The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-05-18

Feltvolsky was coming TO America TO
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 aVmpathized
with him. With kindly tact she di-
verified his mind. When she had time
to spare from study and rehearsals
they drove out together. Hooper was
a frequent attendant ut the opera
house where Veltvolsky sang, and
evenings when she didn't sing he fire.
quented her apartments. He conilded
TO her his discovery that some one
who had loved his wife was caring for
her grave. The prima donna depreeat-
ed 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 befriended. This temporal
rily at least relieved his mind.
Hooper was seen so much at the
opera, applauded so enthusiastically.
drove so often with NeltvolSky and
spent so much time In her apartments
that the little coterie of singers ut last
began to connect her name with his in
a more tender connection than friend
ship. Then one day he saw Il 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.
He went to the office of the paper con.
tanning 1t and complained. He was
shown the manuscript of the item,
which had come In from an 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 n womans, that
was familiar 10 him II looked like aa
unsuccessful attempt ut disguise. He
could not divest himself of the feel
ing that he had known the writer or
had ut 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 TO 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 deseerated he
would have been enraged This token
of an unknown affection filed him
with agony
The mystery, with Its distressing ut
upon the widower that he feared they
might unbalance his brain. Could he
have found II cew to work on his in
vestigations would have been II relief.
As 1t was he could only brood
One day he formed Il resolution to
bury 1t all I'm n 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. and
her alone. he could secure comfort.
Would she receive IA love that had
wlthered. but which she could warm
into a new life?
Then she confessed that she had
loved him during their meeting In Rus
sia and had loved him ever since.
But. knowing that You had wife"
she added, whom you loved gave
no sign. ] only feared that you might
be drawn from her TO me. You were
unconscious of your danger"
Then Hooper remembered the NEIL
ton he had made I'm his letters TO his
wife of his new found friend and won
dered If she had been jealous.
They were engaged. Veltsvosliy
soon after passed through the place
where Hooper lived and he bad per
suadcd her TO stop over for day
that he might show her the home In
which 1t was expected she would In
future live. After inspecting 1t she
expressed desire TO visit his dead
wIfe's grave. When he asked her why
she could not tell him.
1t was bright morning in early
summer when they drove 10 the Gene
terry As they walked along one of
the avenues leading 10 the lot Hoop
ers quick eye q cerncd n figure trim
ming rosebush that hung over the
grave Of his wife. His heart throbbed
with Il sudden relief when he SAW II
was woman They were about en-
tering the gate when the figure turned.
Hooper staggered and caught ut the
iron fence.
He saw his wife In the flesh.
"Clarence," she said 81 lie In that
grave. BY your letters | knew that
your heart had been given to another.
l took advantage Of the disaster that
occurred at the time TO die TO you.
Sarah Ingalls, helped me. and ! went
to Europe with her before you re-
turned did this to give you every
opportunity to win your new love. she
whom | see with you. have devoted
myself to bringing you together. To
suggest to you the fact that you loved
/ wrote the item that prematurely an
rounced your engagement. have
known Of your every movement and
have calmly awaited this result Go
and make your application for divorce
and I will aid you to get It.
Six months from that time Hooper
had divorced his wife and married his
new love.
HaIl A..l.l AIa4~H