodes in the past had demon
strated my extreme susceptibility 20
the Goddess Love and her subtleties.
But my word had been given and In
all the verities was placed upon my
honor.
Miss Tor, rather, Signorina) Aboni
turned out TO be a teacher in the New
York public schools. She was about
twenty-five years old. with the dark
hair and eyes prevalent among her
countrymen and, unlike most Italian
women, possessed very sweet voice.
No language is musical when rapidly
spoken and in a rough voice, but as
Miss Aboni spoke Italian to me slowly
and softly 1t was very meilifuous.
Now. verify believe that II 1t had
not been for the promise had made
l might have taken lessons Of Miss
Aboni for an indefinite time without
danger TO my bachelorhood. / should
not have thought Of making love to
her. But all the while she was in
structing me my mind, instead Of be-
ing on the italian language, was on
the question. "why was l pledged not
to make love to my teacher" That
we wish to do what we are forbidden
to do is curious psychological condi-
ton for which I cannot account. ]
can more readily understand why one
should dislike to do what he is CON-
PEELED to do. and yet this condition IS
by no means so universal as the other.
However this may be. l was soon
seized with an uncomfortable desire TO
make love to my teacher. resisted
till l had been some time under her
tutelage, then made a break.
The pain expressed in her face told
me that l had in some way hurt her,
and a sudden sensation OF shame told
me that / had dishonored myself. i
stammered an apology. promising not
TO break my word again. a condition
ike that laid down by the poet when
he says 1t is weakness TO be wroth
with weakness" The poor girl could
only accept the apology and hope that
l would be stronger in future.
But was tampering with a passion,
and the passions usually master con-
science. The only safe way out Of the
matter was to acknowledge myself
beaten In the first encounter and avoid
a second by ceasing to take lessons
Of Miss Aboni. This course occurred
to me, but / persuaded myself that 1t
would be more manly to conquer my
self than to ingloriously run away. I
continued to receive instruction. but
there had come a feeling of constraint
between me and my teacher. ! went
on conquering myself, as persuaded
myself l was doing, listening to the
melodious Italian sentences as they
glided from my teachers lips. Then,
too. we frequently read from the same
book. and this compelled US to sit side
by side. a dangerous position for those
who are forbidden to be lovers.
One day while thus looking over the
same page suddenly found my hand
resting on my teachers waist. can
only assert that i did not put it there;
1t put itself there. Then another I'M
fortunate circumstance led to a fatal
step. Feeling a tress softly Craze my
cheek. with my hand-the hand not on
her waist-I turned her face to mine
and kissed her on the lips.
shall never forget the shudder that
passed over her frame. / knew at
once that had done something terri
BILE. But terrible things cannot usual
ly be undone. Whatever 1t was. 1t
must stand. One thing was certain-I
had given my word and broken it.
II am beneath contempt" / cried.
"No. I have made a mistake"
what mistakes"
INSTEAD of exacting promise
should have taken you into my cop
fidence. But you were a stranger to
me. and II you told"-
"Well. II ] told, what thenT
81 would lose my position; we would
starve."
"we? Who are weT
IT and my husband. Married women
are not permitted to teach In the pub
lie schools Of New York. My marriage
has been kept secret"