Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27

voice. Careless trends, bad advisers, the
customs of the day, may diminish it; but it
can't be put out, because
He stopped abruptly, suddenly aware he
was thinking aloud and that the one person
he was thinking of was his wife. But if she
was conscious of his thought she gave no
sign; for she had picked up a magazine from
the table and was idly turning its pages.
That" he finished quietly, sis my idea
of a wife"
IT almost seemed as though she had not
been listening to him; but when he
dropped into an armchair with sigh she
laid the book on the table and looked at him.
"Do you think there's a chance of your
ever meeting a woman like .that?"
EYES," he said slowly, I met her he
stopped again, sinking deep in the chair, his
eyes closed as though by shutting out all
sight he could thus silence memory and keep
thought captive. Butsher look, which he
sensed if he could not see, burned through
all his barriers He knew that it was not
an unfriendly look, and something told him
that in spirit they were nearer than they had
ever been. There was a'physical attraction
too in her presence as subtle as the plea of
the spiritual, the soft harmony of color, the
gentle effulgence of the lights, the graceful
suggestion of her flowing draperies. He
1
against their sweet allure, hearing half un-
consciously the pleasant patter of the rain
against the window panes, witch did nothing
to detract from the grateful sense of Shelter
and the thought of their isolation.
She felt the intensity:of his mute emo
lions, guessed for the first time the effort of
will his self repression had always caused
him. What Abby had said was true! She
had only to look at him and see! The mo-
ment was too burdened with meaning for
the light jest that was ready on the tip of
her tongue to intimidate him. He was very
pale, his hands gripped the armchair, and
the lines of his face which she, had, noticed
Yesterday were drawn in deep lines of
shadow. 1t seemed that his efforts were on
the verge of failure; for he opened hrs eyes,
raised them to the portrait, and the words
came forth whether he would have them or
not. -
7 SUPPOSE you would think. it. better if 1
spoke to you of other things here in your
own rooms, where. you have always been
immune from outside unhappiness. But
God help mel can be quiet no longer: 1t
hurts me here, weighs on me, and bears me
to the earth. It has done so for long time.
Pride has fought wifi me for, silehee, when
every impulse has urged me to speak, to tell
you how-how it is with me. He paused
again. II don't think | ever had a chance,
from the first" There was tinge of bitter
ness in the smile he. gave the portrait.
Il don't -kneWWhy loved you then: l
suppose It was just meant to be sd from the
beginning. I've sometimes wondered whether
Uncle Oliver wasn't in league with the Fates.
1 only know that i did love you from the
very first hour saw you. It was hard too,
because it has always been so hopeless. You
belonged to another planet l was the visi
tor from Mars. If had been made in some
strange physical shape, could not have
been more of an alien. l knew just how you
thought of me, and it made me angry. So
far as knew, was the normal man. 1t
piqued me that you should consider me so
far beneath you. And yet even then l had
the temerity to think might still make you
care for me; but it was not long before l
learned the truth.
1.-The day we were married." he paused
and passed his hand slowly over his brow,
II found out that day that you had other
plans. That night-below on the terrace
think it must have been the madness of my
thwarted hopes. I've never stopped regret
ting it. took you in my arms and kissed
you-debased by the brutality of my kiss
the only woman had ever loved or could