Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-07-16
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A Woman Passes Two Existences
In One House
By EDITH v. ROSS
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By EDITH v. ROSS


My love for Edward Lane began
when we were both so young that nei-
! Their of us could remember time
when 1t did not exist His fathers
place was but short distance from
ours Indeed, the rear line marked the
limits of both places. On one side of
this line was the playground of the
several children. boys and girls, In
Guiding Edward and myself, who lived
In the neighborhood. l can remember
as far back as when was seven years
old and Edward nine that In playing
keep house he and always played the
part of husband and wife. There was
swing on this playground. and Ed
wards father put up articles fIf
boys gymnasium. A little house four
or five feet high was built for us girls
and furnished with toy furniture. AT
times we would leave our dolls there
all night, first putting them to bed.
When | grew taller | could not I'M
derstand how l could have stood up
right in that little house. And what
seemed more remarkable to me was
that Edward could have done so, for
he was always large child. And
remember that when he. had been
away to school for long while and
came back he was taller than the
house
BY this time we were growing out
of childhood into that intermediate
period when. though boys and girls
may feel love. they are not likely to
express it. 1t is a period of transition
from child love to real love. The boy
mind is taken up with athletic sports,
while the girl hides her secret almost
from herself. Indeed, so nebulouS Is
this period that In my own case 1t Is
difficult for me to recall my exact feel
ings. l remember them family and as
existing at intervals. They were rath-
er a small portion of my girls ex-
istence than the whole of 1t.
When | was sixteen 1 was awakened
to the true condition by the marked
preference displayed by another girl
for my Edward. From that time my
love became the principal instead of
minor part in my life. failed to con-
ceal my jealousy from him. and this
brought out his own consciousness of
what was between us. There was no
formal declaration. no conventional
giving of the hand. not even the low
ers' kiss. He merely said something
about the other girl. know not what,
but it assured me there was no change
in our position since the days when
we played husband and wife at keep
ing house--no change in the position,
but q great change in the condition.
1T had then been like winter bud,
but it was now swollen under a spring
sun, ready to put forth leaves,
| sometimes wished that>~I could
have experienced the proposal that
other girls seemed to regard the next
most important moment in their lives
to their marriage. Edward and 1 had
no occasion for a proposal. Our love
was rather, as l have said. an unfold
ing of bud than the birth of a butter
fly. The only abrupt part of it was
when he gave me the first kiss. l
have always treasured that in lieu of
| a proposal.
When we were married great changes
had occurred. was left alone in the
world. So it was arranged that we
should occupy my house. Our living
room was on the second floor, over
looking the playground where we had
pretended to be husband and wife.
The faint dream of childhood had been
developed to realization of almost
perfect happiness. If there could be a
perfection on earth. these five years
of my life. from twenty to twenty-five,
were such condition. Two children
were born to US. boy and girl
What seemed strange to me was that,
though | gave them a boundless love-
that which l bore their father. instead
of being diminished. was increased.
Truly love must be, like space, infinite.
Up to this point there had been an
expansion of happiness. Suddenly
there came check. Our youngest
child sickened and died. have de-
scribed with some minuteness what
have likened to the gradual unfolding
of flower. have no heart to give
more than brief mention of its blight
ing. Within few months after the
first death second occurred. and
within another year lost my husband.
For time | was in a sort of col
lapse, in which did not take enough
interest in my surroundings to be af-
fected by them. After one has met
with serious accident or has been
operated upon by surgeon the senses
are deadened; then comes the Begin
ming of pain. 1t was so with me.
When ! became myself my surround
ings were painful to me. Some per
sons similarly situated nurse their grief
by living In such surroundings. | long
ed to get away from them. Friends
advised me to seek recovery in the
many new scenes and interesting OBJ
jects that are to be found abroad.
took their advice. l sailed for Europe.
leaving the place where had been so
happy in the hands of an agent for
sale. One thing was resolved upon
never to return to IT.
1t may be considered that my sto-
/, ry is one of coincidence. 1t is more
than that. 1t is an illustration of the
very different conditions that may oc-
| cur in the life of a single person. Mas
tiers Of romance have maintained that
there should not be in song or story.
J but one love. Playwrights never bring