The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-08-18


= second on to ths slaID fney pos.
tray rather romance than e@l life And
do not give all that rsaj NE nesds.
They are Of the same order - the peo-
pie of India who believe that the wife
should die on the funeral pyre Of her
husband.
may be weaker than some women
or may be stronger. Possibly ! may
have less depth of feeling. though that
I win not admit saw only In nursing
my grief dreadful life before me. l
recognized the principle that no two
absorbing ideas can occupy the brain
at one time. did all that l could to
interest myself In what was about me.
True, l did not at first succeed, and
when did only partially 20. dread
ed the word forget, and yet ! realized
that to avoid suffering I must tempo
rarily forget. I forced myself to feel
that after a time would be reunited
with my loved ones and that mean
while must, except occasionally, put
them out of my mind.
made my home abroad. Three
years after my bereavement l married
again. I did 30 partly because l was
lonely, partly because wished for a
man to rely upon. as is natural to any
woman. partly because the man mar
rfed assured me that could give him
an interest In life and lastly because I
became attached to him. He was an
American. like myself. and, being
wealthy. gave himself up to study.
He lived abroad that he might write
books which required his presence
among the subjects Of which be wrote
For five years after our marriage we
continued our residence abroad. Dur
ing this period children were born to
US. There was a tacit mutual agree
ment between US that I should not talk
about the world In which I had lived
saw that he would rather leave that
to me, considering himself as having no
part In It. and had no desire to make
him q part Of 1t. He was absorbed
In his literary work. and II ever told
him even where I had lived he soon
forgot It.
Then he was called to America on
the matter of some property that need
ed his attention. 1t was agreed be-
tween us that he should leave me and
our children in Lucerne, where we
were then living. He expected to be
absent not more than two months. but
soon after his arrival in America he
was induced to write for a publisher
work necessitating his presence In
America. He suggested my coming
home with the children. but left me
to consult my own feelings In the
matter.
had never intended to return to the
United States. dreading lest 1t would
reawaken me to my lost world. But
with a husband and children that
world had receded further and further
from me till the consciousness of 1t
had grown very dim. wrote my hus-
band that would go back to the
western hemisphere and remain there.
I was tired of moving about from one
place to another and the children were
coming to that age when they should
have steady instruction at school. Our
boys preferred to bring up In Amer
lea. therefore suggested to my hus-
band that he buy place In which we
might settle. He replied that he agreed
with me and would carry out my sug-
gestions Later he wrote me that he
had bought place In the suburbs of
the city wherein 1t would be necessary
for him to do bis work.
We arrived after dark. was de-
father and the children. did not ask
where our home was to be. intend
ed to be satisfied with 1t. pleased with
II, wherever 1t was. We took a train
and in less than an hour alighted at
station. where carriage was waiting
for us. 1t was very dark when we
reached our home and I saw nothing
Of 1t till ] stood in the hall. Then
caught at a banister to prevent my
falling.
was In the house I had left more
than ten years before with biighted
heart
"My dearw exclaimed my husband.
starting toward me.
But In a twinkling had recovered
myself. And what had enabled me to
do so? The sudden appearance OF an
object. Alb. those objects that come to
us! How much more valuable often
times than realization! must at least
for the present spare my good man
the inexpressible pain Of knowing
what he had brought upon me.
Nothing" replied. "a little giddi-
ness at having been so long rolling at
sea-"
Nothing you don't like. Is there"
he asked anxiously.
ION the contrary, am very well
pleased. Let us see the rest Of It,"
he took me into every room In the
house, q house that had been sold
twice since had parted with 1t and
both times with the furniture includ-
ed. Not for the world would have
betrayed that these rooms. closets. cor
ners. with every bed. table. bureau.
had been familiar to me from child
hood. But when II was over l passed
the night alone In room opening into
one occupied by the children.
M tnn u11a mr. non can deacrfhA what