Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-21

lover whose love she returned she
would never have made known.
Such was the reasoning hy which
Clarence Hooper persuaded himself
that his dead wife had loved some utan
and loving that man. she could uevrt
have loved her husband Doubtless
some obstacle had interviewed between
them to prevent a marriage. or, what
was worse, she had met the unknown
after she had become wife Hooper
inflicted upon himself succession Of
such torturIng hypothesis and when
they had been all applied began again
and went through the process anew
One day Hooper saw In paper that
veltvolsky was coming TO America t.
sing In opera. The thought that he
might meet her again was pleasant to
him. When she arrived he went To
the metropolis where she was singing
and called upon her He told her Of
his bereavement. and She sympathl2ed
with him. With kindly tact she d.
vcrtcd his mind. when she had time
TO spare from study ana rchearsals
they drove out together. Hooper was
a frequent attendant at the opera
house where vetvolsky sang, and
qucnted her apartments. He coniidcd
TO her his discovery that some one
who had loved his wife was caring for
her grave. The prima donna deprecat-
cd his fears that his wife had had a
lover, explaining the episode by the
superstition that the unknown friend
was some poor creature whom the
dead had bcfriendcd This Temporal
rily ae least relieved his mind.
Hooper was seen so much al the
opera. applaudcd so enthusiastically.
drove so often with Veltvolsky and
spent so much time in her apartments
that the little coteric of singers nj last
began TO connect her name with his IN
more tender connection than friend
ship. Then one day he saw a notice
In a newspaper that the prima donna
was TO marry an American gentleman
whom she had met in Russia shortly
before her visit TO the United States.
Hooper was naturally very angry Mt
the publication OF this bit of informa
ton. which had not been authorized
tanning 1t aud complained. lie was
shown the manuscript of the item,
which had come In from nm unknown
person. He did not recognize the
name signed TO 1t as belonging TO any
one he knew. Nevertheless there
was something about the handwriting,
which was evidently woman's. that
was familiar to him. II looked like an
unsuccessful attempt Mt disguise. He
could not divest himself Of the feel
ing that he had known the writer OF
had at least seen her handwriting.
When the opera season came TO n
close Hooper went TO his home. The
first thing he did after his return WAS
TO visit his wife's grave. He did SO
with mingled emotions. among which
was desire 10 see II there WAS any
further evidence of the unknown friend
or lover.
He found the grave strewn with
fresh cut flowers. A cry escaped him
Had the grave been desecrated he
would have been enraged This token
Of an unknown affection filed him
with agony.
The mystery, with its distressing at.
tendant conditions. began 10 wear 50
upon the widower that he feared they
might unbalancc his brain. Could he
have found clew TO work on his in.
vcstlgations would have been n relief
As ii was be could only brood
One day he formed resolution %
bury II all in new interest Nine
veltsvolsky had shown great partial
ity to him, but that she would marry
him he did not know. She had gone
TO the country. and there he followed
her. He told her that through her, aud
her alone. he could secure comfort
Would she receive a love that had
withered. but which she could warm
into a new life?
Then she confessed that she had
loved him during their meeting In Rus.
STA aud had loved him ever since.
But. knowing that You had a wife"
she added, whom you loved ! gave
no sign. l only feared that you might
be drawn from her to me. You were
unconscious Of your danger"
Then Hooper remembered the men
ton he had made In his letters 10 his
wife OF his new found friend aud won
dered IL she had been Jealous.
They were engaged. Veltsyolsiy
soon after passed through the place
where Hooper lived. and he had per
suaded her TO stop over for day
that he might show her the home in
which II was expected she would In
future live. After inspecting II she
expressed desire 10 visit bis dead
wlfe's grave. When he asked her WHY
she could not tell him.
II was bright morning In carly
summer when they drove TO the Gene
terry. As they walked along one Of
the avenues leading TO the lot Hoop
er's quick eye discerncd figure trim
ming a rcsebush that hung over the
grave OF his wife. His heart throbbed
with sudden relief when he saw II
,v,. n u.asnan Thar trnra nhnut on.